Christ Authorizes His Followers to Use Their Talents (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Introduction: 1.
Several passages in the New Testament
teach Christians to use their talents.
a. 1 Peter 4:10-11
b.
Romans 12:4-8
2.
These verses are sufficient to show
that "Christ authorizes His followers to use their talents;" however, in our lesson we are concentrating on "the parable of the talents"
(Matthew 25:14-30).
3.
Let us begin by examining . . .
Discussion:
I.
THE
SETTING FOR THIS
PARABLE
A.
(Matthew 24:1-3) Jesus informed His
disciples that the temple would be destroyed, and they asked Him when that
great event would occur.
1.
From the questions that they asked
(vs.3), it seems that the apostles thought the temple would be destroyed when
Jesus returns.
2.
They wanted Jesus to give them a sign
of His return.
B.
(Matthew 24:4-35) Jesus talked about
the destruction of Jerusalem,
and He gave a number of signs relating to it.
C.
(Matthew 24:36-51) Jesus talked about
His return.
1.
(vs.36) No one knows when Jesus will
return -- there will be no signs.
2.
Jesus said "watch" (vs.42) and "be
ready" (vs.44).
D.
The Lord's teaching continues in
Matthew 25.
1.
In "the parable of the
virgins" (vs.1-13), Jesus emphasized the importance of being ready for His return.
2.
In "the parable of the
talents,":
a. Jesus showed His followers how to be ready for
His return
b.
Jesus showed us why we must be ready
for His return -- when He returns we will face Him in judgment.
II.
THE
PARABLE
A.
(vs.14-15) A man going on a long
journey divided his goods among his servants.
1.
It seems that he would be gone for an
extended time, but he did not say exactly how long he would be gone.
2.
He wanted his goods to be taken care
of while he was gone, so he entrusted them to his servants.
3.
He gave his goods to his servants
according to their individual ability -- this indicates that he knew the
capabilities of each servant.
a. To one servant he gave 5 talents.
b.
To one servant he gave 2 talents.
c. To one servant he gave 1 talent.
d.
Note that there were no 0-talent
servants.
4.
A "talent" was a
considerable amount of money.
5.
This man was trusting his servants to
care for his goods while he was gone.
6.
The servants would be responsible for
the way they used his goods.
7.
He left on his journey.
B.
(vs.16-18) We learn what the servants
did with their master's goods.
1.
(vs.16) The servant who had been given
5 talents gained 5 more.
2.
(vs.17) The servant who had been
given 2 talents gained 2 more.
3.
(vs.18) The servant who had been
given 1 talent hid his in the ground.
C.
(vs.19-30) The master reckoned with
his servants.
1.
(vs.19) After a long time the master
returned and asked his servants to account for the way they had used his goods.
2.
(vs.20-21) The servant who had been
given 5 talents was blessed for his faithfulness.
3.
(vs.22-23) The servant who had been
given 2 talents was blessed for his faithfulness.
4.
(vs.24-30) The servant who had been
given 1 talent was cursed for his wickedness and slothfulness.
a.
This servant tried to make excuses.
1)
(vs.24) He told his master about how
hard he was.
2)
(vs.25) He revealed his main problem:
FEAR.
3)
He tried to return the talent he had been
given.
b.
The master did not accept the talent
or his excuses.
c.
This servant was cast into outer
darkness.
III.
APPLICATION
A.
The symbolism:
1.
The man going on a long trip refers
to the time between the Lord's ascension and return.
2.
The servants refer to the Lord's
followers.
3.
The master's return and the reckoning
of the servants refer to the Lord's return and the judgment.
4.
The blessing refers to eternal life
in heaven, and the curse refers to eternal condemnation.
B.
Let us put ourselves into the
parable.
1.
(Romans 12:4-8) He has given us
different gifts that He expects us to use.
2.
(1 Peter 4:10) He wants us to be "good stewards" of His
blessings.
3.
Stewards have 1 main requirement:
FAITHFULNESS (1 Corinthians 4:2).
4.
When Jesus returns we will be judged
on the basis of how we use the blessings that He gives us.
5.
We learn from the 1 talent man that
God will not accept excuses.
6.
We must not allow fear to prevent us
from doing the Lord's will.
7.
If we use the blessings that the Lord
entrusts to our care He will bless us with more, and we will be prepared to
face Him in judgment.
Conclusion:
1.
How can we be ready for the Lord's
return? (By using the talents and blessings that He gives us)
2.
Why must be ready for the Lord's
return? (When He returns we will face Him in judgment and give an account of
how we have used His blessings)
