IDEA: How we apply the parable demands that we come to grips with the dynamic of the study.
TEXT: "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money" (Matthew 25:14-18).
PURPOSE: To have listeners understand that application has to be carefully thought out.
Sometimes when we study the Bible, the most obvious questions appear to be the most difficult to answer.
Read the first part of a parable that Jesus told (Matthew 25:14-18).
What questions come to your mind as you hear this?
What does Jesus mean by a "talent"?
There are some things a talent probably doesn’t refer to.
I. It does not refer to our natural abilities.
People sometimes refer to this story to say that we are to use our natural gifts for the Lord’s sake.
While this isn’t a bad practice, it is a wrong interpretation of the text. It confuses the modern use of the word "talent" with its use in the Bible.
"Talent" refers to money. When people in the ancient world talked about someone who had many talents, they weren’t saying she could sing, dance, act and cook well. They meant this was a person who was very rich.
To use your talents then meant that you invested your money.
II. It does not refer to the way Christians use their time in order to determine what rewards they will receive.
The first part of the story might lead you to that conclusion. The first two men are obviously faithful, and they are rewarded for their faithfulness.
The second part of the parable cancels out that interpretation. It tells us that the third fellow is "cast into outer darkness. In that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This is a matter of life and death, not merely of rewards.
III. In order to apply this passage, or any passage, you have to examine all of the passage and account for all of the details before you can make an application.
If you fail to do that, you may come to some rather dangerous conclusions