Matthew 25:14-30

Matthew25:14-30
In the parable of the virgins, Jesus warned about preparedness for His second coming. He continues His warnings about the final Judgment by following up with the parable of the Talents. A “talent” was a monetary unit worth about 20 years wages for the common laboring man. Considering that there was a five-talent, two-talent, and one-talent man, we can see that even the one-talent man received a sizeable sum of money.
It is important to keep three things in mind. (1) This was not a gift, but property of the master that was entrusted to his servants. (2) The master expected his servants to in some way increase the value of what they were given. (3) The amount of talents given to each one was determined by the ability of the servant. The two-talent man is rewarded the same as the five-talent man. Their reward was based on whether they multiplied what was entrusted to them, not on the original amount of talents given or on their level of ability.
Next, it is significant that each of the three men to whom talents were entrusted were servants. In other words, as in the parable of the virgins, these are all disciples. As we would later say, these are all Christians. Therefore, Jesus is teaching what is required of a disciple. To every disciple Jesus has given certain opportunities in the form of time, money, abilities, and opportunities. We will be judged on how we use these “talents” that have been entrusted to us. If we use them exclusively to advance our own desires and agenda, we will be as the one-talent man. We must use what God has given us to advance His cause.
Now consider the words (excuses) of the one-talent man. Instead of accepting responsibility for his lack of productivity, he blames it on the master. Think about it; is it true that the Lord expects to reap where He has not sown? Did not the Lord “sow” when He gave each one certain money to use in furthering His cause? In fact, the master answers and basically says, “If that is what you thought of me, you could have at least given the money to bankers and made interest on it.” In other words, do something other than ignore the fact that I gave you something of mine with the intent of reaping more.
Notice how Jesus refers to the one-talent man: “wicked and slothful.” Had the man been immoral? Had he lived a grossly sinful lifestyle? There is no evidence of it. He is “wicked and slothful” based on what he did not do, not based on what he did. The result is that this “servant” of the Lord is cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Finally, we see that the Lord took away the talent and gave it to the one who had ten. The result is twofold: (1) the one-talent man now has nothing and is therefore sentenced to an eternity without the Lord. (2) The ten-talent man receives another talent. Having proven his trustworthiness he is given even more, allowing him to be even more productive for the Lord.
Berry Kercheville