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FEBRUARY 10
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
25:15 talents. A talent was a measure of the joy of your lord.’
weight, not a specific coin, so that a talent of 24 “Then he who had received the one talent
gold was more valuable than a talent of silver.A came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard
talent of silver (the word translated “money” in man, reaping where you have not sown, and
v.18 is literally silver) was a considerable sum of gathering where you have not scattered seed.
money.The modern meaning of the word “tal- 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your tal-
ent,” denoting a natural ability, stems from the ent in the ground. Look, there you have what is
fact that this parable is erroneously applied to yours.’
the stewardship of one’s natural gifts. 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
“So he who had received five talents came I have not scattered seed. So you ought to
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and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, have deposited my money with the bankers,
you delivered to me five talents; look, I have and at my coming I would have received back
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gained five more talents besides them.’ His my own with interest. So take the talent from
lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
servant; you were faithful over a few things, I 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be
will make you ruler over many things. Enter given, and he will have abundance; but from
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into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had him who does not have, even what he has will
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received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you be taken away. And cast the unprofitable ser-
delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained vant into the outer darkness. There will be
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two more talents besides them.’ His lord said weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
DAY 9:What do the parables of the 10 virgins and of the talents tell us
about Christ’s second coming?
The parable of the 10 virgins (Matt.10:25:1–13) is given to underscore the importance of being
ready for Christ’s return in any event—even if He delays longer than expected.The wedding would
begin at the bride’s house when the bridegroom arrived to observe the wedding ritual.Then a pro-
cession would follow as the bridegroom took the bride to his house for the completion of festivi-
ties.For a night wedding,“lamps,”which were actually torches,were needed for the procession.For
those not prepared when He does return, there will be no second chances (vv. 11,12).
The parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30) illustrates the tragedy of wasted opportunity.The
man who goes on the journey represents Christ, and the servants represent professing believers
given different levels of responsibility.Faithfulness is what he demands of them (v.23),but the para-
ble suggests that all who are faithful will be fruitful to some degree. Both the man with five talents
and the man with two received exactly the same reward,“the joy of your lord,” indicating that the
reward is based on faithfulness,not results.The slothful servant (v.24) does not represent a genuine
believer,for it is obvious that this man had no true knowledge of the master.This fruitless person is
unmasked as a hypocrite and utterly destroyed (v. 30).

design artistic works, to work in gold, in sil-
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February 10 ver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in
carving wood, and to work in all manner of
workmanship.
6 “And I, indeed I, have appointed with him
Exodus 31:1–32:35
Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: Dan; and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all
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31 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the the gifted artisans, that they may make all that
son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Ju- I have commanded you: the tabernacle of
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dah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of meeting, the ark of the Testimony and the
God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowl- mercy seat that is on it, and all the furniture of
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edge, and in all manner of workmanship, to the tabernacle— the table and its utensils, the
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