The Parable of
the Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
14“For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own
slaves and turned over his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five talents; to another, two†; and to another, oneto each according to his own
ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately 16the man who had
received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. 17In
the same way the man with two earned two more. 18But the man who had
received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s
money.
19“After a long time the master
of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20The man
who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and
said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’
21“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were
faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your
master’s joy!’
22“Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you
gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned
two more talents.’
23“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were
faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter your
master’s joy!’
24“Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said,
‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and
gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent† in the
ground. Look, you have what is yours.’
26“But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew
that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, 27then
you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I
would have received my money back with
interest.
28“ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten
talents. 29For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will
have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has
will be taken away from him. 30And throw this good-for-nothing slave
into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.’ ”[1]
Text Graphic
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Parables -
Parables of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
———————————————
What Kind Of Shoe Best Describes You? -- Someone has said, "If the shoe fits, wear it!" We sometimes say, "I would hate to be in his shoes." I think every one of us will fit into one of these styles of shoes. But which?
A LOAFER - "Thou wicked and slothful servant" (Mt 25:26). "Be not slothful in business" (Romans 12:11).
HIGH HEEL - This fits the haughty, proud individual. A man is not "to think of himself more highly than he ought to think" (Romans 12:3).
OVERSHOES - Puts on Christianity only when the going gets rough. Wants the prayers and visits of the preacher only when in trouble.
HOUSE-SHOES - This person wants things easy, comfortable. He is frightened off by a building program, mission work, benevolent work, etc. He cannot worship in bad weather. "Woe unto them that are ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1).
A SANDAL - Just a skeleton of a Christian; didn't grow into well-rounded service, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
SUNDAY SHOES - Once-a-week Christians. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself; and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
WORK SHOES - The active Christian who is always on the job for the Lord. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes when no man can work" (John 9:4). "Son, go work today in my vineyard" (Mt 21:28).
We should all remember: "Today [NOW] is the day of salvation . . . " (2 Corinthians 6:2). May I ask again, "What kind of shoe best describes You?"
God Has a Special Purpose for You.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· Who was one of the most talented people you knew but failed to use it? What were you “best at” in grade school?
· How do you feel when asked to watch your neighbor’s house while they are away, or keep their pet in you house while they are gone?
· What resources from God do you value the most.
The Parable of the Bags of Gold — Matthew 25:14-30
14“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,a each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28“ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
· What is the main point of this parable?
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. In this parable, who does the master represent? The journey? The Talents? Servants? What can we learn about God from the master in Jesus’ parable?
2. Which of the 3 servants in this parable can you relate to most?
3. What happens to the two servants who doubled their investment? To the servants who hides his talent? On what basis were they rewarded?
4. How do you feel when you are given a lot of responsibility?
5. What lessons do these two servants teach us about using God’s resources to serve him?
6. It is better to risk — try something and fail — than to do nothing.
7. How does the master’s treatment of the one-talent servant seem to you: Fair? Harsh? Lenient? Why?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. If the Master returned today, what would he say about how you’ve used what he gave you? How have you developed it? What kind of responsibility do you feel toward God regarding your talents?
2. What motivates you to use your time, resources, and abilities for God’s kingdom? Regardless of how much we may have achieved, we will be judged upon faithful commitment.
3. When have you observed that the more you used a talent, the more talents God gave you?
4. What will you do this week with the talents God has given you to prepare for his coming?
5. What does sharing your Master’s happiness mean to you?
God has chosen you and me to determine whether or not the sending of His Son to earth for the salvation of mankind will ultimately succeed in its purpose. To that end, He has given each one of us a special gift to use in building faith in the Good News of salvation that comes through His marvelous grace.
Document for
DBS
Series: True Story “Parables of
Jesus”
Stories are the language of the soul. We connect with stories and we
remember them. That is why Jesus used storytelling so often to illustrate
deeper truths. His stories, known as parables, were Jesus’ way to communicate
important Kingdom principles. Although the details of these stories were
imagined, the Kingdom principles are not. They are true and eternal.
Title: “Well Done” (Parable of the Talents)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening
Thoughts: In God's economy, talents and treasures are to be invested in
kingdom work, not simply used for your own pleasure. How do you view what
you've been given - is it for personal gain or for God's glory?
- Wait until your father gets home!
===============================================================
Text: Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
===============================================================
Summarize the main story: Describe the
events of the story in your own words.
v Review and
retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v Terms:
o
Bags of Gold = Talent
§ Talent? – Today’s use comes from this word.
o
“…each according
to his own ability”
v Question: How can I use what I have for the sake of the
kingdom of God?
o
Luke 12:48 NIV - But the one who does not know and does things deserving
punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given
much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much,
much more will be asked.
§ With ability
comes responsibility
v What does this mean for us?
o
This parable does not endorse works-based salvation
§ Romans 4:4-5 NLT - When people work, their wages are not a gift, but
something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of
their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.
§ “Well done, good and FAITHFUL
servant”
·
Our job is to be FAITHFUL
v Faithfulness vs. What it is NOT
o
What Faithfulness is not:
§ Apathy
§ Fear
o
What Faithfulness is:
§ Active
·
Colossians 3:23 NIV - Whatever you do, work at
it with all your heart, as working
for the Lord, not for human masters,
§ Risk-taking
·
Erwin McManus – “Most of us in the church are actually living in the past, the present
terrifies us, and the future overwhelming”
==============================
Digging Questions:
·
How will you
respond to God’s “True Story”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do
these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is
God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage?
How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is
God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hash tags #Parables #Talents #Faithfulness
#Responsibility #Fear #Apathy #Risk-taking
Sunday sermon link
https://youtu.be/UZF4yvOotn4
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with
some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A21-35&version=NIV
