Read Matthew 25:14-3014For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And 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. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And 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. 21His 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. 22He 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. 23His 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. 24Then 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: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His 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: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For 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. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14‑30)
In this parable we have the responsibility of Christ’s servants. It is not, as in the parable of the Ten Virgins, a question of profession or possession, but a present responsibility to the Lord during His absence, and His future dealing with the servants according to their having been faithful or unfaithful. It therefore most solemnly instructs us that, when the Lord returns, He will inquire into the practical conduct of those who have taken a place of service during His absence. This instruction is presented to us in a very homely, simple way, but is full of serious and searching questions for the heart and conscience.
It is important to notice that the servants do not all receive the same number of talents. “Unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one.” Verse 15. There was in the distribution of the talents regard as to the fitness, natural fitness, of the vessel to whom the talents were entrusted. He gave to every man “according to his several ability.” This shows, not only the perfect wisdom of the distribution, but also assures us that the Lord never gives talents to people who have not the ability to use them.
It is remarkable too, that the persons, who faithfully used the talents, not only gained by trading, but the talents actually increased in number; the servant got “other talents.” Nor should it be overlooked that it was not the person who had several talents committed to his trust that so grievously failed, but the servant that had only “one talent.” How few seem to consider what responsibility there is connected with the profession of the Lord’s service! The Lord has been absent now for a long time. The longsuffering of the Lord has been very great; the door of salvation by grace has long been wide open; but longsuffering must have an end, the door must be shut and the Lord must judge those who have professed to be His servants. “After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” Verse 19.
The judgment of the faithful servants is simple enough, and nothing could be happier. They knew the Master’s loving heart; they proved His succor; they experienced His blessing. The joy of the Lord was their strength; His love constrained them; His worthiness enabled them to spend their talents in His service with alacrity and delight. They were conscious too, of vast increase gained by trading. Thus the more they sowed, the more they reaped; the more they gave, the more to them was given. They therefore see their Master’s face with joy, and render their account with confidence and cheerfulness.
“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.” The Lord commends and honors him. “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.” Verses 20-21.
We find the same confidence and joyous confession to the lord of the one who had used the two talents faithfully, and the same proportionate increase by its use. He has also precisely the same commendation from his lord:
“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.” Verse 23.
This is very blessed, and shows that the Lord does not expect from us what He has not given us power to perform. While He loves a cheerful giver, “it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what a man hath not.” The great instruction seems to be that the Lord expects us to use faithfully for Him during His absence what He has intrusted us with, and at His coming He will reward us accordingly.
The account of the servant who had but “one talent” reads to us the most solemn and serious lessons. The chief feature in his history is that, though professing the Lord’s service, he had a bad opinion of Christ Himself. This is fatal. He believed not the record that God gave of His Son; he saw nothing attractive in Him. He received not the grace and truth that came by Him. He perceived not the inimitable beauty and worth of Jesus. He knew not “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:99For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9). This was the root of all his unfaithful conduct. How could he be faithful to One of whom he had such thoughts?
“He that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.” Verse 24.
With such thoughts of our adorable Lord, how could there be confidence? How could the heart be melted and sweetly drawn into willing, happy devotedness to such an austere man? No marvel, then, that the further confession of his heart, uncovered as it was in the presence of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, should be, “I was afraid, and went and hid Thy talent in the earth: lo, there Thou hast that is thine.” Verse 25.
Not a word of faith, or love, or true knowledge of Christ in the whole confession! He might have had a splendid gift, but the vessel was unclean, unreconciled, unwashed, untaught by the Spirit of God as to his own guilt, and his need of the infinite suitability and perfectness of the atoning work of the Son of God; his heart was not right with God; there was no right motive in action in his soul. Hence the Lord pronounces him to be “wicked,” “slothful,” and “unprofitable.” He convicts him from his own lips, and shows his utter inconsistence with his own principles:
“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.” Verses 26-27.
There is a point that must not be overlooked in the Lord’s judgment of this wicked servant. It is this: the Lord permits men here to bear His name, and to be called His servants by others who manifestly know Him not; but it cannot be so in eternity. Everything now covered up is then to be thoroughly unmasked; men will be consigned to punishment as they really are. There will be no professors of the name of Christ in hell fire. If the “one talent” be but the bearing of the name and truth of Christ, he must be entirely stripped of every shred of it, and go to the pit of everlasting torment as a wicked man; for such he really is.
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that 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.” Verses 28-30.
Can anything more solemnly admonish us to attach the deepest seriousness and reverence to the Lord’s service, or more simply instruct us as to the grace of the Lord Jesus, and personal acquaintance with and enjoyment of Him “who once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God,” as the spring of all faithful service to Christ? Does it not also show how careful we should be not to urge any to the profession of the Lord’s service who are not truly reconciled to God by the peace-making, peace-speaking power of the blood of the cross?