What is the meaning of the Parable of the Talents?
Matthew 25:14 - 30
ESV - 14 For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Matthew, in chapters 24-25, records the Lord's heart of compassion and love mingled with unwavering holiness. This section of Scripture, including the Parable of the Talents, constitutes final warn...
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Singapore Moses
The talents parable in Mt. 24-25, illustrating diligence in view of His coming (Mt. 25:14-30). Here we have the truth illustrated by this parable (Mt. 25:28-30). The Slothful Servant Was: 1. Ungrateful (Mt. 25:18) 2. Erroneous in reasoning (Mt. 25:18,24) 3. Unjust (Mt. 25:18) 4. Fault-finding; accusing (Mt. 25:24) 5. Self-justifying (Mt. 25:24) 6. Fearful (Mt. 25:25) 7. Wicked (Mt. 25:26) His Punishment: 1. Rebuked (Mt. 25:26) 2. Judged out of his own mouth (Mt. 25:26) 3. Judged for failure of trust (Mt. 25:27) 4. Stripped of his talent (Mt. 25:28-29) 5. Cut off and banished forever from his master (Mt. 25:30; note, Mt. 13:42)
Emo Tenorio
I humbly submit for your consideration that this parable is much like a fine cut sparkling jewel whose facets mirror and bring fore the light contained within. Luke 8:10 This gift of life given to us with varying degrees of talent and wiring for His purpose while we walk the earth. And in truth we are but a vapor and as such everything is a loan from the master who created us. Luke 8:18 In our short span of years here we acquire much knowledge and life experiences that can be of great value to those we love and to mankind in general if shared. So that they may start their own race with a leg up and are good to go when they take the field or we may choose to be like the foolish servant and bury our knowledge in the grave! John 7:24 To him who much is given, much is required, let us wisely redeem our days. In the Lord's freedom with talent on loan from God................warrior on
Al Mari
Regarding Matt. 25:14-30, the short answer is, Yes they are required. But, these good works must not emanate from us. They should not be "our" works per se, like atheists doing good. But works or "fruits" that come through the Holy Spirit that we merely expressed through and shown by "our works". As such, no one will boast (Eph. 2:9). By faith of Jesus, it took his death and resurrection for us to receive (Jn. 14:16) the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is a great gift, by the grace of God, to have and we must show "fruits of the Spirit"(Gal. 5:22-23). Any good work that anyone can do by himself is as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) and not consistent or reliably sustainable as our "flesh is weak"(Matt.26:41). Eph. 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Notice the example of Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane: "He withdrew about a stone's throw and prayed, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done'" (Luke 22:41-42). Matthew records Jesus as making his request of the Father twice: "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken away from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew 26:39) and "He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done'" (Matt. 26:42). Mark records his prayer in a positive way, "'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36). While not "his will", he expressed the "will of the Father" through his works empowered by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, we are the "vessel" through which the "fruits of the Holy Spirit" will be manifested. The "fruits/works" are of the Holy Spirit, even if we did those "works" ourselves. Beware, we might be cut off as in: Matt. 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Dan. 4:14 "He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches" See also Matt. 3:10; Lu. 3:9, 13:7; John 15:2, 6; We need to be overcomers, as in Rev. 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.
John Appelt
The Parable of the Talents is part of the Olivet Discourse, given by Jesus to his disciples, Matthews 24-25. Matthew 24:36-44 is a new topic, noted by the words, “now concerning.” It has to refer to the rapture because it answers the question the disciples asked, “When will these things happen?” and the Lord indicates the timing is known only by the Father, Matthew 24:42, 25:13. Like the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the Parable of the Talents continues the theme that the Lord’s people should be ready for the Lord’s return for His people, known as the pretribulational rapture. The man that traveled to a far country represents the Lord having gone into heaven and being there while believers, all servants of His, await His return. In the meantime, they have been entrusted with different responsibilities as they are able to handle. Talents are weights, measurements of precious metals which was the currency of that day, representing a lot of money. In the parable, it symbolizes whatever things, such as gifts, the Lord has entrusted His people. He expects returns from spiritual investments. When the Master comes for His own, He will assess how they have done in His absence. This seems to point to the present age and believers waiting for the imminent return of the Master, which could be at any time. At that time the believers will stand before Christ’s judgment seat, the “bema,” II Corinthians 5:10, to receive their rewards. The measure of their success will determine the level of responsibility they will be rewarded with in the future kingdom of the Lord. The servant who hid his talent is chastised severely. Matthew 25:30 seems to say he was cast into hell to suffer agony. In this interpretation, he seems to have lost his salvation, but this is not the case. The rest of Scriptures bears out that anyone who believes in Jesus has everlasting life, a permanent condition, John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 11:26. The scene is a kind of ceremony, as in a banquet hall, where men and women of faith are specially honored. The unprofitable servant is cast into “outer darkness,” which is not hell, but as the feasts lasted long into the night, he is expelled from the lighted area into darkness of the night. Symbolically, he is cast from this moment of light, joy and celebration. The “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is not torment of hell but the suffering of bitterest disappointment, as Peter wept bitterly after denying the Lord, Matthew 26:75. The gnashing of teeth here is clenching the teeth due to sorrowful anguish and regret, as well as anger for missing a great opportunity and of displeasing the Master. The parable of the talents illustrates the need of us who are believers to serve the Lord faithfully, making good use of time and abilities as well as the gifts He endowed us with, so that we will not be ashamed before Him at His coming, I John 2:28.
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