Investing Our Talents Series

This evening’s sermon is entitled, “Investing Our Talents,” and it’s taken from what is called “The Parable of the Talents.” In reference to this passage, Donald S. Whitney states, “[God] said in Matthew 25:14-30, that we are accountable for all the talents we have received and how we use them for the sake of our Master.”(1) The Lord has given all believers talents to use for His glory. So, what does this parable mean when it speaks about being accountable for talents? How is it that we possess them, and in what manner are we supposed to use them for the sake of the kingdom? These are some question for which we will seek an answer this evening.

The Bestowal of Goods (vv. 14-18)

14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

In verse 14, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.” What did He mean by this statement? Jesus was sharing a prophecy concerning Himself and His followers. “The Parable of the Talents” actually lies within a long discourse given to the disciples, which begins back in Matthew chapter 24. In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming and the end of the age; and their question was partially answered with “The Parable of the Talents.”

The disciples wanted to know the sign of Jesus’ return. The question they asked suggested that Jesus was going somewhere, for a person has to be in another place in order to return. In Matthew 25:14, when Jesus mentioned “a man traveling to a far country,” He was speaking of His own departure. The man traveling to a far country was Jesus, and His servants were the disciples. So, is there a Bible reference to back this conclusion? Yes there is, and it’s found in Luke 24:49-51.

In Luke 24:49, Jesus said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” We then read in verses 50-51, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” This passage reveals that the man traveling to a far country was indeed Jesus, and the far country to which He traveled was heaven; and the servants He left behind were His disciples. This passage also reveals the “goods” that were delivered to the disciples.

The “goods” are stated to be “the Promise of My Father” (Luke 24:49). The promise of the Father was that the disciples would be filled with the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-8 speaks about the reason why He had to depart, and why the Spirit was so important to the disciples. In this passage Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

Jesus departed in order for the disciples to be empowered with the Holy Spirit. If the disciples witnessed to people while filled with the Spirit, then their message would have been more effective at convicting those around them of their sins, and their need for salvation. The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples’ ministry, and allowed them to win more souls to Christ.

The Holy Spirit abides in each and every person who knows Jesus as Savior and Lord, because all believers are considered to be His disciples. The Spirit will enable us to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; however, one must not take this fact for granted. The Holy Spirit will only empower believers who allow Him to do so. This fact brings us to the bestowal of the differing amount of talents.

In verses 15-17, we can see that talents were bestowed on the servants; or rather, on those who follow Christ. In reference to this passage, A. T. Robertson said, “One talent represented a considerable amount of money at a time when a denarius was a day’s wage.”(2) Back in the 1930’s, Robertson stated that a day’s wage at top pay was a denarius, which equaled about 18 cents in U. S. currency.(3) Today, a denarius equals about 140 U. S. dollars. Robertson said that a talent equaled about 1000 U. S. dollars,(4) and today a talent is equivalent to about 840,000 U. S. dollars.(5)