1. Talent Weighed amount of gold, silver, copper A unit of money Mt.25 led to English use: gift, ability, capability Mt.25:14 goods Mt.25:15 talents Mt.25:27 money (silver) Mt.25:25 hid (in ground)

2. Comparison: Mt.25:1-13 - 14-30 Mt.25:1-13 Be ready! Watchfulness waits Five failures: Task too easy Mt.25:14-30 What is readiness? Watchfulness works One failure: Task too hard

3. I. The Lord, 14-15, 19

4. Called own servants God does not need us to do His work, but makes us His partners. 1 Co.3:9; 2 Co.4:7 Entrusted them w. His possessions according to their own ability Went away, leaving only his orders

5. I. The Lord, 14-15, 19 II. The Servants, 16-18

6. talents attitude They are different in talents They are different in attitude Five: immediately (ASV) gained five more, 16 Two: likewise; gained two more, 17 One: hid it in ground, 18 Trading is risky He did something

7. I. The Lord, 14-15, 19 III. The Lord Returns, 19-30 II. The Servants, 16-18

8. A long absence, 19 Returned to settle accounts, 19 Good for sinners: opportunity to repent Test for saints: may fall or finish

9. Gains: Five gained five Well done! Good and faithful servant Faithful over few ; ruler over many Enter into joy of Lord (= share the Lord’s joy); Hb.12:2 – “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”

10. Gains: Two gained two Same commendation & reward as five (23) Size of the gain not as important as doing the work. 13:23; Rv.2:19 Issue is not results but effort Athens Ephesus Jerusalem

11. No gain: One broke even Loaded with excuses Anticipates condemnation Excuse for neglect: master’s fault  Hard: severe, harsh (24). Ex.5; 1 K.12  Fear: hid his talent (25)  Pride: he broke even (25)

12. Anticipates condemnation Achieves condemnation Wicked: as a tree, 7:17 Lazy: turned it into a virtue Foolish: self-deceived, or lying Israel Ex.5 Not a burden 1 Jn.5:3 Illustration Mk.12:41-44

13. Wicked Lazy Foolish Thoughtless: v.27 Loser: 28-29 (13:12). Saul…David  We cannot neglect opportunities for service and still retain them  Attitude that merely avoids doing something wrong... is wrong Castaway: 30

14. I. The Lord, 14-15, 19 IV. Application II. The Servants, 16-18 III. The Lord Returns, 19-30

15. 1. Jesus is Lord, but does not force obedience Master assigns the duty; slave obeys We have free will: we can... Lk.16:…31. Ph.2:12 Waste talents Bury talents Misuse talents

16. 2. We are His stewards Distribute, apportion, then administrate, rule” (Spicq) Manage a household, Lk.16:2-8 Paul: churches, 1 Co.4:1-2 faithful Key word: faithful

17. Every Christian is a steward 1 Pt.4:10 Ep.4:7…12…16 AbilityOpportunityResponsibility+=

18. 3. We will give account for our stewardship Basis of the reckoning: Words Mt.12:36 Ja.3 Talents Mt.25:19 Relations Ro.14:12 Everything Hb.4:13

19. Neglect is sin, Hb.2:3 (opposite of Ph.2:12) Unused talents are removed  If we won’t do our duty, others will  God will not be defeated  Principle: 29-30 Spiritual atrophy is fatal Use it or lose it knowledge encouraging brethren time money abilities helping the sick family

20. Where are you? 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. You are here!