What Jesus Christ Taught Concerning His Return (Part 1)

The Parable of the Talents: The Believer's Duty to Work (Matthew 25:14-30)

This parable must not be confused with the Parable of the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27) though the two parables do have similarities. Please note that each servant in this parable was given money (a talent was worth about twenty years' wages) according to his ability. The man with much ability was given five talents; the man with average ability received two talents; the man with minimal ability received one talent.

The talents represent opportunities to use our abilities. If five talents were given to a person with minimal ability, he would be destroyed by the heavy responsibility. But if only one talent were given to a man of great ability, he would be disgraced and degraded. God assigns work and opportunity according to ability. 

The three servants fell into two categories: faithful and unfaithful. The faithful servants took their talents and put them to work for their Lord. The unfaithful servant hid his talent in the earth. Instead of using his opportunities, he buried them!

Jesus Christ said that the point of this parable was twofold. First, while He is away, the believer is to do something: work (work faithfully and diligently). Secondly, while He is away, the believer is to know something: his or her work will be greatly rewarded or severely judged.

Again, Jesus Christ was dealing with His return. He went "into a far country" (Matthew 25:14), and "after a long time, the Lord" returned (Matthew 25:19). Jesus Christ was teaching a much-needed lesson: we must be faithful and diligent, for if we are not when He returns there will be severe judgment.

• The Lord went to a far country (verse 14).
• The Lord entrusted His goods to His servants (verses 4-15).
• The servants treated the Lord's goods differently (verses 16-18).
• The day of reckoning came (verse 19).
• The reward for work well done: more work to do (verses 20-23).
• The punishment for work not done: stripping and separation (verses 24-30).

(1) Jesus Christ’s Ascension and Exaltation (Matthew 25:14)

Jesus Christ foretold that He was like a man who was traveling to a far country, and what He foretold happened. He traveled away from the earth and ascended into heaven for a specific purpose: to sit at the right hand of God. He is to sit there until His servants complete the work, He has given them to do. When He returns, it will be the time for reward and for judgment.

(2) Gifts (Matthew 25:14-15)

The Lord has entrusted His goods (gifts, abilities, responsibilities) to His servants. There is a verse that says it all: "Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men" (Ephesians 4:8).

In this particular point Jesus Christ says three things:

1) The Lord called His own servants. The word for servant is bond-slave. He called those who were supposedly His own and who were supposedly faithful and responsible to His service. He had bought them. They were to be His own and to serve Him.

Note why He called them: to put His goods (gifts) into their hands while He was away. His property had to be looked after and increased and bettered while He was away. The property of the Lord means the world and the souls of men. The servants are given the very same mission and work that Jesus Christ had: to minister to the souls of men and to the desperate of the world.

2) The Lord gave each servant a different portion of His goods to look after. The point is that each person was given a special talent (gift or responsibility). No one was left out. Each servant was therefore expected to work and serve.

3) The Lord gave to each servant according to his ability.

Four factors are important here:

a. No two servants have the same ability; each one of us is different.

b. God endows His goods (gifts) as He wills, knowing each servant perfectly.

c. Each servant receives all the gifts he or she needs and can use.

d. Each servant has an equal opportunity to be faithful in using what God has given him or her. We are to be judged on our faithfulness, not on the number of gifts or the size of the work we are assigned.

Thoughts to ponder: there are three precious and wonderful facts here:

1) We are "His own." We are God's; we’re His possession.

2) We are taken care of by Jesus Christ. Each one is given "His goods," very special gifts, abilities, and responsibilities to look after for God. God gives us exactly what we need to fulfill our lives and to give us purpose, meaning, and significance in life; to conform us to the very image of Jesus Christ Himself.

3) The church is taken care of by Jesus Christ. During His absence, He has provided all that is necessary to care for and to advance the church.

4) Every believer has at least one gift.