Intro Questions
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]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
203–204). Holman Bible Publishers.
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.
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!
- Dread vs. Delight
===============================================================
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
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