09 13 parable of talents
TRANSCRIPT
The Beginning of Birth Pangs
& Judgement on Jerusalem
(Matt 24:1-31)
Rev Dr Anthony Loke
30 August 2015
• Describes events that must happen before the
return of Christ
• Different view points / different interpretations
of end days events
The End of the Age &
Jesus’s Second Coming
(Matt 24:36-51)
Rev Dr Anthony Loke
6 Sept 2015
• Warning signs
• Suddenness
• Ancient Greek word meaning presence, arrival or official visit.
• Used 24 times in NT.
• 6 times: Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Titus, Paul.
• 7th – coming of the lawless one (2 Thess 2:9).
• 17 times – Second coming of Jesus Christ.
Old Testament
• unit of weight measurement for precious metals, gold or silver
• About 75lb or 35kg
New Testament
• Largest unit of currency
• A talent = roughly 20 years of wages
3 Sections / 3 Scenes:
2. V16-18 – The servants’ working with the entrusted talents
3. V19-30 – The Master’s return & settling accounts with servants
1. V14 -15 – The Master distributing his talents
The Parable of TalentsMatt 25:14-30
The Master’s Apportionment
The Servants’ Actions
The Master’s Appraisal
The Master’s Apportionment Matt 25:14-15
1. Talents are not natural gifting or abilities, but opportunities & responsibilities given based on gifting or abilities.
2. The Master’s prerogative.
3. Different amount for different servants.
The Servants’ ActionsMatt 25:16-18
Servant #1:1. Went AT ONCE2. Put his money to work3. Gained 5 more
Servant #2:1. So also… (NIV); Did the same… (Message)2. Gained 2 more
The Master’s AppraisalMatt 25:19-30
1. V19: “after a long time….”• Not immediate• Be watchful, require careful planning• Consistent, persevering
2. The master returned and settled account• Certainty of event• Certainty of
accountability
The Master’s AppraisalMatt 25:19-30
Servant #1: (v20)1. Report & account
Master: (v21)1. Commendation2. Promotion
“The reward for obedient service is the capacity for greater service.”
3. Invitation
The Master’s AppraisalMatt 25:19-30
Servant #2: (v22-23)1. Report & account2. Same reply from the Master
Observation:1. Not the portion but the
proportion2. Not quantum but
faithfulness
The Master’s AppraisalMatt 25:19-30
Servant #3: (v24-25)1. Accuse
“I knew that you are a hard man…”
2. Excuse“I was afraid…”
3. Inaction“I hid…”
The Master’s AppraisalMatt 25:19-30
Servant #3: (v26-30)1. Reproof
“You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew….”
2. Demotion“Take the talent from him and give it to….”
3. Rejection“Throw that worthless servant outside….”
Parable of Talents – Lesson #1
Faithfulness
Definition: loyal, steadfast, trustworthy, reliable, strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious
Parable of Talents – Lesson #1
Faithfulness• Colonel Abraham Davenport• Speaker of Connecticut House of
Representative, American Civil War• 19th May 1780• “Dark Day”
Parable of Talents – Lesson #1
Faithfulness
Charles Spurgeon (1834-92)• “Prince of Preacher”• Preached to thousands
every Sunday
“…if I had not been willing to preach to those small gatherings of people in obscure country
places, I should never have had the privilege of preaching to thousands of men and women in
large buildings all over the land…”
Parable of Talents – Lesson #2
Attitude
Definition: a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, that is reflected in a person's behavior.
“The state of your life is nothing more than
a reflection of the state of your mind.”― Wayne W. Dyer
Parable of Talents – Lesson #2
Attitude
.
Servant #1 & #2: • You “entrusted” me…
Servant #3:• Self-centered attitude• Perception of his master… harsh & exploiting
the labours of others• His accusation was a cover up of his own
irresponsibility• He was afraid….
V 30 – Outer Darkness / Gnashing of Teeth
Problem verse:• Is the 3rd servant a Christian?• Did he lose his salvation?
IMHO: • Parable – a story to illustrate truth; dangerous
to build theology on parables• Personal application – NEVER Servant #3!!!
• NOT wicked• NOT lazy