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Sunday Worship 20 October 2024 : Well done, good and faithful servant

Text: Matthew 25:14-30
20 October 2024

INTRODUCTION

1. Another Parable of the kingdom of heaven

2. The focus is on Serving the Lord

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

14 “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.

15 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.

16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

Matthew 25:14-18

1. A man traveling to a far country

2. He called and entrusted his servants with his money

a) The word “talent” is a measurement
b) It is not a reference to a skill or a gift one is born with
c) One talent is a huge amount of money

3. The talents were given according to the ability of the servants:

a) Five talents entrusted
b) Two talents entrusted
c) One talent entrusted

4. The activities of the servants

a) The person who was entrusted with 5 talents earned another 5
b) The person who was entrusted with 2 talents earned another 2
c) The person who was entrusted with 1 talent hid his talent and earned nothing

SETTLING ACCOUNTS

19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “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.’

21 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.’

22 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.’

23 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 25:19-23

1. The lord of the servants returned and settled accounts with them

2. The master spoke to the servant with 5 talents

a) The Report of the man with 5 talents
‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’   Matthew 25:20b
b) The Response of the master
‘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.’   Matthew 25:21
i) Words of commendation were given
ii) He was rewarded
iii) He entered into the joy of his lord

3. The master spoke to the servant with 2 talents

a) The Report of the servant with 2 talents
‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’   Matthew 25:22b
b) The Response of the master
‘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 25:23

THE EXCUSES OF THE SERVANT WITH ONE TALENT

1. The Report of the servant

24 “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.”
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
Matthew 25:24-25
a) He knew his master was a hard man
b) Reaping where he did not sow
c) Gathering where he had not scattered seed
d) He pleaded “fear”
e) He hid the talent entrusted
f) He was returning the same talent he was given

2. The Response of the master

26 “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.
27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:26-30
a) He was rebuked by the master
b) He saw through the excuse of the servant
i) He was wicked and lazy
ii) The least he could do was to deposit the money with the bankers
iii) At least he would have received some interest
c) The talent he had was taken and given to the man who had 10 talents
d) This servant would not enter into the joy of his lord
e) He would be cast out

CONCLUSION

1. Vital lesson to ponder over

a) The Lord Jesus has gone to heaven
b) He has entrusted us with work to be done
c) One day, He will return and settle accounts with us
d) Which servant would we be like?

2. An example of a good servant to bear in mind

a) The Apostle Paul
b) He was entrusted by the Lord Jesus Christ:
i) A preacher
ii) An apostle
iii) A teacher of the Gentiles
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day
2 Timothy 1:8-12