Parable of the Talents

Matt 25:14-30

I have heard this parable many times, and the most likely outcome is to use it as a rallying cry or motivation to be 'active' in ministry, discipleship, sharing the good news, among other things.

But that is putting the cart after the horse and borders on manipulation of the context, much like how many people read John 3 and would cry out 'baptism' when the context and the passage does not even mention that word.

The prosperity gospel indeed would make the parable of the talents as a motivation talk that riches (material wealth particularly) is proportional to diligence and obedience. I mean everyone who reads the servant with the 5 talents given 5 talents more- definitely supports that prosperity result from attitude and hard work. Work hard, earn much. Earn much, work harder more to earn more.

But then again, you have to ask the question WHY? because as a whole the parable is a sad one, and also a warning. The irony is that given a 'limited' time to work out their talent (until the master's return) , the positive consequence is praise and the negative consequence is punishment/suffering within 'infinite' time (v30) "And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The question is: Are the consequences of our irresponsibility really equate to eternal suffering ? Or is there much more than what the story tells us ? Does the parable support a gospel of works ? for interpreting it as a matter of fruitfulness clearly indicates that we will be judge by our works.

I think there is.

Ask the question - Why was the servant with the 1 talent got punished ? Because he did not invest his money and gave him profit. But what was the reason for his inaction ? Because he was afraid of what the master might do to him.

In other words he judged or misjudged his master to the point of inaction he might lose his 1 talent rather than earn profit.

But is the master really of poor character as much as he alleged ? I don't think so. Actually the master was fair. He gave them responsibility suited or proportionate to their ability.

Mat 25:15  To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Now this gives us a different perspective of the story.

Firstly, reading the parable, people have often assumed that the servant was correct in his assessment - that the master was unfair, 'a hard man', even a 'thief'- taking what wasn't his own.

Mat 25:24  He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,

But these are just accusations. And, in my view, these accusation is literally what break the rope and the master judging him as 'evil' and 'unfaithful' aside from being irresponsible for his 1 talent. Simply saying it, he was ACCUSING his master and putting the blame on him why he was not productive like the others. This is the 'evil' part of him.

Secondly, fruitfulness was never the main issue. I attended a church once whose pastor shouted at his congregation "Ang tatagal nyo na dito sa church, hindi pa rin kayo nagbubunga!". Stressful isn't it ?, people think making more converts is always the main issue.

But did the master said on v23 "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and fruitful servant. You have been fruitful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' ? Of course not, the word used is 'faithful' not 'fruitful'. Fruitfulness focuses on the profit, faithfulness focuses on devotion to the master. In fact, if you have missed it, the profit earned by the two servants has no bearing to the master, describing it as "over a little".. which has a sense of insignificance. But what the 'little' proves is the bigger picture -> 'faithfulness'.

And this now concludes the story of the last servant, the master judged him as 'unfaithful'. He did not care at all to extend effort.  He judged his master as of bad character and blames him for his inaction, yet all the while it only proves he did not care at all or is not devoted. Honestly it would have been better for him to either send the money to the bank to gain interest or gave it to the first servant -"since he has more ability"- and earn his 1 talent. But it seems he doesn't mind doing something nor was it his priority. He just didn't care.

Faithfulness always results in fruitfulness. But our eye is not on the profit - which could mean 'little' or insignificant, but in the effort made which shows consistent devotion and dedication= faithfulness. Like the poor widow who gave all she had, Lk 21:1-4, it is not in the amount we gain or we give, but in the motive, effort and reason why we gave or why we have gained.

Before Christ comes, we all ought to be faithful in all that God has given us according to our own ability. Others may gain much, others may gain little but it is always the dedicated effort that counts in His name, for His glory.

House on the Rock and Sand

  Mat 7:24-27 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

  We could say that life is a cycle of joy and sorrow. and I suppose eventually we come to value the joy and happiness we experience in a different stages of our lives, like friendships, achievements, success and a host of other things- for the main reason that the experience will just have to end at some point or that they lose value either by departure or simply due to the passing of time and aging. These are absolutely beyond our control being creatures bounded by time, change and deterioration.

  Mat 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house

  The rain, the flood and the winds (including earthquakes) are also cycles of nature and time beyond our control, they eventually come..unexpectedly and suddenly most of the time. After sunshine, comes rain or more correctly in a Philippine setting - we say "after the sunshine comes the typhoon".

  But Jesus gives us a promise that those who are his - specifically "those who HEARS His words and DOES them" (v24) - which is equated as "the rock" or solid foundation- will never fall. Note that in this context the "rock" for the house parable is the "hearing and doing of Christ's words", not simply Christ himself which many has wrongly taken out of context. There is even a song about it "On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking stand"- correct lyrics, but that is NOT the context here.  Notice the contrast in v26 “and DOES NOT do them” which equates to the "sand"- a poor foundation.

  Hearing alone is not sufficient, WE MUST ACT on what we heard - and these comprises the solid foundation in which we build the house for it to withstand the challenges life gives us. Hindi bible study lamang kundi buhay na pagsunod - which in a way makes it a habit or devotion. Bible study alone will not usher you to maturity, you need to act. Involvement brings maturity.  If you would drive a car, you will have to know about the car. But that doesn't mean you already know how to drive. You will have to act on what you have learned by actually driving the car. The experience gives you a 'solid' understanding and develops a skill so you can handle driving at day and night, in developed or in dangerous roads.

  All sunshine makes a desert, all rain makes a flood. And it is in the balance of sunshine and rain that not only plants and trees grow in maturity, but people as well. We welcome it! Joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure, success and failure gives us a truly meaningful and rewarding life.  However like houses, trees will not survive the onslaught of wind and rain unless its roots are deep. Times of heavy sorrow, pain and suffering beyond our control are the very storms of life we have to face. In our case, we need to be dedicated in understanding scripture AND thereafter acting/believing on what we have understood any chance we get. Theory and practice = experience & maturity= sturdy foundation that will not fall. This foundation is built on the words of Christ.

Jas 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

The Speck and the Log in the Eye

  Luke 6:39-42 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

  Masakit tawagin ka na isang hipokrito o peke. Kapag ang isang tao binansagan na isang hypokrito, ibig sabihin iba ang sinasasabi nya sa gawain nya. It is like saying "your actions speaks too loud i cannot hear anymore what you are saying'.

  The Pharisees pride themselves of being the most devoted, obedient and religious people of the Jewish nation in their time. But Jesus sees through them. They demand people to follow their rules and be like them, but they themselves were not following them. They have murderous intent, love of money, love of power and control, etc.. Yet they demand people to become like them - obedient, devoted, etc. there is therefore this disconnect with what they believe and how they actually behave.

In the parable Jesus describes their behaviour in two ways:

  Hypocrisy in their impressions/opinions of other people - "Why do you see.." (v41)

Hypocrisy in their expressions/verbal statements about other people - "How can you say.." (v42)

  All of us have the tendency to make our own impressions and expressions about other people, or a judge of their character. Unavoidable sometimes but it is what makes us rational and beings of choice. BUT let us make sure that in looking at sins and faults of other people, we are not ourselves in bondage and practicing them (the log in our own eye).

  Because in the end the results or influence or our 'reputasyon' will not be based on what we say or what we have achieve, but will be on the consistency of our faith & practice. A disciple reflects his master, much as a parent reflects his parents. If we are followers of Christ, we need to aspire to be like him - may paguugnay sa paniniwala, pagsasalita at gawaing matuwid.