Elements City Church
The Stories of Jesus: A Study in the Parables There are over 30 recorded parables Jesus told His followers. These stories help us better understand God’s truth, our calling, and the principles around which followers of Jesus are to base their lives.
The Stories of Jesus: The Parable of the Talents
If last week was about obedience, this week is about faithfulness. True obedience isn't temporary; it's the result of continually making decisions to follow Jesus in obedience.
Matthew 25:14-23 ESV
Matthew 25:24-30 ESV
The true followers of Jesus will be faithful to use what they've been given.
1 Talent = approximately 16.5 years of wages
In 2019, the average salary in the US was $51,900.
1 Talent = $856,350
2 Talents = over $1.7 million
5 Talents = over $4.25 million
If you want to grow in faithfulness continually do what Jesus did.
We can’t show people what God is like if we don’t know ourselves, which is why we have to be consistently reading the Bible.
God recognizes that we are all different and expects of us only what is appropriate.
"Clearly Jesus wants his hearers to understand that the master was a very rich man. While we do not know exactly how much five talents were worth in our money, it seems clear that it was a considerable sum. But the master can speak of it as no more than a few things. Now that the servant has proved himself in what the master regards as a comparatively lowly piece of service, further doors of opportunity will be opened to him. “I will appoint you over many things” indicates that the faithful servant will be rewarded with a position that will give him more scope for the use of the abilities that he has shown he possesses."
Leon Morris
Perhaps the successful servants felt empowered because they knew what was given to them to manage wasn’t theirs in the first place. . .
Because they knew they their master had an incredible wealth of riches they recognized they could be adventurous with what they were given.
What about the third servant?
"He ignored his responsibility to his master and his obligation to discharge his duty. Moreover, he showed no love for his master, whom he blamed, attempting thereby to cover up his own failure."
Dr. Constable
How often do we misunderstand God’s character, and then blame Him for our own failure to act on His grace shown to us?
From The New Bible Commentary:
"The fault of the third servant was that he did not recognize his master’s intention, and opted for safety instead of service. Hoping to avoid doing anything wrong, he finished up by not doing anything right."
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
“In view of God’s mercy. . .”
We serve as a response to God's mercy in our lives.
“This is your true and proper worship”
Greek word used is “logikos,” which also translates as reasonable or rational. From this we get the word "logic."
It is logical that in view of God’s mercies we would present ourselves as living sacrifices, willing to serve.
The problem with a living sacrifice is its ability to crawl off of the altar.
Be encouraged: God has already created opportunities for you to use your gifts for His glory.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
We hope you have been blessed by your time worshipping with us -- through song and through the Word!
We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we launch continue our series, The Stories of Jesus: A Study in the Parables.