CSSA 1-4-19 - TWO PARABLES: THE TEN VIRGINS AND THE TALENTS

Language English

94. TWO PARABLES: THE TEN VIRGINS AND THE TALENTS

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant"

Aim

To show how Jesus taught in two parables that we should be faithful servants while he is away and always watching for his return.

Jesus had warned the people of the judgments that God would bring upon Jerusalem and her people, because they had produced no fruit. The cursing of the fig tree was a warning to them all. Yet Jesus was anxious that those who had followed him and listened to his words would be wise and escape the troubles that lay ahead. So he told two parables to show them the need to be diligent and faithful. These parables are especially helpful to us, for we are eagerly awaiting the return of our Lord from heaven. "Watch therefore" he said, "for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come' (Matt. 24:42).

Matthew 25:1-31

WAITING FOR THE BRIDEGROOM: Matthew 25:1-13

There were ten young girls, or '"virgins", chosen to attend a wedding procession. They had to watch for the coming of the bridegroom and go out to meet him with their lamps, to light his way to the marriage supper. On this occasion the bridegroom was away longer than they had expected and "they all slumbered and slept" (v5). Suddenly, at midnight, the cry went out, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him"(v6). Hurriedly the virgins roused themselves and looked to their lamps. Five of them were at once ready. The other five, however, suddenly found that they had no oil and their lamps were going out.

THE DOOR WAS SHUT

"Give us of your oil", cried the five foolish virgins, but the wise virgins replied, "Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves" (v9). So the foolish virgins hurried away to buy. While they were away the bridegroom arrived and the five wise virgins accompanied him to the marriage supper. They went in with him "and the door was shut" (v10).

Later on the other virgins arrived and finding the door shut, they called out: "Lord, Lord, open to us" (v11). But the only answer they heard filled them with shame and dismay: "Verily I say unto you, I know you not" (v12). It was too late. What was the good of lamps that did not shine? They were of no use to the bridegroom now.

THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE

Jesus had begun the parable by saying, "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins ...". It speaks of the time when Christ returns from heaven to set up his kingdom. Christ himself is the "bridegroom" (see Matt. 9:15). We are the "virgins" waiting for his coming. The "oil" in our lamps is the Word of God.

We see from this parable that the virgins had to be ready with plenty of oil. They all had lamps, but only five of them had taken care to have extra oil. This tells us that all of them had heard the Word of God and believed it. Some of them, however, had not added to what they had first learned and so the Truth was no longer seen in their lives. Jesus said, "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). The apostle Peter tells us that, if we want to enter into the everlasting kingdom of God then we must "add" to our faith (2 Pet. 1:5, 11). Daily reading of the Bible keeps us well supplied with "oil" and helps us to add all those necessary qualities that God is pleased to see in us. Then when Christ returns he will find us ready to join with him in his kingdom. Those who are not ready will be sent away back into the darkness of the world. "I know you not", he said, for he will not count them among his friends at all.

The final words of Jesus, when he had finished telling this parable, are a warning to us all. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (v13).

A MAN TRAVELLING INTO A FAR COUNTRY: Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told another parable about preparing for the kingdom: "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called together his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods" (v14). From this he gave to each servant a large sum of money; to one he gave five talents, to another two and to another one. He knew what each servant was capable of, and while he was away he expected them to work hard with what he had given them.

As soon as their master had gone, the man with the five talents and the man with the two talents set to work. They each used what had been left in their care. So faithful were they that both doubled the number of talents which had been given to them by their master. The one who had five talents gained another five and the one who had two talents gained another two.

However, the other servant, who had been given one talent, did nothing useful with his at all. He went and dug a hole in the earth and hid his lord's money there.

THE MASTER RETURNS

After a long time, the lord returned, and called his servants to give an account of how they had served him while he was away. The servant who had been given five talents was able to show his master five more talents that he had gained in his absence. His lord was very pleased. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (v21).

When the servant who had been given two talents came and showed the two extra talents he had gained, the master was just as pleased and rewarded him in the same way.

When the third servant came, however, it was obvious how lazy he had been. He had shown no interest whatever in serving his master. He had thought that his master was a hard man and expected too much. So he did nothing with that talent placed in his care. He was a faithless and disobedient servant. The lord was angry with that "wicked and slothful servant" (v26), and ordered him to be thrown out of his house "into outer darkness" (v30). That servant had not realised how just and fair his lord was, but now he got what he deserved.

THE MEANING OF THE PARABLE

The man in this parable who went into a far country is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has been in heaven at the right hand of God for over nineteen hundred years. He has been away "a long time" (v19), but he has promised to return. Meanwhile, we who are his servants, have been told to be busy in his service until he comes. He expects each of us to be faithful and will reward us all with everlasting life in his kingdom, as long as we are diligent while he is away.

The lord gave his servants "his goods" (v14). So we have been given the Bible to read and to understand. Each servant was given a different number of talents. So God has given us varying abilities but expects us all to use them to the best of our ability in His service.

In the Bible we are told that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). Therefore, whatever "talents" have been given to us by God, must be used in His service, to bring honour to Him.

LESSON FOR US

Jesus had said, € Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household?" (Matt. 24:45).

He told these two parables to show his disciples what he expects of them, and to encourage them. We must take careful note of the meaning of these parables, for we know that Christ our Lord is soon to return.

The first parable teaches us to be wise and always ready, "for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come". How easy it is to get interested in games and hobbies and forget to keep up our daily reading of the Bible. Let us apply the rule all our lives to study God's Word a little every day. Then we will not be ashamed when Christ comes.

The second parable teaches us to be faithful servants while he is away. We cannot expect the gift of eternal life if we have not shown ourselves to be willing and diligent. There are so many ways in which we can be faithful servants. The first thing we must do is to believe that God means what He says. Then we must obey His commandments.

The apostle Paul always taught: "Servants, obey your masters". As the servants of Jesus Christ we must do the will of God "from the heart" (Eph. 6:6). "Whatsoever ye do", says Paul, "do it heartily, as to the Lord... for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:23-24).