8 years of Archaeology Odyssey online, exploring the ancient roots of the Western world in a scholarly and entertaining way, The New Encyclopedia of Archaeological Excavations in the Holy Land. The Parable of the Talents - Bible Verse Story and Meaning Two use them wisely. Even Jesus emphasized the importance of this parable by telling it twice. Dean is absolutely correct that this interpretation is a Marxist interpretation. Save on BibleGateway+ with code FAITH. The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents is one of a number of parables Jesus spoke at the end of His earthly ministry. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. He also penalized the first servant for not putting it in the bank to earn interest and gave that talent to the servant who yielded ten as a reward. The second did the same. Remember, this is a parable, and all ofJesus parables are about a bit more than they seem. Jesus gives this parable as a warning to his disciples that they are not to keep the knowledge of the kingdom to themselves, but to invest it, or spread it to others, so that all may benefit from Gods coming new creation. The meaning of this parable goes far beyond making wise investments or being good stewards of our money or talents . As for taking it away the person wasnt using it, he merely had it in his possession and it was not his to begin with. Admittedly the servants characterization of the master as hard and taking that which he did not own supports Rohbaughs interpretation. Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents (or the Talents' parable) to his disciples. He was hoping the lord would not return. The answer makes all the difference. The story in Matthew 25:1430 unfolds as such: A man goes away on a trip. Marxism for Christian theology? 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. We can read Jesus words regarding his return in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25. I love it. In the Luke version, he gives out 10 minas to 10 servants (Luke 19:16-20 makes it clear that each servant gets one mina). Actually Richard L. Rohrbaugh is not reading the Bible with ancient eyes but with blind spiritual eyes. When the parable was delivered, Satan had yet to be defeated in our timine. 4. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. He no doubt paid a steep price for that. Rohrbaugh explains the ancients reasoning: Shameful, even greedy, behavior could be condoned in slaves because slaves had no honor nor any expectation of it., Accordingly, in the Talents parable, the master leaves his money with his slaves in the hope that they will exploit the system and increase his riches. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Encourage students to ask God to show them ways they can use their talents to honor and serve Him. average monthly wage for Americans in 2021, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. All of us give an account. Those who know not the day of their visitation shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. The slave who did nothing with his talent received no reward when his master, Jesus returned. Yes, there are official positions for certain church tasks (preaching, evangelizing, teaching, etc.) 18But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Jesus uses the Parable of the Talents to help us understand our calling as Christians and our responsibility to use what God has given us to bring Him glory and honor! Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. Then he went away. The master scolded him saying that he should have invested the money and received interest. 30And (T)cast (U)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. Billy Grahams Answer. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! What is the meaning of the Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-13)? In this case, it is the gifts that God has given each believer. However, over time and justly so it has become to describe a persons skills. Each issue of Biblical Archaeology Review features lavishly illustrated and easy-to-understand articles such as: Fascinating finds from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament periods, The latest scholarship by the world's greatest archaeologists and distinguished scholars, Stunning color photographs, informative maps, and diagrams, Reviews of the latest books on biblical archaeology, 45+ years of Biblical Archaeology Review, 20+ years of Bible Review online, providing critical interpretations of biblical texts. Others in these comments have noted the fallacy of assuming that all personal gain would be considered immoral, so I wont rehash that. This seems problematic given that the servant loses everything and is cast out to his ruin, and then immediately following this parable is the parable of the sheep and goats, where Jesus teaches his followers that caring for those who have lost everything is in effect caring for him personally, and that those who do not care for the least of these will go to eternal punishment. 2. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[ a] and entrusted to them his property. Exploring the History of Jesus Life, examine fundamental questions about Jesus of Nazareth. The kingdom is like its message but not the same thing as. It appears in Matthew 25:14-30, and another version of the parable can be found in Luke 19:11-27. This is one of the top takeaways. Why does BiblicalArchaeology.org even entertain articles like this? Where was he really bornBethlehem or Nazareth? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! Jesus uses this to explain that the parables are all about the secrets of the kingdom, or spiritual knowledge. Is there a lesson for us from the third servant? The Parable of the Talents has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ESTATES, FINANCES, ETC! The last servant was an example of a person who, over the course of their entire life, could have shared food with the hungry, but chose not to. That is a description of hell, is it not? From now on be my partner., 24-25The servant given one thousand said, Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. He was using what he had to bless both himself and the people around him. No. The viewpoint expressed here does not reflect the clearly stated point of the scripture passage. Hard to believe this was written in the 90s, and I'm questioning if Octavia Butler was indeed a psychic. Here is your ticket to join us as we discover more and more about the biblical world and its people. This interpretation of the Parable of the Talents meaning casts the actions of the first two slaves as shameful and that of the third slave as honorable. Wow, what a very naive interpretation. 14(A)For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. I agree with you. The Talents parable has typically been interpreted by the Western church as being about proper investment: Jesus disciples are urged to use their abilities and gifts to serve Godwithout reservation and without fear of taking risks. Rohrbaughs interpretation of the Parable of the Talents is absolutely ludicrous. They're basically stories about real-life scenarios that contain a hidden message. I think this interpretation of the parable is completely off in this article. Published Oct 12, 2020 During his ministry, Jesus used parables to teach people a lesson or introduce them to the kingdom of God. For example, say the first servant was given a platform of some sort; he was famous. There was real evil in the heart of the third servant. He, like the 3rd steward, decided not to play along w the wicked kings unjust rule. God gifted and entrusted us with blessings. 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of his right!. Jaye Martin, How to Know Your Life Purpose This parable is about increasing the Kingdom with souls, not some humanistic Marxist material understanding of the world. Sometimes our view of the Second Coming is so centered on the Judgment of God that we have overlooked the joyful nature of his return for those who are prepared. They returned to their master with double the talents! I thought it was about growing the kingdom of God. The master goes on his journey, which Luke notes has some opposition (Luke 19:14-15). The story of Jesustelling this parable really begins in Matthew 24 when he mentions the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 25:14-30,Luke 19:11-27 ESV - The Parable of the Talents - "For Its about what you do with the life you were given. The parable was talking about something of a spiritual nature. And that is exactly what that third servant did. (Matthew 25: 24) If we do, it will cause us to live our current days in fear, with unprofitable results. That would resolve why in Lk 18:8, the manager who purposely lost the masters money (and appears alot like embezzlement) to benefit others (but mostly benefiting himself) is praised by the master. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. The master is pleased with the first two slaves, but he is dissatisfied with the thirds actions. Everything we have is given to us by God. A business though is different. We should have great curiosity about how the original audience would have interpreted it. Im not sure then according to Rohrbaughs interpretation what lessons we are to take away from the parable. 28-30Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. After a long time the master of those servants returned, Jesus continued. Hence. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. This parable was spoken before the beginning of the New Covenant. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! The talents are not abilities as sometimes supposed. Jesus always would tell a servant, enter into your Lords rest good and faithful servant. Read the talents, the first 2 slaves are issued the same intended enter in The multiplication of talents and goods is a hallmark of all the biblical giants from Abraham on down. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more. 21His master said to him, Well done, good and (J)faithful servant. The first steward is given 5 talents, the second is given two talents and the third is given one. If this person disagrees, then my suggestion would be to at least mention these passages even in refutation, to say they were added from later Mss. He said he only says what he hears the Father saying. Dennis Rainey. Jesus makes it plain with exactly what He means. Both minas and talents were units of currency in the ancient Roman world. Before he leaves, he entrusts money to his slaves. The parable begins with a master planning a trip (Luke describes him as going off to be made king of a distant land). https://www.biblechristiansociety.com/newsletter/239-apologetics-for-the-masses-issue-187, The Gbekli Tepe Ruins and the Origins of Neolithic Religion. What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? However, if the master were a thief, then logically the third servant should have invested the talent in a bank (and registered it with the authorities). After centuries of Israelites seeing themselves as Gods only favored people, he opened things up for Gentiles to become co-heirs (Ephesians 3:6). The Parable of the Talents, a Tale for Today - Truly Open Minds and Hearts According to Rohrbaugh, reading Matthew 25:1430 with ancient eyes suggests that the third slave is the only one who behaved honorably in the Talents parable. Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. From there, He would be judged, crucified and buried. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - Bible Story, The Ten Commandments - Bible Verses and Importance Today, Parable of the Prodigal Son - Bible Story, The Resurrection of Jesus - Bible Story and Prophecy. If one could miss an interpretation by such length as this author, (although his is not an original thought) imagine what he would do with Jesus stating to drink his blood and eat his flesh. Before he leaves, he entrusts money to . In that place (V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. If this sounds familiar it should. 1. 2. Rachel 's review. There are other problems with this flawed interpretation as well. Its also preceded by a story about a servant not using his position well while the master is away. 4:10]. Good read but still being puzzled about the meaning of this end time parable, I asked the Servant in Matt 24:46 who is now on the earth. He buried it. We've got you covered! However, as planned, he becomes king of the distant land and returns home to see how his servants have done. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Talents? But if you CAN do something, and DONT, there is no excuse. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Dragnet? 19Now (H)after a long time the master of those servants came and (I)settled accounts with them. for crying out loud d author said and I quote viewing the parable of the talent in ancient perspectiveso where is the deceit here? Jesus tells the story of a rich man who has three slaves. 14-18Its also like a man going off on an extended trip. While I will join in rejecting Rohrbaughs interpretation, many of the refutations are no better. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The master told them to care for his money and the first two servants used the talents to trade and gain profit. However, Jesus claimed kingship in a way that confused many people, and the way his kingdom operates often offends our sense of propriety. of God is caring about the souls, nothing else. Could have spent time with the weird person no one else liked, but chose not to. God made me for a purpose, for China, Liddell says, But he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. The Parable of the Talents Meaning (4 important truths you - Rethink First, he has a much more sensitive understanding of the ancient worldview than he is credited by the majority. ~ Excerpt from Matthew Henry Commentary. There is only growth. Then he (F)went away. In short, Jesus is a master who uses methods we dont always understand, which might even seem unfair. The third servant could have bought a field and planted a vineyard. The one who gets the biggest return on investment gets the big promotion. Matthews gospel devotes two full chapters to the subject of the second coming of Christ. Enter into the joy of your master. 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, Master, I knew you to be (N)a hard man, reaping (O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. It may be interpreted that a principled stand may cost you. What I see is an article about how the audience of the day may have received this parable. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. Talk about new speak, Rohrbaugh must have had a serious eye problem if thats what he got from the talents. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. He tells them stories. An owner believes his possessions are his to spend in any way he sees fit. What Does the Parable of the Talents Mean? - Biblical Archaeology Society Enter into (M)the joy of your master. 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more. 23His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. So Rohrbaugh is claiming that Jesus Christ got it wrong. Thats a terrible way to live! Rohrbaugh is correct that many modern readers get the point of the parable of the talents wrong, but not for the reason he cites. The Meaning Behind the Parable of the Talents Each story is told in the context of his second coming. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! A lot of older translations used to use the word talent, so the parable came to be known as "The Parable of the Talents." The value of the money entrusted to the servants isn't that . This is what the parable of the talents is really about, not personal time, talents, or treasure as many pastors would put it. There is a great reward waiting for those who steward well with what the Lord has given them. Yup, Jesus Christ, Logos, differentiator of chaos and order, the creator of order out of chaos, ie the the universal reversor of Entropy, and thus the creator of space and time, got it wrong. BGEA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Then he went away. We often mix up the word talent in the currency sense with our modern English word talent meaning gifts, and its important to understand the money context of what Jesus was saying. Besides Jesus is talking about investing to lay up treasures in heaven. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. The Parable of the Talents - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association The first two servants used their talents to increase the property and were rewarded accordingly, while the third servant buried his talent and did not benefit from the gains made by his predecessors. The Parable of the Talents Meaning and 5 Life Lessons A staggering 100% return on his investment. In Matthew 24-25, the overall theme is end-time events, warning, and parables."The direct cautions and warnings (Matthew 24:42, Matthew 24:44; Matthew 25:13) must be for the disciples (his . Jesus was focused on tje Spirit. In Matthew 24 Jesus tells about the coming destruction of the temple as a judgment from God. The Parable Of The Talents | New Covenant Baptist Church - Spokane, WA If there were more scrupulous methods for building wealth (trade, for instance?) If the third servant was indeed the most honorable, why was he condemned in the latter part of the passage? Also, Messiah spoke Aramaic and the word for talents in Aramaic (and in the Peshitta, the received Aramaic NT) also means cities, which puts a whole other complexion on the matter. He then gives several messages and illustrations: - The wise and faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51), - The parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). In his joy at that, Zacchaeus made the decision to give half his possessions away and give 4 times as much as what he owed to anyone he owed money to. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 tells a story about a master who gives his servants varying amounts of wealth. Anyone that is happy to be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, then the interpretation in the article above is for you. The first two increased the souls of man for the Lord and the third was given gifts which he did not use to further the kingdom of God. Who is the god of this world? This is perhaps the most surprising aspect of Jesus story: the Master invites the faithful servant to share in the masters happiness (Matthew 25: 21). This woodcut from Historiae Celebriores Veteris Testamenti Iconibus Representataedated to 1712depicts the Talents parable (Matthew 25:1430). Matthew 25:14-30 ESV;KJV - The Parable of the Talents - "For it - Bible The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. And like all ideas of man, need to twist Scripture in an attempt to legitimize their ideology. Ray Hollenbach, a native of Chicago, is a pastor and author. You did your job well. What does the Parable of the Talents mean? AND THEN blamed the master for being mean! The scenario played out in the Talents parable (Matthew 25:1430)of a master leaving his property in control of his slaveswas not uncommon. What Is the Parable of the Talents? - Christianity Remember Job got back double towards the end. Thank you! So that argument is speculative. One such story is the parable of the talents. The word that the NIV translates as "bags of gold" is actually a talent-a first-century unit of currency. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. When the third servant appears, hes done nothing with the money. Essentially, this is what the religious leaders did with all their knowledge of Jesus, His works and the prophetic word. Im not confident this parable in Luke is, at its core, about stewardship. You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? The work the first two did was evangelism or spreading of Gospel, so that increasing the number of believers. You still cant reslove the differing value systems of the two masters. Ending soon! So in other words, with whatever abilities you were given will also come opportunities to share Christ (not just the message of salvation, but His love, generosity, forgiveness, ect.) Given its multiple appearances, the moral messages and the practical lessons it teaches are greatly significant. Why Should Teolology Matter to Christians? I didnt see this as the intention of the author. Whereas a modern, Western audience would applaud the first two slaves for trading and investing well, an ancient audience would have approved of the third slaves behavior and condemned that of the first two slaves because they profited at the expense of others. And notice I said COULD HAVE. The Parable of the Talents: The Importance of Cultivating God's It is anachronistic to regard it as Marxist, since he nowhere argues that wealth should be distributed evenly and, as far as Im aware, Marxism doesnt assume limited resources. Richard L. Rohrbaugh examines the Parable of the Talents meaning in his Biblical Views column Reading the Bible Through Ancient Eyes in the September/October 2016 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. It is difficult to accept there was no room for appropriate wealth accumulation in ancient Judean society. Does the Gospel of Mark Reveal Jesus Anger or His Compassion? What Is the Meaning of the Parable of the Talents? Total lack of spiritual understanding of the Parable of the Talents. They grumbled about he is going to the house of a sinner. Im not sure who Jesus had in mind as a model for the master, but it certainly wasnt God! The first time publicly in Luke 19:11-27, then called the Parable of the Minas. What is the meaning of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard? First, the story begins with these simple words, It will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. (Matthew 25: 14) Even as he sets the stage, Jesus is telling us something important: we have an entrustment. In the free ebook Who Was Jesus? All rights reserved. The story in Matthew 25:14-30 unfolds as such: A man goes away on a trip. The apocalyptic context is underscored in Lukes version, where people try to keep the master from becoming king and are killed for their rebellion. May be the western church interpretation is wrong , your interpretation is worse. Roahbaugh is right that Jesuss point is not about wise investment practices, but he misses the clear scriptural parallels and the context of the passage itself which holds the key to understanding what Jesus means. The parable of the talents is one of those Bible stories most of us know, yet it's hard to understand. It is not a parable on how to get rich. Its called a Parable for a reason, which a Parable is a metaphor. The Talents are the sheep. Its not putting their butts in the seats of your pagan/cursed churches, its laying the Doctrine of Messiah (12 Foundational Stones) in their lives, and raising up Righteous people.. Furthermore, JESUS HIMSELF makes it clear that he disapproves of the 3rd slave hiding the talent he is given, while praising the other 2 who invested theirs. Rohrbaughs interpretation relies heavily on the premise that all forms of wealth accumulation would have been considered bad by Jesus audience. Plainly, from vvs. It is clear in the context of the parable and the context of the setting that he third servant is the only one being disciplined by the master. Biblical Archaeology Review is the guide on that fascinating journey. What Does the Bible Say About Infertility? What is the meaning of the Parable of the Fig Tree? Your explanation mirrors what Christ did with His talents, or put another way, with His life and time spreading Gods love doing good to others, and revealing Gods mind with instructive parables. What does this parable teach us about living our lives today as we await his coming? The trick to interpreting this parable is found in in verse 29 where Jesus says, For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. The ancients believed that ones status in birth, society, ethnos, etc.