The Point: Jesus told the parable of the talents to let His followers know He expects them to invest themselves and all they have been given in the kingdom.

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
• “It” is the coming of the

of God when Jesus returns after His ascension to judge the nations & those in His kingdom.
• What kind of judgment will they face? It will be a judgment of faithfulness in stewardship.

15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
• In NT times, a talent was a unit of monetary reckoning valued at about 6,000 denarii, the equivalent of about 20 years’ wages for a laborer. In 2021, the average yearly earnings for an American worker is $46,488. So, in today’s terms one talent would equate to $929,760.
• Each manager received a different amount of

, but the important part is not how much it was but that it was “according to His ability.”

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17  So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
• The first and second servants acted industriously and earned a

on their entrusted amounts, probably by setting up some kind of business.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
• Since there were no formal banks in ancient times, it was common practice to bury valuables.

19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
• The master’s identical statements of praise to both servants show that what was important was not the total amount earned but

in utilizing what had been given to them.
• Faithful stewardship in this life will result in being given greater responsibility and stewardship in the life to come.

24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
• The third servant’s actions result from his apparent

of his master, which manifests itself in laziness and bad stewardship.
• MacArthur >> His characterization of the master maligns the man as a cruel and ruthless opportunist

26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
• MacArthur >> In repeating the servant’s charge against him, the master was not acknowledging that it was true. Rather, he was allowing the man’s own words to condemn him. If the servant really believed the master to be the kind of man he portrayed, that was all the more reason for him not to be slothful. His accusation against the master—even if it had been true—did not justify his own laziness.

28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
• Using one’s God-given abilities wisely and productively is a vital aspect of

and will be rewarded with additional opportunities to serve God faithfully and fruitfully.

What are your “talents?”

• Most of the time, we directly associate stewardship with money.
• Andrew Murray >> The world asks, “What does a man own?”; Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?
• How much does God own? Everything. Of all that we have, what have we been given? Everything.
• Time (your number of days), health, energy, experiences/background, abilities, passions, skills, opportunities, spiritual gifts – it’s all from grace
• Romans 13:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. >> Sure there are people with more than you, but instead of thinking about what you don’t have, you are called to consider great the things that you do have.
• Bruce Barton >> Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.
• All of these are meant to be leveraged to advance the kingdom of God for the glory of God because the King is returning!