Our Scripture meditation is based on Matthew 25:14-30, next week’s Gospel Reading, the 25th Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Epistle Lesson, click HERE.
[14] “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. [15] To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. [16] He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. [17] So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. [18] But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. [19] Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. [20] And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ [21] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ [23] His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ [24] He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, [25] so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ [26] But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? [27] Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. [28] So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. [29] For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. [30] And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This parable is a clear example of the importance of interpreting Scripture in context.
Read without context, the Parable of the Talents makes the Christian life sound relatively straightforward. If we are faithful, God will bless us. If we are not faithful, God will take His blessings from us.
This should raise red flags. No one questions the Apostle Paul’s commitment to Christ and Christ’s mission. Yet in 2 Corinthians 11 we’re told about everything that Paul suffered for the Gospel. It is readily apparent we don’t not have a “cause and effect” relationship with God, where we automatically get temporal blessings for righteous behavior.
The immediate context clarifies the Parable of the Talents. Jesus is teaching about when He will return in judgement. This parable is primarily about living faithfully to ensure we are ready for Christ’s return. We are grateful for however God wants to bless us in this life, but the real blessing is waiting for us at Jesus’ return.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
