Matthew 25:16-20
Mat 25:16 (KJB)
Then he that had received the five talents went and
traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Traded - Work, accomplish, or carry out
The talent was the largest unit of currency in the ancient world. One talent
equaled 6,000 denarii and the single denarius was the normal wage of a laborer
for one day’s work. So a talent would be 16.7 years labor and since this man was
given 5 talents, his working capital was equal to about 83 years for a working
man. For the master to give this amount to a servant would mean that he trusted
his ability and his honesty. This servant in turn immediately went to work and
because of his obvious business acumen, he was able to double the master’s money
which would be 60,000 denarii. This was a massive amount of money that this
servant had made. Now if we bring this to Christianity, we can say that the Lord
had given a major ministry to a certain believer and because they faithfully
engaged the true Gospel, they had made many converts to the Lord.
Mat 25:17 (KJB)
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Two talents was also a large amount of money because it represented 33 years of
labor for a day laborer. This man would also have been trusted by his master
because of the amount of money and maybe he was better at working smaller deals
instead of large ones and as a result, he also doubled his master’s money. This
would be like a Christian given a smaller ministry and faithfully executing it
and therefore has gained fruit.
Mat 25:18 (KJB)
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's
money.
This third servant received a large amount of money as it would have been 16.7
years for a day laborer. Apparently the master who entrusted him with the money
did not know that he was inept in business and instead of taking a chance of
losing his master’s money, he went and placed it in the earth. He had rejected a
great opportunity because he looked on the talent as more of a burden. Maybe he
thought that if the master goes away for a long time, then he would be able to
take it easy but then he was given a task which he did not engage in either out
of laziness or fear.
Mat 25:19 (KJB)
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
The word “long” in the Greek carries with it a meaning of a great length of
time. So the master did not return quickly but gave these servants a good amount
of time to conduct business. However long it was, the time had now elapsed as he
finally comes home and that return also signals the time of reckoning which the
servants will have to go through. The fact that the Lord has not returned to
earth yet means that there are still opportunities to get involved in the
ministry but if you wait too long, that door may be shut on you as it was on the
five foolish virgins who did not prepare. Those who do not want to get involved
in ministry are giving good evidence that they are unsaved. Especially, since
the Great Commission is a command and not a suggestion.
Mat 25:20 (KJB)
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents,
saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained
beside them five talents more.
The master starts with the one who received the five talents. This joyful
servant happily announces to his master that you entrusted me with five talents
and as a result I have doubled your money and hereby give you ten talents. This
is the Christian that the Lord entrusted with a large ministry and he faithfully
executed that ministry and as a result, brought many souls into the kingdom of
God.