Gospel of Matthew Matthew 25:14-30

Transcription

1 Gospel of Matthew Matthew 25:14-30 Christ s Second Coming and End-Time Events, Part 4 In the last part of His teaching Jesus told another parable to prepare us for His second coming. The parable of the talents describes the tragedy of wasted opportunity. We must serve faithfully until He comes back. Jesus told us that we should be doing these things: watching, waiting, and working. The parable of the ten virgins (vs. 1-13) focuses on readiness in waiting, and the parable of the talents (vs ) focuses on readiness in working. The virgins who had oil for their lamps represent believers who have saving grace, whereas the two faithful servants who used their talents represent believers who demonstrate a genuine faith that works. Together these two parables portray the healthy balance of looking forward to Christ s return with anticipation while being prepared through faithful service. 1. The responsibility of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The traveling man represents Jesus The story describes a wealthy man who leaves on a trip into a far country. B. The far country represents heaven C. The servants represent professed believers They were not common laborers, but servants who had shown business ability. D. The goods or talents represent resources and duties The master gave each servant some talents (a large measure of weight), and essentially gave them the power of attorney to conduct business on his behalf. Each servant received a different amount of responsibility based on their individual abilities. Their duty was to manage and invest the master's wealth (vs. 14, 18) until he returned from his journey. These talents represent a wide range of opportunities, privileges, resources, and abilities that Jesus entrusts to us: Physical resources life, health, strength, natural abilities Financial resources income, material possessions Spiritual resources ministry opportunities, spiritual gifts Time our most valuable resource; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (168 hours a week) 2. The response of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The response of the servants was very different B. The response of the servants revealed their character Two of them were diligent and faithful. The third man was lazy and unfaithful. The first two servants invested or traded their master's resources. The word "traded" indicates a continued

2 action, and suggests that they were trading the whole time the master was gone. They didn't make one successful trade and then sit idle the rest of the time. The third servant represents someone who pretends to love Jesus, but in reality he does not serve Him but only serves himself. This man just buried his talent. It was common for people to bury money or treasured possessions to keep them safe as in the parable of the treasure hidden in the field (Mt. 13:44). Maybe this servant planned to dig it up later and cover up his laziness with a last minute trade, but never got around to it. Maybe he hoped the other two servants who invested the master's money would lose money on their investments and he would come off looking good by comparison. Whatever his thinking, he was not interested in doing what the master had said. He showed total disrespect and disregard for his master who entrusted the talent to him. 3. The reckoning of Christ s servants (vs. 19) A. The day of reckoning eventually came The exact time was unknown and it came after a long time (see 2 Pet. 3:3-10). B. Every servant gave an account No one is exempt from that day. Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Have you ever noticed in all the stories and jokes about heaven they speak of meeting St. Peter at the gate? The day of reckoning is not with St. Peter at the gate, but with Jesus Christ on the throne. The master was gone a long time. The servant who buried his talent may have assumed that his master would not return after all. The longer the master delayed, the more comfortable he felt in his disobedience. But the master did return. And when he returned suddenly, he called all his servants to give an account. 4. The reward of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The master judged his servants on the basis of faithfulness All the servants were expected to be faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. To be faithful is to be fruitful or productive, to use what you have for the benefit of the master. B. The master gave both faithful servants similar rewards The master gave a threefold reward: 1) commendation ( Well done, thou good and faithful servant ); 2) elevation ( thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ); and 3) celebration ( enter thou into the joy of thy lord ). Both servants received identical praise and both received the same promise. The master's reward was a greater responsibility and opportunity for future service. This is a picture of heaven and Christ s reward of greater opportunities of service than we can ever imagine (Rev. 22:3). Heaven won't be boring. We will have the privilege of serving Jesus forever. Vance Havner said the believer s eternity will be not a glorified vacation, but a glorious vocation; no longer hindered by the limitations of the old Adam, we shall see Him as He is and serve Him as we should (Day by Day with Vance Havner, 67). MacArthur adds: Every soul in heaven will equally possess eternal life and will be equally righteous, equally Christlike, and equally glorious. Everyone will be equally perfect, because perfection has no degrees. The difference will be in opportunities and levels of service. Just as the angels serve God in ranks, so will redeemed men and women, and the degree of their heavenly service will have been determined by the devotedness of their earthly service (Matthew 24-28, 104).

3 C. The master severely judged the wicked and lazy servant First, we have the report he gave. He described his master as a crooked man and a cruel man. He attacked his character in an effort to excuse his laziness. He attempted to blame the master rather than himself. Instead of giving an account, he gave an excuse and his excuse took the form of an accusation. This was a wicked and a false accusation. His statement only proved he did not know his master at all. The master said that his unfaithful servant was "wicked and slothful (lazy)." Burying the talent was like stealing from the master. If the master's character had been as the slave portrayed him, the slave's fear of his master would have been all the more reason for him not to bury the talent, but to invest it. The slave was caught in his own lie. The fact was that the slave did not fear his master nor did he love him. What the third servant did was inexcusable. He did not follow through on his duty and he wasted his opportunity. He never lifted a finger for his master. The third servant represents a professing Christian who is actually an unbeliever. He was cast into outer darkness or hell. D. This judgment will be a time of reward or regret When Jesus returns, we will all give an account of what we did with the opportunities, abilities, and resources we had. Christ knows if we have been faithful or unfaithful. Now is the only time we have to serve Him. Everything we have belongs to the Lord. If these resources belonged to us we could do as we pleased, but they are His, committed to us for a short time. When Jesus comes it will be a time of eternal reward for some and a time of eternal regret for others. So live that when Christ comes you can say, I m glad I did, instead of saying, I wish I had.

4 Gospel of Matthew Matthew 25:14-30 Christ s Second Coming and End-Time Events, Part 4 In the last part of His teaching Jesus told another parable to prepare us for His second coming. The parable of the talents describes the tragedy of wasted opportunity. We must serve faithfully until He comes back. Jesus told us that we should be doing these things: watching, waiting, and working. The parable of the ten virgins (vs. 1-13) focuses on readiness in waiting, and the parable of the talents (vs ) focuses on readiness in working. The virgins who had oil for their lamps represent believers who have saving grace, whereas the two faithful servants who used their talents represent believers who demonstrate a genuine faith that works. Together these two parables portray the healthy balance of looking forward to Christ s return with anticipation while being prepared through faithful service. 1. of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The traveling man represents B. The far country represents C. The servants represent D. The goods or talents represent The master gave each servant some talents (a large measure of weight), and essentially gave them the power of attorney to conduct business on his behalf. Each servant received a different amount of responsibility based on their individual abilities. Their duty was to manage and invest the master's wealth (vs. 14, 18) until he returned from his journey. These talents represent a wide range of opportunities, privileges, resources, and abilities that Jesus entrusts to us: life, health, strength, natural abilities income, material possessions ministry opportunities, spiritual gifts our most valuable resource 2. of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The response of the servants B. The response of the servants 3. of Christ s servants (vs. 19) A. The day of reckoning The exact time was unknown and it came after a long time (see 2 Pet. 3:3-10).

5 B. Every servant Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 4. of Christ s servants (vs ) A. The master judged his servants on All the servants were expected to be faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. To be faithful is to be fruitful or productive, to use what you have for the benefit of the master. B. The master gave both faithful servants The master gave a threefold reward: 1) commendation ( Well done, thou good and faithful servant ); 2) elevation ( thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ); and 3) celebration ( enter thou into the joy of thy lord ). Both servants received identical praise and both received the same promise. The master's reward was a greater responsibility and opportunity for future service. This is a picture of heaven and Christ s reward of greater opportunities of service than we can ever imagine (Rev. 22:3). Heaven won't be boring. We will have the privilege of serving Jesus forever. Vance Havner said the believer s eternity will be not a glorified vacation, but a glorious vocation; no longer hindered by the limitations of the old Adam, we shall see Him as He is and serve Him as we should (Day by Day with Vance Havner, 67). MacArthur adds: Every soul in heaven will equally possess eternal life and will be equally righteous, equally Christlike, and equally glorious. Everyone will be equally perfect, because perfection has no degrees. The difference will be in opportunities and levels of service. Just as the angels serve God in ranks, so will redeemed men and women, and the degree of their heavenly service will have been determined by the devotedness of their earthly service (Matthew 24-28, 104). C. The master severely judged First, we have the report he gave. He described his master as a crooked man and a cruel man. He attacked his character in an effort to excuse his laziness. He attempted to blame the master rather than himself. This was a wicked and a false accusation. His statement only proved he did not know his master at all. The fact was that the slave did not fear his master nor did he love him. What the third servant did was inexcusable. He did not follow through on his duty and he wasted his opportunity. He never lifted a finger for his master. The third servant represents a professing Christian who is actually an unbeliever. He was cast into outer darkness or hell. D. This judgment will be When Jesus returns, we will all give an account of what we did with the opportunities, abilities, and resources we had. Christ knows if we have been faithful or unfaithful. Now is the only time we have to serve Him. Everything we have belongs to the Lord. If these resources belonged to us we could do as we pleased, but they are His, committed to us for a short time. When Jesus comes it will be a time of eternal reward for some and a time of eternal regret for others.