Scriptures: Matthew 25:14-30
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 “Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18 But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20 He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’
21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22 “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’
23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. 25 I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27 You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28 “Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30 Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
SERVE GOD WITHOUT FEAR
TEXT: “I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth.” (v25)
(NOTE: A talent was a unit of weight, e.g., 36kg silver, which was worth around 6,000 denarii, with one denarius being one days wages. Hence, 1 talent was equal to 20 years labour. So these servants were entrusted with great wealth.)
I WAS AFRAID
In today’s story, what struck me was the third servant’s response to the master: “I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth.”
He envisaged the master as a hard man, and expected trouble if he lost the master’s talent, and to protect it he hid it in the ground. Now if that was a seed instead of silver, it would not have been a problem. However, silver doesn’t grow like that.
“But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” (v18)
When the master returned, he sheepishly gave back to the master, exactly what he had been given. He hadn’t lost anything. Because he was afraid he didn’t want to take risks and lose money, so he hid it. (v25)
FAITH vs FEAR
From this we see how fear can so cripple us. This happens when we try to do God’s work in our own strength. We keep wondering if we are doing good enough. We become afraid that God won’t be pleased. We are living in the flesh.
However as God’s servants if we are walking in the Spirit, we will not be FEARFUL. Instead, we walk by FAITH, empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will and to glorify Him.
Take a look at these verses:
Romans 8:12-17 BSB Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. (13) For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (14) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (16) The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (17) And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 BSB For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
1 John 4:16-21 BSB And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (17) In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. (18) There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. (19) We love because He first loved us. (20) If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (21) And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
Luke 1:72-75 GW
He has shown his mercy to our ancestors and remembered his holy promise, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.
He promised to rescue us from our enemies’ power so that we could serve him without fear by being holy and honorable as long as we live.