The Parable of the Talents

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The Parable of the Talents

• Matthew 2514-30

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Introduction

• Follows The Ten Virgins
• Context is teaching about the Second Coming of
  Jesus
• Ten Virgins emphasized the need to be prepared
  and watching
• The Talents is going to emphasize being
  productive and working

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The Parable

• Mt 2514-15
• A man about to travel gives his servants money
• A talent 6000 denarii
• A denarius 1 days wage 40
• A talent 240,000
• One receives 5, one 2, one 1
• 1.2million, 480,000, 240,000
• Each according to his ability

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The Parable

• Mt 2516-18
• The first two double the money
• The third simply hides the money for safety

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The Parable

• Mt 2519-23
• The return is after a long time
• The first two servants eagerly announce their
  results
• Their master was pleased
• Each is praised, Well done
• Each commended as a good and faithful servant
• Each rewarded, put in charge of many things
• Each invited to enter into the joy of your
  master

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The Parable

• Mt 2524-30
• The third servant begins with excuses
• I knew and I was afraid
• Attempts to appease his master
• You have what is yours
• His master is displeased
• a wicked and lazy servant
• Should at least have gained interest
• Takes away what he had and gives to the first
• Cast into outer darkness

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The meaning of the parable

• Jesus is the master who is going away
• His disciples are the servants
• The talents are everything we have
• Money, jobs, health, abilities, family, etc.
• What we have BELONGS to God, we are merely
  caretakers (stewards)
• We have what God thinks we can use
• Jesus will not return for a long time
• Your reward not based on how much you have, but
  on how you used what you have

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Application

• Everything should be done while looking toward
  the judgment (2 Cor 510)
• If we serve faithfully, we will share in the
  Lords joy (2 Thes 110-12)
• If we are unfaithful, we will be punished (2 Thes
  16-9)

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Using your talents

• Before you can use them, you need to know what
  you have
• Not everyone has same talents or same number
• Rom 123-8
• Some talents are easy to see (e.g., money)
• Some talents have to be trained (e.g., teaching)
• To know what you have, you need to try everything
• Dont give up if you feel you are no good at
  first
• You may be burying a talent given to you

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Conclusion

• The Lord has given ALL of us some talents
• He expects us to be making full use of them while
  He is gone
• When He comes He expects to find us prepared and
  show evidence we have been productive
• When He comes He expects to find us watching and
  to find us working
• Will He say to you, Well done, good and faithful
  servant?
• Or will He say You wicked and lazy slave?

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