Recently I was asked to look over a passage in Matthew 25. Starting in verse 14 and ending in verse 30, I read the very common and often misunderstood parable of the talents (or pounds in Luke). I have learned over the years as I study my Bible that when there is a story in one of the gospels, there’s also one in another. So, after searching for its companion passage, I found Luke 19:11-27. For those who are not in the position to open their Bibles, here it is:
And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Luke 19:11-27
Let’s break it down before moving on…
“A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.”
This phrase attributes the main character as a man of noble birth. For the context of our parable, this is Jesus Christ, Son of David, the Only Begotten of the Father. He goes into a far country, Heaven, to receive a kingdom from the Father, where He sits at the right hand interceding for us as the Head of the Body of the Bride of Christ. He is to return, but first He must entrust His servants with some pounds.
“Occupy till I come”
This word, occupy, is only used once in the Bible. This Greek word is pragmateuomai (Don’t worry, I can’t say it either). The word means to be occupied or to carry on a business, particularly that of a banker or trader. Now, what are we to occupy as Christians? Keep reading.
“that he might know how much every man had gained by trading”
This little phrase tells us something that is not found in the parallel passage of Matthew 25:14-30. Why did the nobleman give these servants money for investing by trading? It goes on to say the justice and reward system used for each of the servants, but I’d like to deviate to a very important little note. A few notes…
1 Corinthians 12:7
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
We are given His Holy Spirit as an investment. He invests in us His Spirit. Think about that from a financial guru’s perspective. You only invest in something you find worth the risk and/or something with value. Let that sink in as we continue. We are given “the manifestation” of the Spirit to profit His Kingdom. We are His stewards. We have been tasked as Christians with the responsibility of investing what He has given us: the Holy Spirit. This manifestation means bestowment. So, Christ has figuratively and literally gifted us with His Spirit as followers of Him to use and profit for His Kingdom.
1 Corinthians 4:1,2
"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
We are His ministers: “servants” or “anyone who aids another in work”. We are stewards of His mysteries. What are these mysteries?
Ephesians 3:3-7 states that one of these many mysteries is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs in the promise of Christ. Notice when Paul says, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” That’s what it’s all about! God gives us the gift of grace through His Holy Spirit. We are ministers of the calling of God: to share the mysteries!
1 Peter 4:10
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
As we each have received a gift from Christ, let us use it to be good stewards and profit the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven counts riches not as money but rather as souls who have been released by Jesus’ blood from captivity under the bonds of our evil world. We are each given a specific gift, rare to us and unique to our ability (Matthew 25:15).
The Unprofitable Steward
Now that we have a little background, let us return to the discussion at hand. I have heard this parable taught many times, but I have never heard it go into so much detail regarding the last steward who did not invest correctly and hid his gift away. Let us hear his sentence once more:
And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
Luke 19:20-24
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:24-30
Ouch. He not only is called a lazy wicked servant but his investment is taken away and he is thrown into outer darkness. Now, hold up. Isn’t that a little harsh? I mean, that servant was terrified, so he just hoarded the investment so he wouldn’t lose it. At least the Lord gets it back.
This might be your initial thought, but let me point you to another Scripture: Luke 12:42-48.
Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:43-48
Woah. So here’s what I’d like you to take from what I was shown in Scripture and learned this morning.
- We, as followers of Christ, are given the Holy Spirit to invest in the Kingdom.
- Investing as a faithful servant means to make Heaven crowded and to free the lost.
- We are each given gifts of grace by the Holy Spirit to minister to the Bride of Christ and to those outside in the enemy lines of this dark world.
- We are each justly rewarded for our investing outcomes, i.e. the ten pounds was given ten cities and the five, five.
- Notice: that the punished steward was not punished because he had earned one in addition to what he was given, rather he was punished because he had not invested at all!
- We are each given gifts and talents for the furthering of His Kingdom and if we squander life away for our pleasure, we will be rewarded as an unbeliever. For we have become one who disbelieves in deed and action while forsaking Christ with our testimony.
- John 15:1-11
- Luke 12:42-48
Think on these things. Are we being good and faithful servants of our Lord Jesus and investing in other people’s lives for the Kingdom? or are we hoarding His grace to ourselves and acting like the world?
If you answered the last one in your heart, please check yourself before He comes and you are unprepared.
BONUS: 10 is the number of responsibility; 5 is for God’s Grace; 1 is for unity.
By the servant not investing his single gifted talent, he was separated from Jesus and lost the unity of his relationship with Him.
The Wanderer 