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Focus on Jesus

Text: Matthew 25 : 14 - 30

Jesus did not want His disciples to be pre-occupied with the events preceding His return. Sufficient warning had already been given. Trials and tribulation must be expected. There is no reason to expect that things would get better with the mere passing of time! There would always be wars, pestilences, earthquakes, false teachers etc. The focus should not be on these things at all, no matter how “interesting” these things may be.

The focus should however be on The Son of Man Himself! If ever anything should grip our attention in eschatological studies, it should be the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. As in the present, so in the future – the key Person is Jesus!

ANOTHER PARABLE, ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

Eschatological studies can prove to be “distracting” if one is not careful. A person can be caught up with studying the signs of the times and miss out on serving the Lord! Jesus did not want this to happen to His disciples. To help them remember that there was vital work for them to do, He gave them another parable.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling
to a far country,
who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,
to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went
on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents
went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
But he who had received one
went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled
accounts with them.”
MATTHEW 25:14-19

Did the disciples understand what Jesus was trying to teach them? His Return would not be for a while yet. He was like that man traveling to a far country. In the meanwhile, the servants must make full use of their time, awaiting the return of their master.

The master knew his servants rather well. He gave to each servant different amounts of money. (A talent is equivalent to 6000 denarii. A denarius is the pay of a casual labourer. Thus a talent is worth a substantial amount of money). Three servants were highlighted. One had five talents or 30,000 denarii. Another had two talents or 12,000 denarii. The third had 6000 denarii. All were expected to make good use of the money entrusted to them. Though no instructions were recorded, the logical flow of the story must lead us to conclude that the servants were held responsible to make full use of the money given to them!

ACCOUNTABILITY – COMMENDATION FOR FAITHFULNESS

Jesus went on with His parable, to relate how the master returned and asked each servant to give an account of the money entrusted to them.

“So he who had received five talents came and brought five
other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents;
look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;
you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over
many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
He also who had received two talents came and said,
‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained
two more talents besides them.’
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant;
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
MATTHEW 25:20-23

Did the disciples catch the drift of what Jesus was emphasizing? All servants must learn this important truth. They will be held accountable! If they were good and faithful, they will be commended by their master. They will be duly rewarded for their diligence and faithfulness.

ACCOUNTABILITY – CONDEMNATION FOR UNFAITHFULNESS

The parable Jesus told had another aspect just as important. While there may be commendation for those who were good and faithful, there was also firm rebuke for those who prove unfaithful.

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said,
‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you
have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.
Look, there you have what is yours.’
But his lord answered and said to him,
‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where
I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers,
and at my coming I would have received back my own
with interest…
Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”
MATTHEW 25:24-27, 30

The contrast was startling and deliberate! The wickedness and laziness of the servant could not be excused. He was dismissed from his master’s service summarily!