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The Servants Entrusted with the Masters Money.

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Matthew 25:14-30 Luke 19:12-27
14For it (the kingdom of heaven), is as if a man going abroad called his own servants and gave them his goods. 15And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his ability. And he went abroad at once. 16And going he who had received the five talents traded with them, and made another five talents. 17And likewise he who had received two, he also gained another two. 18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the earth and hid his lord's silver. 19After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them. 20And so he who had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have gained five talents above them. 21His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 22He also who had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained two other talents above them. 23His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. 24And he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the earth. Lo, you have yours. 26His lord answered and said to him, Evil and slothful servant! You knew that I reaped where I did not sow, and gathered where I did not scatter, 27then you should have put my money to the exchangers, and coming I would have received my own with interest. 28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. 29For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will abound. But from him who has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. 30And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
MKJV
 11And 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. 12Therefore He said, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself, and to return. 13And He called his ten servants and delivered ten minas, and said to them, Trade until I come back. 14But his citizens hated him. And they sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this one to reign over us. 15And when he had received his kingdom and had returned, then it happened that he commanded these servants to be called to him; the ones to whom he had given the silver; so that he might know what each had gained by trading. 16And came the first, saying, Lord, your mina has gained ten minas. 17And he said to him, Well done, good servant, because you have been faithful in a least thing, have authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, your mina has made five minas. 19And he said the same to him, You be over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your mina, which I have kept in a handkerchief. 21For I feared you, because you are a harsh man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow. 22And he said to him, I will judge you out of your own mouth, wicked servant! You knew that I was a harsh man, taking up what I had not laid down and reaping what I did not sow. 23And why did you not give my silver on the bank table, and coming I might have exacted it with interest? 24And he said to those who stood by, Take the mina from him and give it to him who has ten minas. 25And they said to him, Lord, he has ten minas. 26For I say to you that to everyone who has, more will be given. And from him who has not, even that which he has will be taken from him. 27But those who are my enemies, who did not desire that I should reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.
MKJV
Insights
  • Both accounts of the parable deal with this same theme, but each one shows a slightly different role in the use of the talents or money given. In Matthew's account, each was given talents according to their own ability, in Luke's account each of his servants were equally given a pound or a piece of money. The table below shows a comparison on what was the same and the differences
     Parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30Parable of the 10 minas, Luke 19:12-27
    Servants given3 servants given: 5, 2, & 1 talents10 servants given each 1 minas
    Gain of increase(5)->10,  (2)->4   &   (1)-no gainone->10,   one->5   &   one->no gain
    Rewards givenThose who traded, "well done"Rewarded as to their increase
    Unproducted servantcast him into oter darknessslay them before me
  • We are expected to occupy, to do businesses until the Lord returns. We are not of this world, but we are in this world, I do not pray [Father] for You to take them out of the world, but for You to keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, John 17:15-16.
  • In both accounts, the servants that did well with the money given them, had the Lord and master say to them either, "Well done, good and faithful servant! or they were rewarded as to their increase. All of us who do kingdom work, whether we see it as small or great, will equally receive the reward of the kingdom of heaven.
  • The servant that did nothing with the money, Mathew's account says he buried it, Luke's account says he hid it in a napkin. This servant was called, wicked, slothful & unprofitable. Lets find out why.
  • We first see that his view of his Lord or Master was that He was a hard or harsh man. In Luke's account it says: the master judged this man by the words out of his own mouth. For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again, Matthew 7:2.
  • The final outcome in Luke's account was that the servant was slain before him and in Matthew's account the unproductive servant was thrown into outer darkness; where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This is the language that God's Word uses for the judgment of unbelievers. This last fact gives us further insight into what was entrusted to the servants, to be the degree of understanding they had of God's Word. This unproductive servant did nothing with what was entrusted to him. He rejected it and refused to work with the Word that God gave to him.
  • This parable is addressing how much understanding we have been given in God's Word and what we are doing with it. Do we value it and go out and share what we know with others, or do we reject and ignore His Word. To the degree that we do this, is the same measure that we shall be rewarded with. We are called to share the Word with others, And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, Mark 16:15.
  • Even if, we are too intimated to share to gospel with others, the Lord still wants us to treasure His Word keep it alive in our hearts. For in Luke's account, the Lord and master said to the servant, you should have put My money to the bank and given Me interest on My return", Luke 19:23.