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THE PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST
LESSON #53
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS AND REWARDS (MAT 25:14-30)
- MEMORY VERSE: MAT 25:29
- IN THE LAST LESSON OF THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS, WE SAW THE NECESSITY OF BEING PREPARED INWARDLY BY BEING BORN AGAIN AND POSSESSING THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE SAW THE VIRGINS WAITING FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD.
- IN THIS LESSON, THE PARABLE DEALS WITH THE OUTWARD PREPARATION AFTER A PERSON IS SAVED. WE NOW SEE THE SERVANTS WORKING FOR THE LORD.
- THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS AND REWARDS (MAT 25:14-30)
- READ MAT 25:14-30
- WHO DOES THE MAN REPRESENT?
- THE MAN REPRESENTS JESUS CHRIST WHO GOES INTO A “FAR COUNTRY”. THE FAR COUNTRY REPRESENTS JESUS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN.
- WHO DO THE SERVANTS REPRESENT?
- THE SERVANTS REPRESENT ALL TRUE BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
- WHAT ARE THE “GOODS” GIVEN TO THE SERVANTS (14)?
- THE “GOODS” ARE ALL THE WEALTH AND BLESSINGS OF JESUS CHRIST INCLUDING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH.
- WHAT IS A TALENT?
- USUALLY WE THINK OF TALENTS AS NATURAL OR LEARNED ABILITIES SUCH AS PAINTING, PLAYING THE PIANO, SINGING, ETC.
- HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE PARABLE HAS IN MIND.
- A “TALENT” IN JESUS DAY WAS A UNIT OF MEASURING WEIGHT, SUCH AS A GRAM OR A POUND. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VALUE OF AN AMOUNT OF GOLD OR SILVER WAS DETERMINED BY ITS WEIGHT IN TALENTS. (1 TALENT = 3,000 SHEKELS OR 34.02 kg OR 75 lbs). (1KIN 10:10)
- REMEMBER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO GOD AND IS GIVEN TO BELIEVERS.
- THE USUAL TALENTS OF MUSIC AND ART, ETC. ARE NATURAL OR LEARNED ABILITIES GIVEN TO NON-BELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
- THIS PARABLE IS TALKING ABOUT GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES TO BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
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BIBLICAL GIFTS |
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| SPIRITUAL GIFTS
1COR 12:8-10 |
POSITIONAL GIFTS
EPH 4:11-12 1COR 12:27-28 |
MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS
ROM 12:6-8 1PET 4:11,12 |
| GIFTS GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT: | GIFTS GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST, THE SON | GIFTS GIVEN BY GOD, THE FATHER |
| A WORD OF WISDOM | APOSTLES | PROPHECY (INSIGHT) |
| A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE | PROPHETS | SERVING |
| FAITH | TEACHERS | TEACHING |
| GIFTS OF HEALING | WORKERS OF MIRACLES | ENCOURAGING |
| WORKING OF MIRACLES | HEALERS | CONTRIBUTING |
| PROPHECY | HELPS | FACILITATING |
| DISCERNING OF SPIRITS | GOVERNMENTS | MERCY |
| SPEAKING IN TONGUES | DIVERSITIES OF TONGUES | |
| INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES | ||
| GIFTS THAT THE SPIRIT GIVES PERIODICALLY AT SPECIFIC INSTANCES FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. | GIFTS THAT ARE POSITIONS IN THE CHURCH THAT CHRIST GIVES TO THE CHURCH BODY. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE LIFETIME POSITIONS. | GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES TO ALL HUMANS AT THE TIME OF BIRTH THAT LAST A LIFETIME, WITH THE INTENTION THAT THE PERSON WILL USE THE GIFT TO GLORIFY GOD. |
- HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THAT ONE PERSON RECEIVES 5 TALENTS, ONE RECEIVES 2 TALENTS, AND ANOTHER RECEIVES ONLY 1 TALENT. WHY DO THEY NOT ALL RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT?
- GOD, IN HIS PERFECT WISDOM, GIVES TO EACH PERSON THE AMOUNTS THAT HE KNOWS THAT PERSON CAN HANDLE.
- NOTICE THAT MAT 25:15, SAYS, “ACCORDING TO HIS SEVERAL ABILITY”.
- GOD DOES NOT EXPECT A PERSON TO PERFORM BEYOND WHAT HE HAS ENABLED THAT PERSON TO DO.
- GOD, IN HIS PERFECT WISDOM, GIVES MORE GIFTS TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE KNOWS WILL USE THEIR GIFTS FOR HIS GLORY.
- AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE ALL TO PERFECT OUR GIFTS USING THEM FOR GOD TO THE VERY BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
- GOD, IN HIS PERFECT WISDOM, GIVES GIFTS TO THOSE WHO EXCERSIZE THEIR FAITH IN USING THOSE GIFTS.
- WHAT ARE THE REWARDS FOR FAITHFULNESS?
- NOTICE THAT THE TWO FAITHFUL SERVANTS REACTED IMMEDIATELY IN PUTTING THEIR GIFTS TO USE. (16-17)
- NOTICE THAT THE TWO RETURNED DOUBLE ON THE ORIGINAL INVESTMENT. THEY WERE BOTH 100% FAITHFUL.
- HOW SHOULD WE USE THE GIFTS GOD GIVES US IN ORDER TO BE 100% FAITHFUL?
- LEARN WHAT YOUR GIFTS ARE.
- LEARN HOW GOD EXPECTS YOU TO USE YOUR GIFTS BY SEEING THOSE GIFTS IN OPERATION IN THE BIBLE.
- LEARN TO RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE USE OF YOUR GIFTS.
- USING YOUR GIFTS TAKES FAITH IN ACTION.
- DETERMINE TO DEVELOP YOUR GIFTS:
- FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR GIFT IS TEACHING, LEARN WHAT MAKES A GOOD TEACHER, THEN PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
- DETERMINE TO USE YOUR GIFTS TO THE VERY BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
- REMEMBER THAT GOD GIVES MORE TO THOSE WHO USE WHAT THEY HAVE.
- GOD GIVES THE REWARDS FOR YOUR GIFTS AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
- READ 1COR 3:10-15
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THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST |
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| THE CRITERIA FOR JUDGMENT: | THE PRINCIPLES OF JUDGMENT: | THE CHRISTIANS REWARDS: |
| GOD JUDGES EACH BELIEVER AS TO HOW HE LIVES FOR CHRIST AFTER HE IS SAVED | GOD JUDGES GOOD WORKS ON QUALITY (MAT 25:14-30) | A COMMENDATION, “WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!” |
| GOD JUDGES EACH BELIEVER ACCORDING TO HOW FAITHFUL HE IS TO THE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN BY GOD | GOD JUDGES GOOD WORKS ON QUANTITY (LUK 19:11-27) | GOD GIVES A POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST ON EARTH. |
| GOD JUDGES EACH BELIEVER ACCORDING TO HIS FAITHFULNESS IN RELATION TO HIS ABILITIES | GOD CONSIDERS GOOD WORKS “BAD” IF DONE WITH AN EVIL MOTIVE OR HIDDEN AGENDA | GOD GIVES AN INVITATION TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. |
| GOD JUDGES EACH BELIEVER CONCERNING EVERY DECISION, EVERY THOUGHT, EVERY WORD, EVERY DEED DONE AND NOT DONE, EVERY ATTITUDE, AND EVERY SECRET MOTIVE | GOD CONSIDERS GOOD WORKS “BAD” IF THEY INVOLVE UNCONFESSED SIN. | GOD GIVES A NEW HEAVENLY ROBE |
| SCRIPTURES:
2COR 10:4-5 MAT 12:36-37 MAT 25:14-30 LUK 19:11-27 2COR 5:10 ROM 1:12-13 ROM 14:10 JER 17:10 1COR 3:14 2JOH 1:8 |
GOD CONSIDERS GOOD WORKS “BAD” IF THEY ARE NOT INITIATED, MOTIVATED, AND ENABLED BY GOD. | GOD GIVES CROWNS:
–THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN (THE VICTORS CROWN) 1COR 9:25 –A CROWN OF REJOICING (THE SOUL WINNERS CROWN) 1THE 2:19-20 –A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOR A CLEAN LIFE) 2TIM 4:8 –A CROWN OF GLORY (A CROWN FOR SERVICE) 1PET 5:2-4 –A CROWN OF LIFE (THE MARTYRS CROWN) REV 2:10 |
- WHAT ARE THE REWARDS FOR UNFAITHFULNESS?
- IF THERE ARE NO QUALIFYING “GOOD WORKS”, THEN THERE IS NO REWARD.
- NOTICE THAT IN THE PARABLE THE THIRD SEVANT WAS NOT ONLY IDLE, BUT HE WAS DISOBEDIENT BECAUSE THE MAN IN THE PARABLE TOLD HIM TO USE HIS TALENT AND HE DID NOT.
- NOTICE ALSO THAT THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT LIED ABOUT THE LORD. (24)
- “I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.” (24)
- HE SAID THAT THE LORD WAS UNFAIR BECAUSE HE EXPECTS HIS SERVANTS TO DO ALL THE WORK AND THE LORD GETS ALL THE GLORY.
- HIS OWN WORDS CONDEMNED HIM:
- THE LORD CALLED HIM WICKED BECAUSE HE LIED.
- THE LORD CALLED HIM SLOTHFUL BECAUSE HE WAS IDLE.
- WHAT HE HAS IS TAKEN AWAY.
- THE SERVANT DID NOT BURY HIS TALENT BECAUSE HE HAD ONLY ONE. HE BURIED IT BECAUSE HE WAS LAZY AND DID NOT RESPECT THE LORD.
- GOD CASTS THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANT INTO OUTER DARKNESS
- THIS MEANS HIS POSITION IS DISTANT FROM CHRIST WHO IS THE LIGHT.
- THERE IS NO REWARD FOR THIS SERVANT AT THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, BUT ACCORDING TO 1COR 3:15, HE IS SAVED.
- THE UNFAITHFUL SERVANTS SITUATION IS ONE OF “WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.”:
- THIS PHRASE IS AN ORIENTAL PHRASE WHICH SYMBOLICALLY MEANS = AN UTMOST DEGREE OF SHAME AND LOSS OR PROFOUND REGRET.
- WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?
- THIS PARABLE IS A WARNING TO THE BELIEVER AGAINST NON-USE OR A MIS-USE OF THE SUPERNATURAL GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES US. IT IS ALSO AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO USE THE GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES FOR HIS GLORY. IN CONTEXT OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, WE SHOULD WORK UNTIL CHRIST COMES FOR US.
- PRINCIPLES OF APPLICATION:
- THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPLES THAT GOD OPERATES ON:
- A BELIEVER WILL NEVER LOSE WHAT HE USES.
- EVERY BELIEVER THAT HAS A GIFT, MORE WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM. (29) WHY?
- GOD LOOKS FOR BELIEVERS HE CAN TRUST AND USE.
HOMEWORK
THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS (MAT 25:31-46)
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
- APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS AND REWARDS (MAT 25:14-30)
- IF YOU KNOW YOUR BIBLICAL GIFTS, MAKE A LIST OF ANY YOU FIND LISTED ON THE TABLE IN THIS LESSON.
- HOW CAN YOU BETTER DEVELOP AND USE YOUR GIFTS?
- IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANY OF YOUR BIBLICAL GIFTS, PRAY AND ASK GOD TO BEGIN TO REVAL THEM TO YOU. HE WILL REVEAL THEM TO YOU IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR DESIRE TO USE THEM FOR HIM.
- PREPARATION FOR THE PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS (MAT 25:31-46)
- READ MAT 25:31-46
- KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS PARABLE ALSO REFERS TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST AS DID ALL THOSE IN MAT 24 AND 25. IT IS ALSO AN EVENT OF JUDGMENT.
- WHO IS BEING JUDGED?
- WHO DOES THE SHEPHERD REPRESENT?
- WHO DO THE GOATS REPRESENT?
- WHO DO THE SHEEP REPRESENT?
- WHO DOES THE KING REPRESENT?
- WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “INHERIT THE KINGDOM” MEAN? (34)
- WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR THIS JUDGMENT?
- WHO DO THE “BRETHREN” IN VERSE 40 REPRESENT?
- WHAT IS THE RESULTS OF THE JUDGMENT?
- WHAT IS THE CENTRAL TRUTH OF THE PARABLE?
- MEMORY VERSE: MAT 12:50
