The

Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

The Real Lesson in the Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30 We are going to look at one of the many parables of Jesus today: the parable of the Talents. But before we dive into it, let us remind ourselves what a parable is. A parable, according to dictionary.com is a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson. With this in mind, we want to be looking for the spiritual truths, for there will be more than one, embedded in this parable. For the purpose of our discussion, I will only make a few brief comments about the first part of the parable and then spend the rest of our time on the second. This parable is about a master who is about to embark on a journey to a faraway place. As such, he apportions his possessions among his servants before his departure. To one of his servants the master entrusts five talents; to another servant the master entrusts two talents, and to the third he entrusts one. Nearly every preacher who has ever preached on this parable has interpreted the term talent here allegorically. It is a mistake; they ought to have interpreted it literally. In The Value of the Biblical Talent, Max Lucado writes: Before talent meant skill, it meant money.1 What is the value of a talent? Lucado elaborates, saying: It represented the largest unit of accounting in the Greek currency 10,000 denarii. According to the parable of the workers, a denarius represented a days fair wages (Matt. 20:2). Multiply your daily wage by 10,000, and you discover the value of a talent. If you earn $30,000 a year and you annually work 260 days, you make about $115 a day. A talent in your case is valued at 10,000 times $115 or $1,150,000. Based on this, what the third servant received one solitary talent was no small amount. Many of us would not expect to see, much less possess a million dollars. Correspondingly, the first and second servant received 5 and 2 million dollars respectively. You must have noticed by now that the three servants were not given the same number of talents: one five, the other two, and the other one. Why was it? Was the master impartial? May it never be! The Bible reveals that the master distributed his possessions to his servants according to their abilities. Although we are not told that the master gave instructions to the servants, we can assume that some instructions were given. Hence, we see the first two 1 Taken from The cure for the common life by Max Lucado, pages 54-55
Joshua Loke August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

servants immediately going and doing something with the talents they were entrusted. As Christians, we too have been given instructions. We have been given our marching orders; our assignments; our mission in life. Consider the following verses of Scripture: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17) Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Hebrews 10:36: For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. I John 2:17: And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. As I have promised, I will only make a few comments about the first part of the parable and focus on the second part. I will reserve the subject of Gods Will for our lives for another session. The second part of the parable which I want us to focus on is the part where the master returns and calls his servants to give an account of the talents they were given. The first two servants had doubled what they were given: from five to ten and from two to four respectively. They were consequently handsomely reward for their excellent performance (well done) and faithfulness (faithful servant). The masters compliment faithful servant denotes that the servants had adhered to his explicit instructions. Once again, this underlines the importance of knowing what God has instructed us to do. Once again I will resist the temptation (to your displeasure, Im sure) to delve into that subject here and now. As a reward, the servants were made rulers over many things. What these many things are is clearly revealed by Luke in his gospel account. Luke shows us that the servants were given authority overcities (Luke 19:17 and 19). Should this be taken literally, or allegorically? The cardinal rule in Bible interpretation states that we should interpret Scripture literally first. The other rule states that we must allow Scripture to explain Scripture. In this case, we will let the book of Revelation to shed some light on the parable in question. In Revelation 1:6 and 5:10, John saw in a vision Gods saints reigning on the earth as kings and priests. Then in Revelation 20:4, John also saw and wrote that those who have neither worshipped the beast nor accepted its mark were raised up and made to reign with Christ a thousand years. This confirms that what we read in the Parable of the Talents that the faithful servants of Christ will be

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

made rulers will literally take place. It will happen during the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth after His return. Second Coming of Christ I am taking this detour for the benefit of those of you who are unfamiliar with what the Bible says will happen after Christ returns. Most Christians believe that the saints will be raptured when Christ returns. Right. They also believe that the saints will meet Him in the clouds. Right. After that Christ will take them home to heaven. Wrong. Instead of going UP to heaven after meeting Christ in the clouds, the saints will return to the earth with Him to judge the nations that have been possessed by evil spirit to rise up against Israel at Armageddon. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev 16:13-14, 16) Then out of the blue, this statement appears: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev 16:15) It is familiar to us because Paul spoke about the coming of our Lord as like a thief coming in the night (1 Thess 5:2). So this statement is a clue about when (not the exact date and time) Christ will return. Once the saints have been raptured, the seventh bowl of judgment, the most terrible of them all, will be poured out. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Rev 16:17-21) Revelation chapters 17 and 18 speaks about the fall of Babylon. So we fast forward to chapter 19 and pick up the sequence of events related to Christs return. In the first part of the chapter, we see the saints who have been raptured given fine linen, clean and white to wear, which represents righteousness.

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Rev 19:6-8) Next, Christ returns to the earth, riding on a white horse, with an army of saints with Him. He and His army destroys the nations that have gathered at Armageddon. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Rev 19:11-21) After this, Satan will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years. During this time, Christ will reign on the earth from Jerusalem and His saints with Him. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Rev 20:1-3) And finally, the judgment of the saints will take place where rewards are given out, namely the authority to rule with Christ a thousand years.

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev 20:4). Probation Certain Christians (and I stress certain) will be made rulers (governors, mayors, etc) of cities; some one, some two, some five, and some ten. The number of cities they will be made rulers of will depend on how they have performed during their lifetime before Christs Return. Performed in what? If you could, imagine with me a scenario where you are applying for a job. Typically, immediately after you have been given the job, you would be put on probation for a few months. Based on your performance during this period of time, the company will decide whether or not to take you in more permanently. In the same way, every Christian is on probation in their lifetimes. Their performance during the short span of their lives (in particular, their working life) will determine what their reward would be in Christs kingdom. God is waiting to see how we are handling the work we are given to do to decide whether or not we have what it takes to become kings in His kingdom. The idea that God puts His servants on probation is not totally absurd; it is actually Scriptural. In his letter, Paul instructs Timothy to appoint as Overseers (to the church) those who have managed their own households well (1 Tim 3:4). The same is required of those who would be deacons (verse 12). The principle here is this: when you have been faithful in a little thing, you will be given greater things, and when you have proven yourself capable with a small thing, God will then entrust greater things to you. Interestingly, as a side note, Paul does not take into consideration ones status in the world or success in business when appointing leaders for the church. This, I believe, is because the church is more like a family rather than a corporation. Regrettably, most churches today resemble more like the latter than the former. Listen to me: you are on probation for the biggest job in the world. You have the potential of becoming a ruler of cities. This should make you take your work, your career seriously, yet with a different perspective from the rest of the world. This is because the world is interested in becoming kings only. They want to rule and lord over others, and since Money is Power, they strive to make as much money as possible. This should not be the perspective of a Christian on work. As to the Lord This understanding will add new meaning to the verse And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Colossians 3:23). This verse

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

does not mean that the things we do, our jobs for example, are to be done FOR the Lord because there is nothing we can do FOR God. Rather, we are to do it AS TO the Lord. It means that we are to do our work in such a way that would please God, and not our human bosses. I can already hear some saying, If I dont please my boss, I will never get that promotion. Well, think about this: Our human bosses forget very easily. But God is not unrighteousness such that He forgets your work and labour of love (Heb 6:10). Furthermore, the Bible exhorts us NOT to look at things seen but at the things unseen for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Cor 4:18). As attractive as the earthly rewards are, like that promotion you are hoping for, they are only temporal, very short lived. But the rewards of the Lord are eternal. As you contemplate on which one you would rather have mans reward or Gods consider the words God encouraged Abraham with: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Gen 15:1) As Christians, as servants of the Most High, all our labor, all our striving should be solely for the reward of the Lord. Paul, the apostle, has set an example for us to follow. To the Philippines he wrote: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14) Without a doubt, Paul, by himself, has done more than any one of us. Yet, he is not complacent; he knows that he would be a man most pitied if he missed the mark by only one point. As long as there is breath in him, he would continue to do what God has appointed and anointed him to do preach the gospel. And when the end was near, he was full of confidence that he would receive a handsome reward from the Lord. Admittedly, most Christians are familiar with this verse. Yet, few are doing what it says pressing toward the mark so that we may attain the prize, a high calling of God. Priests When Christ establishes His kingdom on the earth, He will make some of His saints kings, and others priests. Why would Christ need priests in His kingdom? We know from the Old Testament that one of the roles of a priest is to teach the laws of Moses to the people. From Isaiah 2, we find out that the teaching and

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011

The Real Lesson behind the Parable of the Talents (Part 1)

preaching of Gods laws will go on like never before during the one thousand- year reign of Christ The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isa 2:1-4) This will result in the final and total fulfillment of the Great Commission given by Christ in Matthew 28:19-20. A priest in the Old Testament was also responsible for the storehouses of God. The storehouse is the place where the tithes and offerings of the people are stored. In Matthew 24:45-47, we read about some being made rule over all of his goods. Who are these people? They are the faithful and wise servant whom Christ has made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season. Sounds like pastors and teachers of the Word, doesnt it? If I cannot be a king in Christs kingdom when He comes again, at least I will be a priest. What will you be?

Joshua Loke

August 23, 2011