Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

A TALENT
Two thousand years ago a talent was a large monetary measurement that consisted of 6,000 denarii in Greek and Roman silver coins. A laborer was paid one denarius per day and he needed to work for 6,000 hours (16.44 years) to earn one talent.¹

My Thomas Nelson Bible published in 1990 states that ten talents of silver are worth $1,920,000; four talents are worth $768,000; one talent is worth $192,000.

THE MASTER
A man (Jesus) who was going to travel to a far country and delivered goods to His servants (the church) so they could take care of His business. Matthew 25:14

He bestowed various amounts of money so they had the ability to carry on business on behalf of their master. The man considered each servant’s ability and bestowed accordingly:

• One servant received five talents ($960,000).

• One servant received two talents ($384,000).

• One servant received one talent ($192,000). verse 15

When Jesus was ready to ascend to heaven, He imparted power to disciples through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:4-9

FIRST SERVANT
The servant who got five talents used his abilities to double the investment entrusted to him. Matthew 25:16

On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus had been executed, the apostle Peter used the power of the Holy Spirit to preach in the city of Jerusalem and 3,000 men received Christ as their Lord and Savior and were baptized in water. Acts 2:38-41

SECOND SERVANT
The servant with two talents also doubled his investment. Matthew 25:17

The deacon, Phillip, was instructed by the Holy Spirit to go the desert area of Gaza. There he met a eunuch from Ethiopia who served as the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia. Philip led him to Christ and baptized him in water. The eunuch continued on his travel to Ethiopia and this man was responsible for the whole nation turning to Christ. Acts 8:26-39

The two servants who respectively received five and two talents used it in honest labor to double the amounts prior to their master’s return.

THIRD SERVANT
The third servant never accepted the investment from his lord; he dug a hole in the ground to hide his single talent. He neglected his God-given abilities and failed to do what his master expected. Matthew 25:18

Judas Iscariot was appointed an apostle, but he never accepted Jesus as the Messiah. That is why he turned the God-man over to the reprobate Jewish religious leadership. Matthew 26:14-16

THE LORD RETURNS
After a long time, the lord came back to his country to determine what his servants had accomplished during his absence. Matthew 25:19

The master was very pleased with the servant who received five talents and doubled the investment. The lord promised to make him ruler of many things. verses 20-21

The master was also very pleased with the servant who received two talents and doubled the investment. He too was praised by his lord and told he would become a ruler over many things. verses 22-23

THE JUDGMENT
The money in this parable represents salvation. The third servant never worked out the salvation available to him. He acknowledged the lord as his master, and pretended to serve him, even though he had done nothing with the talent entrusted to him. He was gripped by fear of failure, fear punishment, and felt he couldn’t measure up to the standard of his master. verses 24-25

The lord turned the tables on the servant and used his own words against him. If the lord was as the servant described, he should have known better than to bury the talent and try to return it without any increase. The talent was seized and given to the first servant who doubled the five talents assigned to him. verses 26-29

Jesus offers salvation to every human being; from Adam to the last man. The third servant was sentenced to outer darkness because he was unprofitable in relation to himself as far as salvation is concerned.

The three servants were not endowed with equal talents. The first two made an honest effort to improve what they possessed. The third servant did nothing. He buried the talent in the dirt. This is why his punishment was so severe. The lack of effort was an affront to the master and the sole reason he was condemned and cast away. verse 30

RETURN OF JESUS
When Jesus spoke this parable about the lord and his servants, He stood in front of the people as a man. The Jewish religious and political leadership looked upon him in contempt because He had no value to them. The God/man told His audience that He was going to return to the earth in the future. He would come in full glory with power to judge the nations and individuals. Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:11-16

SUMMARY
The parable of the talents reveals the Godhead is serious in their offer of salvation to humanity. They expect Christians to be faithful and willing to do the work of God on earth.

A born-again believer is saved to do good works, and when a we refuse to do our duty, it becomes a sin. James 4:17

It is imperative to repent of your sins and ask Jesus to save you. If you attend a church where salvation is not preached, more than likely you are not saved. This holds true for people in the Roman Catholic Church as well as the Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, etc.

It is a frightening thing to be a church member, and when you pass away, Jesus declares, “I don’t know who you are.” Matthew 7:21-23

1.  https://tinyurl.com/57tpk884