Page 115 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

believers who gained entrance into the Millennium, but were not overcomers to the end and thus were
not allowed to be a guest at the wedding feast.
This section ends with another challenge to be alert so as not to be surprised by the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ in verse 13

Parable of the Talents
Next, Jesus tells the parable of the talents in order to reveal the importance of being a faithful steward
for Jesus Christ in anticipation of eternal rewards. The primary application in this context is to believers
living during the Tribulation period who will need great motivation to live for Jesus during such a great
persecution. The secondary application would be directed toward Jesus’ disciples to whom He was
speaking. They too needed motivation to be faithful witnesses for Jesus in the face of martyr’s deaths.
And this challenge applies to us today as well.

The master gave each servant a valuable asset which they were to manage for him in his absence. (vv.
14-15)

Matthew 25:14–15 (NIV84)14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his
servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another
two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

Notice that in this parable the master gave differing responsibilities, according to their abilities. A talent
was a measurement of weight which equaled about 75 pounds of gold. At the time of writing this
paragraph 75 lbs. of gold was worth about $2,050,800.00.

Then the master left for an extended period of time. Each servant had a choice as to how seriously he
took this responsibility. (vv. 16-18) The first servant doubled the master’s money. The second servant
doubled the master’s money. The third servant did not even try to carry out his responsibility to use the
master’s money to gain more.

Matthew 25:16–18 (NIV84)16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his
money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his
master’s money.

When the master returned, he evaluated the stewardship of each servant and gave each his
commendation and reward. (vv. 19-30)

Matthew 25:19–30 (NIV84)19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled
accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.
‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master
replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put
you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the
two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained
two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful
with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s
happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew
that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not

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