The Investments Of The Kingdom

Matthew 25:14-30 -- “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” “Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.” “And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.” “But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.” “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.” “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” “He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.” “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” “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.”

l. INTRODUCTION -- THE CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 25

-The words and works of Jesus Christ are like no other. There was a way that He could tell stories like no one else. He could weave the parable with such intrigue and action, but most of all with such feeling. No one could take fields and seeds and plows and wineskins and coins and sheep and even boys and make them speak like Jesus could.

-The same is true with Matthew 25. It was His last sermon. It begins in Matthew 24 and can even referred to as the Olivet Discourse. This message came in the waning hours before He was to go to the Cross. The emphasis of His words involve the Second Return of Jesus Christ.

-In teaching the disciples of His return, Jesus moves through a series of parables:

Matthew 24:32-33 -- The Fig Tree

Matthew 24:43-44 -- The Parable of the Goodman of the House

Matthew 24:45-51 -- The Parable of the Faithful Servant

Matthew 25:1-13 -- The Five Wise Virgins and the Five Foolish Virgins

Matthew 25:14-30 -- The Parable of the Talents

-The last two parables involve two major issues in the lives of men who are awaiting the return of the Lord.

(1) The Parable of the Virgins -- Deals with the fate of the unprepared.

(2) The Parable of the Talents -- Deals with the tragedy of wasted opportunity.

(3) The Parable of the Virgins -- Deals with the waiting of the return of the Lord.

(4) The Parable of the Talents -- Deals with working until the return of the Lord.

ll. THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

-The tone of the parable involves that of a landowner who is going away for a extended period of time. Before his departure, he calls his servants in and gives them various portions of his properties. To one he gives five talents, to another he gives two talents, and to another he gives one talent.

-One writer has valued a talent in those days to be worth, $29,085.00. This is a fairly substantial sum of money. It is enough to give any man a foot hold in the business world. Thus, the man who received just one talent, had enough money to get him started in some particular venture that would have benefited the master.