By Rev. Richard Jones
SERVANT STEWARDS
Matthew 25: 14-30 (ESV)
OVERVIEW: Matthew 25: 14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ”˜Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.”™ 21 His master said to him, ”˜Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”™ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ”˜Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.”™ 23 His master said to him, ”˜Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”™ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ”˜Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.”™ 26 But his master answered him, ”˜You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”™
RESOURCE & RESPONSIBILITY Matthew 25:14-18
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Ephesians 5: 15-17
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 4: 11-13
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Galatians 6: 9-10
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
1 Corinthians 4: 1-2
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
RESULTS & REWARD Matthew 25:19-23
Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ”˜Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.”™ 21 His master said to him, ”˜Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”™ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ”˜Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.”™ 23 His master said to him, ”˜Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”™
John 15: 10-11
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
1 Corinthians 6: 2-3
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
2 Timothy 2: 12
if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
REFRAIN & REPROACH Matthew 25:24-25
He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ”˜Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.”™
REBUKE & REMOVE Matthew 25:26-30
But his master answered him, ”˜You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”™