each according to his ability. The masters return presumably refers to the last days when Jesus will return, and at the final judgment unrepentant sinners will perish and those served God will be rewarded according to their actions (Revelation 20:11-15) (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Their trading of the talents signifies the faithful use that one should make of gifts and opportunities of service to God. 12:6; 1 Cor. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. A talent, just so you know, was a measure of money. Playlist: Go to the Parable of the Talents (topic) playlist . The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Mat Mt). 5 Since a talent was actually a measurement of weight, it did not have a constant value. 272 I am assuming that the second servant acted just as quickly as the first, because our Lord tells us that he acted in a similar manner. Players take turns to roll a dice. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. I am not arguing against retirement in the economic sense. But Abraham said, Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish (Luke 16:25). The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). The element of money. Those who know not the day of their visitation shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. When the master returned, the first two eagerly met their master, apparently delighted in the opportunity to multiply their masters money.273 Both were commended as good and faithful servants; both were rewarded with increased responsibilities in their masters service; both were invited to share in their masters joy. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sheep and Goats? This whole matter of profit expands the teaching of our Lord in Matthew 6: 19 Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Other, another (of more than two), different. It was not the masters problem; it was the slaves problem. Second, because they have proven themselves to be faithful with the few things entrusted to them, they are now given even greater responsibilities by their master. This story is called the Parable of the Talents. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. 27 Now my soul is greatly distressed. Bible Verses about Parable of the Talents. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their masters money. Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular, Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Play a game of pass the parcel where children must try to rip off each layer when the music stops. 29(K)For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (3) In my opinion, the main reason for assuming that verse 13 belongs with verses 1-12 is that the term (Greek, ou=n) is most often inferential, with the meaning therefore or then.274 It is not always an indication of a logical conclusion, however. Heaven is described in terms of work, not play, of activity, not passivity. 278 Actually, the good slave is both morally good and useful, but his usefulness is emphasized most in the context. Have you come to see that so far as your salvation is concerned, all of your works are like filthy rags in His sight (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-20)? In the Luke version, he gives out 10 minas to 10 servants (Luke 19:16-20 makes it clear that each servant gets one mina). What is the meaning of the Parable of the Dragnet? Start FREE. I realize that I am going to pull some whiskers by what I am about to say, but I think that I am being true to our text, and to the Bible as a whole. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. 16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work270 and gained five more. The element of profit. Literal Standard Version And he who received the five talents, having gone, worked with them, and made five other talents; Majority Standard Bible The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and made five more. I wonder how many have given serious thought to what might be called the theology of retirement. I would like to challenge every Christian to rethink the subject of retirement. 270 I hate to have to disagree with the NET Bible translation here, but it seems to me that this translation does not adequately emphasize the force of our Lords carefully chosen words, especially in context. Is the salvation of lost sinners not profit in the eternal sense? His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Faith Talk Ministries, Faithful to the End 14 For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. third servant claims that he was afraid of his master. As I thought of this slaves attitude toward his master, I was reminded of this passage in the Book of Exodus: 1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert. 2 But Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord that I should obey him by releasing Israel? He then tells the servants to put this money to work (Luke 19:13), invest it to make more money for him, and he would see their results when hes back. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). A footnote in the NIV translation says that a mina was about three months wages. The third servant was fearful and hid the one talent he was trusted with, returning just one talent to his master. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. In other words, the third slave looks upon his master as wicked, harsh, and impossible. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. In the Book of Revelation, heaven is described as a return to paradise lost: 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of lifewater as clear as crystalpouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 flowing down the middle of the citys main street. which was given to the third (unfaithful) servant is taken away and given to the faithful servant who gained the most for his master. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. This parable is paired with the parable of the 10 virgins, who made the mistake of not having enough oil when the bridegroom arrives. man allocates his resources to servants, expecting them to make a profit in his absence. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (2) Many of the commentaries acknowledge the abruptness of verse 14 as the first verse of a new paragraph. Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. I fear that for all too many Christians (not all!) We have the most valuable gift of all, the Word of God and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe that we see this in Romans 9, where Paul speaks of the things God has entrusted Israel: 1 I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying! And part of the reward the faithful slave is entering into is the joy of his Master in bringing salvation to men. First, they receive their masters commendation, Well done, good and faithful slave (verses 21, 23). Works are the result of faith, not a substitute for faith. Revelation makes it clear that in the last days, Jesus will subvert his opponents, punish them and be named king over the world. 20 For the creation was subjected to futilitynot willingly but because of God who subjected itin hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of Gods children. The third slave is just the opposite. Therefore glorify God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20). Let me see if I can defend my allegation. In the natural world, talents differ. From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power. The Parable of the Bags of Gold(A) 14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey,(B)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,[a]each according to his ability. 273 William Hendriksen, in his commentary on Matthew, finds enthusiasm and joy in the accounting the first two servants gave to their master. How is it that the one who does not have has something taken from him? An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. Enter into, He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.. If he were afraid to take any risk, then why did he not at least put the talent in the hands of the bankers, who would conservatively invest it for him, and gain at least some interest? 12:11; Eph. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. And so he simply hid the money, and now he returned it, without any gain. All rights reserved. Luke, we are told that the reason for the parable was to correct the misconception that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately; no such reason is stated in Matthew. (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Remember, this is a parable, and all ofJesus parables are about a bit more than they seem. I believe this may be the case in our text. A popular job website lists theaverage monthly wage for Americans in 2021 as $5,555 per month. This was paradise, my friend, and thus their work was not drudgery; it was a delight: 8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. [c] (K)You have been faithful over a little; (L)I will set you over much. ESV Holy Bible for Kids, Softcover Economy Edition, ESV Large-Print Value Thinline Bible--soft leather-look, navy with mosaic cross design, ESV Student Study Bible, Trutone, Green with Mosaic Cross Design, ESV Large Print Personal Size Bible--soft leather-look, chestnut, Fire Bible ESV Version, Soft Leather-look, Slate/Charcoal. Just as a businessman expects to make a profit, and rejoices when his employees increase his wealth, so God expects a profit and rejoices in it.