I have been studying the parable of the talents, which is found in Matthew 25:14-30. We will take some time to unpack the meaning of the parable. It is, for me, a guiding principle for 2025 both in my business and personal affairs.
The opening description of the parable is key to understanding the purpose of Christ’s teaching. In Matthew 25:14, Jesus says, “For it is just like…” This phrase ties back to Matthew 25:1 and helps us understand that chapter 25 is a continuous teaching. In Matthew 25:1, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be comparable to…”
There are at least 16 parables in which Jesus compares or likens the kingdom of heaven to the subject of the parable. In other words, we can understand what Christ’s kingdom is like, what will be expected of us in heaven, and how Christ administers His kingdom by understanding these parables. By extension, because the kingdom of Christ is now and ruling the earth, we can also understand what Christ expects of us while we remain on this earth.
The thrust of the parable is faithfulness. In the parable, we also find work, fruitfulness, and stewardship.
The three servants might represent Israel, the Gentiles, and collectively the scribes, Pharisees and chief priests. However, we will not be so technical, for the parable is timeless. Dwelling on technicalities makes the parable inapplicable to us today and detracts from the meaning of Christ’s teaching. The kingdom of heaven is the most prominent feature of the parable, not specific people groups.
The three servants represent each human being. To some are given greater talents, grace, ability, opportunity, and wealth than are given to others. What will we make of what has been entrusted to us, whether it is little or much?
The basics of the parable are as follows:
• The man with the possessions represents Jesus Christ.
• The “slaves” represent each of us, every human being.
• Per the NASB, a talent was equivalent to 15 years’ wages of a laborer. In other words, a talent was extremely valuable. The possessions represent grace, the earth, all of creation, the animals, crops, time, health, ability and skill, knowledge and memory, understanding, wealth, estate, honor, dignity, relationships, natural and acquired habits, enjoyments, the advantage of our own souls, the advantage of the souls of others, and opportunity.
We can objectively observe that varying people have received varying degrees of Christ’s possessions. To be sure, some have more or less depending upon their own effort. However, we cannot deny that it is God who gives life, and certain individuals are born into royalty, luxury, and wealth, while others into poverty, squalor, and peasantry.
The reason the parable turns on faithfulness is that we are not judged comparatively to others. The focus in the parable is whether we have been faithful with what we have been given. My obedience and performance in this life will not be judged on how I handled $50 billion of wealth, for I do not have such an opportunity.
However, those who do must understand that to whom much has been given much will be required. Luke 12:48 To those who have more of Christ’s possessions, whether it be wealth, intelligence, opportunity, grace, or notoriety, there is a greater accountability awaiting.
On the other hand, we cannot compare ourselves to those whom we perceive have more of Christ’s possessions and count ourselves useless or of no advantage and bury our talents. Every human being has received a share of Christ’s possessions and will be held accountable on his or her faithfulness with the talents received.
We can, thus, understand somewhat of the kingdom of heaven because accountability is on faithfulness and ability rather than performance relative to those we perceive to have more. Those who have received more will face greater accountability.
We can end today’s discussion with these questions:
• What is in your hand?
• What is in front of you?
• What can you do today?
• What opportunities do you have right now?
• What is reasonably possible in 6 months? A year? Five years?
These questions must not only relate to earthly possessions and opportunity but also to the opportunity to accept Christ and grow deeper in Christ. If you are reading this and do not know Christ or believe in Him, what opportunity do you have today to accept Him?
I think a great danger we all face is envy, discontent, and coveting what we see others doing and the opportunities we see in others, and then sit idle because we do not have what we need to be more successful. The difficulty lies in our perception that success is measured by what we do not have – greater ability, greater wealth, greater opportunity, or greater grace.
Success and faithfulness are measured by what we accomplish with what we have available to us. There are no “victims” in the kingdom of heaven. We are, instead, accountable for engineering our own outcomes to the extent of our ability and resources.
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