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The Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Talents contributes to a much larger discourse in Matthew 24 and 25 in which Jesus instructs His followers how to live while they wait for His second coming.  Jesus has warned them that His return will be unexpected (Matt. 24:36-44), and He has taught them to always be ready (the Parable of the Maidens, 25:1-13).  Now, He turns His focus to the purpose of their lives on earth while they wait for the return of their Master.

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus tells the story of a Master who, before leaving on a journey entrusts his property to his servants.  The servants are given varying degrees of wealth according to their ability, but for each servant the Master’s expectation is the same.  They have been entrusted with “talents” for the purpose of putting them to work in the Master’s interest.  He expects them to act as good stewards of what they have been given and to increase His assets while they wait for him to return.  The parable ends with a “settling of accounts”.  Each servant stands before the master to make a showing of how he has used his talents. 

Here are some questions to consider today as we study the Parable of the Talents.

Do I have a biblical perspective on the purpose of my life?

What resources (talents) has God entrusted to me?

What does it look life for me to put these to work for God?