Decisions

February 4, 2024

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. 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.’
Read Matthew 25:14-18
1. Jesus begins with the phrase “Again, it will be like….” What does the “it” refer to? How might you find out?
2. As you understand the parable, who does the man going on the journey represent?
3. The man ‘entrusts’ his wealth to his servants. How is this different than if he had ‘given’ his wealth to them? Who does the wealth belong to?
4. What does this suggest about whatever God might entrust to you and me?

Read Matthew 25:19-23
5. Reflect back to question 1 above. What is this parable about? How does the master’s return from his extended journey play into that?
6. What does this story reveal about the master’s expectations of his servants when he entrusted his wealth to them? What makes the master happy?
7. What do you imagine it means to ‘share in your master’s happiness?’

Read Matthew 25:24-27
8. What motivated the third servant? How did that work out for him?
9. To what extent do you feel sympathy for the third servant? Why or why not?
10. In what areas of your life does fear get in the way?

Read Matthew 25:28-30
11. Discuss the implications of these very confusing verses.