This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Matthew 25:14-30 TPT)
14 “Again, heaven’s kingdom is like a wealthy man who went on a long journey and summoned all his trusted servants and assigned his financial management over to them. 15 Before he left on his journey, he entrusted a bag of five thousand gold coins to one of his servants, to another a bag of two thousand gold coins, and to the third a bag of one thousand gold coins, each according to his ability to manage.
16 “The one entrusted with five thousand gold coins immediately went out and traded with the money, and he doubled his investment. 17 In the same way, the one who was entrusted with two thousand gold coins traded with the sum and likewise doubled his investment. 18 But the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “After much time had passed, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants. 20 The one who was entrusted with five thousand gold coins came and brought ten thousand, saying, ‘See, I have doubled your money.’
21 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
22 “Then the one who had been entrusted with two thousand gold coins came in and said, ‘See, my master, I have doubled what you have entrusted to me.’
23 “Commending his servant, the master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you were faithful to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of your Lord!” ‘
24 “Then the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins came to his master and said, ‘Look, sir. I know that you are a hard man to please and you’re a shrewd and ruthless businessman who grows rich on the backs of others. 25 I was afraid of you, so I went and hid your money and buried it in the ground. But here it is–take it, it’s yours.’
26 “But his master said to him, ‘You’re an untrustworthy and lazy servant! If you knew I was a shrewd and ruthless business man who always makes a profit, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? 27 Then I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28 But because you were unfaithful, I will take the one thousand gold coins and give them to the one who has ten thousand. 29 For the one who has will be given more, until he overflows with abundance. And the one with hardly anything, even what little he has will be taken from him.’
30 “Then the master said to his other servants, ‘Now, throw that good-for-nothing servant far away from me into the outer darkness, where there will be great misery and anguish!’ “
So what does this mean for you today? I am still laying the foundation for this parable. So let’s learn some foundational truths about it today.
1. What is a talent in the parable of the talents?
While it is true that God gives His children natural talents, like singing, dancing, etc., the talent referred to in this parable is not that. When we say someone has “talent” for music, we mean they have a natural aptitude for playing or singing. When we say someone has “talent” for math, we mean that they have a natural ability to understand and solve mathematical problems.
In this sense, the word “talent” is often used interchangeably with the word “gift.” Both words refer to abilities that we are born with or that we develop through training and practice. Some make the argument that a gift is something that is given to us by God, while talent is something that we develop through our own efforts. To be clear, this parable is talking about something else altogether.
The term “talent” in this parable is a unit of measure. In ancient times, a talent was one of the largest units of weight and was used across various cultures, including the Hebrew, Greek, and Roman systems. The exact weight of a talent could vary among these cultures and regions:
— Hebrew Talent: In the Old Testament, the Hebrew talent (kikkar) was used, and it’s estimated to be about 75 pounds (34 kilograms) or possibly even more, depending on the references and context.
— Greek Talent: In the New Testament, the Greek talent (talanton) is mentioned, especially in the parable of the talents in the book of Matthew. The Greek talent was also a significant weight, comparable to the Hebrew talent.
— Roman Talent: The Roman talent, used during the time of the Roman Empire, was also a substantial weight but might differ slightly from the Hebrew and Greek talents.
Most scholars agree that a “talent” was a unit of weight and money used in ancient times, especially in the Middle East. When used as a measure of weight, a talent was roughly equivalent to 75 pounds or 34 kilograms, though the exact weight could vary among regions and historical periods.
Here’s a breakdown of the talent in Biblical contexts:
— Monetary Value: As a unit of currency, the value of a talent depended on whether it was of gold, silver, or another metal. For instance, a talent of gold would be worth much more than a talent of silver. In the parable of the talents, most translations connect the talents given to gold.
— Weight Measurement: As a weight measure, a talent was used to weigh various commodities, such as precious metals and spices. For example, in Exodus 38:25-26, the silver collected from the Israelite community, given as a sanctuary offering, weighed 100 talents.
— Cultural Context: The talent was a significant amount, and someone possessing multiple talents would be considered wealthy. The Queen of Sheeba, for example, gave King Solomon 120 talents of gold as a gift. This was a demonstration of the wealth of her kingdom.
In the parable, the point is that the master gave large sums of money to his servants, and he expected them to multiply the money. This was a test of responsibility. He wanted to know what they would do with what they were given.
It is worth noting that some believe the modern English word “talent,” meaning a natural ability or skill, is derived from the parable’s interpretation. The parable’s message about using one’s God-given gifts effectively has led to the contemporary usage of the term to denote innate abilities or skills.
2. How much would a talent of gold be worth today?
The current price of gold is $1,901.80 per ounce.
To calculate the cost of 75 lbs of gold:
1 lb = 16 ounces
75 lbs = 75 x 16 = 1,200 ounces
Cost of 75 lbs of gold = 1,200 ounces x $1,901.80/ounce = $2,281,760
So, 75 lbs of gold would cost approximately $2,281,760 today.
In context, if the master gave one servant, one talent, another two, and another five, this is how much money he was giving them to manage:
1 Talent = $2,281,760
2 Talents = $4,563,520
5 Talents = $11,408,800
Looking at the parable in this light, when you see the man with 5 talents doubled the money, and the one with 2 talents, doubled the money, I believe it will change the perspective of the parable in the minds of many. For whatever reason, many believers today don’t think on this level.
We must remember that God owns everything. He is not limited in any way. We must take our limits off of God.
When the Queen of Sheeba went to Solomon’s house and saw the beauty of it and how the servants did everything in excellence (not at the temple, but at his home), the Bible says, “it took her breath away.” As a result, she decided to GIFT King Solomon 120 talents of gold. In today’s value, that would be approximately:
1 Talent = $2,281,760
120 Talents = $273,811,200
3. The master gave the servants amounts of money “according to his ability to manage.”
I am still laying the foundation, but here are a few final thoughts for today as I seek to get you to EXPAND your heart and mind to receive what this parable is teaching.
— Our God is not limited in any way.
— Our God freely gives us His resources (gifts, talents, money, etc.) to manage.
— Our God is a good steward, so He will not give us resources that He knows we are incapable of managing.
— It would be unrighteous of God, as a Father, to expect us to do something He has not equipped us to do.
— Whatever God expects us to do, He equips us to do. But whatever He equips us to do, He expects us to do.
— When the servant in the parable did NOTHING with what he was given, the Master called him “wicked.” God is not pleased when we fail to make the most of what He has given us to manage.
— God owns everything. 100% of everything. Whatever He entrusts to us, He expects us to manage as stewards. He is the owner, and we are the stewards.
— We are His representatives on this planet. He owns everything He has can give us more than we ever imagined. But when He does, we must remember that He gave it to us to manage. We must seek Him concerning what we are supposed to do with the resources (this could be your team at work, your business, and of course, money) He has given you to manage.
— Many believers say they want MORE, but God will not release MORE until you are ready to manage MORE. The more you have, the more you have to manage. If you are not managing the little you have well, don’t think God will release MORE.
— When you start thinking like God, you quickly realize how limited your thinking has been. As we study this parable, I believe God is going to EXPAND your capacity to believe, so you can open your heart to the fullness of what He planned for your life!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I believe that You equip me with resources according to my ability to manage them, ensuring I am never burdened beyond my capacity.
I am committed to being a good steward of everything You entrust to me, recognizing that You are the owner and I am merely the manager.
I will not be idle with the gifts and resources You provide. Instead, I will multiply them for Your glory.
I understand that to whom much is given, much is expected. I will not shy away from the responsibility that comes with Your blessings.
I am determined to manage well what I currently have, trusting that as I prove faithful, You will entrust me with even more.
I am Your representative on this earth, and I will handle all resources, whether they be talents, money, or other assets, with integrity and wisdom.
I will continually seek Your guidance on how to best manage and multiply the resources You’ve given me.
I am ready to expand my thinking, to align with Your limitless nature, and to embrace the fullness of Your plans for my life.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
