Revision as of 16:35, 25 March 2022

Theological Proposition/Focus: Jesus has equipped his servants, plans to return, expects that his servants have used what he gave them wisely, and intends to reward those who serve wisely.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must use what Christ has given us wisely.

Introduction:

Image: Being left at home and then cleaning really fast before your spouse arrives.

Need: We need to live our life in light of Christ's planned return.

Subject:Second Coming Stewardship

Preview: Within Matthew 25:14-30 we are going to see that as Christ Followers we expect Christ to return and hence should be wisely using what he has given us recognising that we will give an account for our work and looking forward to the eternal reward such work brings.

Text: Matthew 25:14-30.

Setting the Stage:

The parable in Matthew 25:14-30 is the last parable within a series of parables focussed on the need for every believer to be ready for Christ's return. The previous parables drove home the idea that a believer needed to be ready for the return of the master but this passage in particular set up the idea that working for the Kingdom was part of being ready. In order to fully understand this parable we must realize that the people were expecting the Messiaiah to come as a conquering King. Here we see the notion that the Jesus will return but there will be some delay. Nevertheless, as we wait for that return there is an expectation that that we serve Jesus with all our worldly possessions in anticipation of his return.

Body

Expectations: The returning judge has expectations (14-15).

Jesus will come again (14)

The term Orthodoxy is a fancy theological way of saying something that is believed and practiced everywhere, always, and by all. That is a belief is orthodox if all those who have historically been recognized as Christians have held the belief. Orthodox beliefs are those beliefs that are standard within Christianity. Examples of Orthodox beleifs are the virgin birth and diety of Christ, the Trinity, or the death and ressurection of Christ. You can think of Orthodox belief's as the set of non-negotioables. One important Orthodox belief is what is known as the

parousia

That is, the Second Coming of Christ. There is a lot of debate on when exactly Christ will come again, and we wont be getting into that today. For today what we need to know is that Christ is coming again and this belief is a shared belief across denominations.

So, what do we need to know from this particular verse? We need to realize that We are in the middle of a particularly interesting time in history. Jesus is not physically present right here and right now. He has sdent his Spirit but he is not here. However, he is only on a journey and the implication of him being on a journey is that he is planning to return.

We also see that in his abscense he entrusts his servants with what is his. Jesus has literally assigned each of us as Stewards.

Jesus has gifted each of us (15)

In verse 15 we are given just a little more detail. The master in the parable entrusts a specified number of bags of Gold to each of his servants.

ταλαντα between 75 and 100 pounds of silver (αργυριον in verse 18 refers to silver money)

The word for bags of gold here is the Greek word Talent but it is not something you have been gifted with the ability to perform as you might intially thinkg but rather a weight. Specifically, this was the weight that a soldier could carry on his back (typically between 75 and 100 pounds of silver). Today this would be well over 1 million dollars per talent if Gold but since this is likely silver it is probably about $31,000. The point that Jesus is making is that this master entrusted everything he had, which was substantial, to his servants.

It is also worth noting that master does not give the same quantity to each person. Many people have asked about this and some might even argue that this is unfair but notice the end of verse 15.

Gifting is done in accordance with ability

It is important that we notice the end of the verse. The amount given is in accordance with the ability of the individual. In God's Kingdom he does not create all of us equal because we each have differing strengths and abilities. We are all equally valuable but we are not all equal in what we are provided with or expected to do. So, we are all equally expected to do our best, but our best may look different and that is okay. The key is we are equally valuable and expected to give our best.

Image: Pilot Orientation is a week longer than Flight Attendent Orientation

My family has a fascination with airplanes. Among my four brothers 3 of us have commercial pilot's licenses. My younger brother decided to make a career out of flying. When he recieved his first job working for the airlines he had to go to orientation for the airline. I remember a particular story he told me. The first week of oreintation was about airline operations and aircraft/passenger safety. The airline chose to have flight attendent and pilots attend the first week of orientation together. At the end of the week the flight attendents were getting ready to go do their next week of flight attendent training and one of them asked my brother, "where are you going to be assigned." My brother responded, "we still have two weeks of training." To this the flight attendent responsed "oh, I didn't realize that I only needed to go to an extra week and I could be a pilot."

I worry that at times we are so busy looking at what others are doing and how others are equippted that we lose sight of our own equiping and our assignments. God has blessed each of us with various gifts, and God has given each of us different financial entrustment. We need to take stock of our own gifting and be prepared to give our best to God.

MTR: Take stock and ask what God has given to you.

Actions: The servants have choices (16-18).

There are good choices

There are bad choices

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MTR: Consider how you are using what God has given you.

Accounting: Each servant will give an account (19-27).

Emphasis 1: The length of time.

Emphasis 2: Equality of blessing.

Emphasis 3: Contrast in servants.

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MTR: Determine to wisely use what Christ has given you.

Consequences: There are actions which warrent reward and actions which warrent judgement (28-30).

Key point: The grace of God.

Key point: The Judgement of God.

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Conclusion:

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