This lesson on Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 explains the Parable of the Talents and continues the warning about watching because we do not know the hour of the Lord’s coming (Matthew 24:42). In this passage, Jesus teaches that watching is more than awareness. Watching means doing. The Lord expects His servants to take what He has given them and increase it. The parable warns that a day of reckoning will come when every servant must give an account for what was done with the talents entrusted to him.
GOSPEL OF MATTHEW BIBLE STUDY SERIES
This study of Matthew: Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Parable of the Talents Explained is part of a verse-by-verse teaching series through the Gospel of Matthew.
Previous: Matthew 25 Verses 1-13 – Wise and Foolish Virgins Explained
Next: Matthew 25 Verses 31-46
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Parable of the Talents Explained
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 records the Parable of the Talents, where Jesus teaches that every servant receives a deposit from the Lord and must give an account for it on reckoning day. Two servants multiply what they receive and are rewarded. One servant hides his talent and faces judgment. This passage reveals that watching for the Lord’s return means actively using what God has entrusted to us.
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Scriptures used in this lesson on Matthew 25 Verses 14-30
Matthew 24:42, Matthew 25:14–15, Acts 1:8, 1 Corinthians 12:6–12, John 3:16, Matthew 25:16–18, Matthew 25:19, Matthew 25:20–23, Romans 11:22, Revelation 5:5–6, Matthew 25:24–30, Matthew 10:34–39, Mark 8:34–38, Matthew 25:26, Proverbs 18:9, Matthew 25:27, Matthew 25:28–29, John 17:4–5, Matthew 25:30, Matthew 7:16,
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Watching Means Doing
This lesson on Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 continues the thought of watching because we do not know the hour of the Lord’s coming (Matthew 24:42). When the Lord says, “Watch,” He means more than awareness. Watching is doing. Watching means living prepared for His coming. Throughout these parables, He repeats the same warning – be ready and be active in what He has given you to do.
The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 Verses 14-30
This truth is clearly seen in the parable of the servants and the talents (Matthew 25:14–30). Every member of the body of Christ has received a deposit of goods from the Lord. Those goods are not given to remain unused. Each servant is expected to increase what has been placed in his or her care. The servant who receives the deposit must develop it and multiply it.
Reckoning Day – Giving Account to the Lord
A day of reckoning will come when the Lord returns and calls His servants to account (Matthew 25:19). On that day, each person will answer for what was done with what the Lord gave. The issue is not whether something was given. The issue is what was done with it. Watching, therefore, means doing. It means taking what the Lord deposited in our lives and producing increase before the day of reckoning arrives.
What Reckoning Day Means for Every Servant
We are talking about reckoning day. Reckoning day is when a person gives an account for what God has given him. A servant will stand before the Lord and present the deposits placed in his life. Those deposits are the talents given by God. The servant must bring them back and report what was done with them. The deposit will either be increased or hidden away. If a servant dug a hole and hid what was given, then woe to that servant. This lesson is for those who have hidden what God placed in them as seen in Matthew 25 Verses 14-30. The deposit cannot remain buried. It must grow and multiply.
The parable we are examining shows this clearly. All three people in the story are called servants of God (Matthew 25:14–30). Each servant received something from the Lord. Each one had a deposit placed in his care. They likely believed they were secure. Yet one of them ended in destruction. That reality causes concern for many in the body of Christ. Some believe they are saved and believe they are servants. They have received deposits from God. Still, they do nothing with what was given. When reckoning day comes, that servant will hear judgment. What he received will be taken away and given to another who was faithful (Matthew 25:28–30). That is the direction of this lesson.
Two Possible Responses on Reckoning Day
Every person will hear one of two responses from the Lord. One response is approval and reward – well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21). The other response is rejection and judgment – thou wicked and lazy servant, cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness (Matthew 25:30).
What I will hear and what you will hear on that day depends on our watching. Watching is doing. What I do with what God has given me will determine how I stand on reckoning day. This lesson is not easy to present. The parable of the servants and the talents is a hard word (Matthew 25:14–30).
This same principle appears in the earlier parables. The faithful servant and the five wise and five foolish virgins teach the same truth (Matthew 25:1–13). The warning about the thief in the night carries the same idea (Matthew 24:43). Those in the light are watching and doing. Those in darkness are not prepared and are not truly expecting His return. The main thought is preparedness.
The Real Issue Is Readiness
Many teachings about the kingdom list steps or events that must happen before the Lord returns. I sometimes outline those steps and number them. Yet I must ask a serious question. What if I am wrong and those steps do not delay His coming? What if He returned this very instant? The real issue is readiness. The question is whether we are ready to give an account before God (Matthew 25:19).
Do not depend on a list of steps. Look at your own heart. Ask whether you are ready to meet the Lord and give an account for what He has placed in your life. If your life has not changed in the past year, six months, or three months, then you are living as an unprofitable servant (Matthew 25:30). God expects us to take what He has given and multiply it (Matthew 25:16–17). When the Lord comes and examines our lives, He expects more than the initial salvation placed within us.
Jesus began this warning with the command to watch (Matthew 24:42). Because we do not know the hour of His coming, He gave parables to teach what watching truly means.
Matthew 24:42
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Number one – the coming of the Lord is like a thief in the night upon the house that is not watched (Matthew 24:43). The Lord does not come as a thief to those who are in the day. He comes as a thief to those who are in the night and to the house that is not watching. When we watch over our house and walk in the light, His coming will not catch us unaware (1 Thessalonians 5:4–5).
Number two – the parable of the two servants shows the same truth (Matthew 24:44–51). One servant watched and continued doing what the Lord instructed. The other servant became evil and hypocritical. One lived in obedience and activity. The other did nothing with what he had been given.
The third one that the Lord gave us was the five wise and the virgins who were prepared, thus watching, and the five foolish virgins who were unprepared, thus not watching (Matthew 25:1-13). We looked at that parable last time.
In this lesson, we see three servants. Two are watching and prepared because they are doing. One is lazy, wicked, and unprepared (Matthew 25:14–30). The emphasis is simple – watching is doing. That truth forces a question seen clearly in Matthew 25 Verses 14-30. What am I doing with what God has deposited in my life? The issue is whether I am a profitable servant. The goal is to hear the words that say I have been faithful over a few things and will be made ruler over many (Matthew 25:21).
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Talents are a Test
The point I want to show is that talents are given as a test. God gives talents in this age to see how productive we will be with what He gives us. That test determines what we will rule in the next age. Scripture teaches that where much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Reckoning day will come, and the servant will give account (Matthew 25:19). If a talent is hidden in the ground, that servant will not rule over anything (Matthew 25:25–28). This is a hard message, yet I feel compelled to speak it with firmness.
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 Explained
Matthew 25:14–15
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
After giving the goods to his servants, the master departed (Matthew 25:14–15). The Lord deposited His goods into His servants (Matthew 25:14). Those goods belong to the Lord, not the servant.
Today, we are His body, and we carry what belongs to Him. What the world sees of Christ is seen through us. The word “goods” refers to property or possessions. The word “servant” means slave – one whose will is consumed in the will of the master. That definition forces a question. Is the will of most Christians consumed in the will of the master, or in their own will?
Scripture shows this problem clearly. When Jesus stood before Pilate, the people said they had no king but Caesar (John 19:15). That spirit still appears today. Many serve their own desires and their own will rather than the Lord.
Talents Given According to Ability
The parable then explains that one servant received five talents, another two, and another one (Matthew 25:15). A talent was a large sum of money. Each servant received a significant amount, yet the main point is not the amount. The point is that each servant received enough to accomplish what the man required.
God has given us everything needed to fulfill His purpose. Nothing necessary for life and service has been withheld. The Lord has given us His Spirit, His name, His authority, and His power. Everything needed to carry out His will has been provided (2 Peter 1:3). The goods of the Lord are already in our hands.
These deposits are given according to individual ability. The word ability refers to dunamis – power. Dunamis means explosive power. When that word appears, my mind immediately connects it to the promise that power would come through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
When I hear about the ability given to the servant, I immediately think about the Holy Spirit. That ability comes through the Holy Spirit. Scripture clearly shows this in Acts 1:8. Believers receive power through the Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Jesus appeared to the disciples, breathed on them, and told them to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:22). I may not understand every detail of what happened in that moment. Yet the disciples clearly received the Holy Ghost in Acts chapter 2 (Acts 2:1–4). What Acts chapter 1 describes is a power given after their initial salvation. This power is dunamis power. That power enables believers to be witnesses throughout the earth (Acts 1:8).
This dunamis power connects directly to witnessing. When someone speaks a word of knowledge or wisdom that only God could reveal, it becomes a witness. When hands are laid on someone and healing occurs, it becomes a witness (Mark 16:17–18). The power of the Holy Ghost reveals itself through visible and undeniable works.
Power and Ability
The same word used for “ability” in the parable is dunamis, “power”. The Lord gives talents according to that power (Matthew 25:15). In this way, the parable connects directly to the work of the Spirit. The Lord has given His servants the goods of the kingdom (Matthew 25:14). Each servant receives a different amount, but every servant receives at least one talent.
The central question remains simple. What are we doing with the talent we have been given?
The Goods of God – The Gifts of the Spirit
To explore that question further, we must look at the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, where the nine spiritual gifts are described, including tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8–10).
1 Corinthians 12:6–12
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Is 1 Corinthians 12 as valid in Scripture as John 3:16? Both passages are in the same Bible. They are the same Scriptures. They come from the same Spirit. One is no less valid than the other.
All Scriptures are Important
We cannot take something out simply because we do not like it. Removing John 3:16 or any other passage we dislike would be wrong. Every passage in Scripture carries the same authority. As we read through here, we must realize this is valid teaching.
How many is it given to? It is given to every man. The word manifestation means an exhibition or an expression. When the Spirit manifests, something will be exhibited. Something will be expressed. Something will happen that can be seen or heard.
When the Spirit manifests, there will be evidence. You will either see something happen or hear something happen. That is what the word manifestation means. It is Strong’s number 5321. It means an exhibition or an expression.
Then the passage says that this manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit all of us. It is profitable for everyone. This is what we are talking about in this parable.
Does God want profitable servants? Does He want us to be profitable when we come back to Him? He wants to see that we are counted worthy and profitable (Matthew 25:21). This manifestation is given to every man to profit with all.
The Goods of God
In verse 8, we see what is given by the Spirit. The goods are listed. One receives the word of wisdom. Another receives the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. The same Spirit they had when this was written is the Spirit we have today. We also have the same covenant and the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:8–10).
These are the goods of God. All these work by the one and the selfsame Spirit. It does not say that some of them work. It says all these work. They are not limited to a certain time or generation. All these work by that one Spirit. The Spirit divides them to every man severally as He will (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Every man can mean every person. The body is one and has many members. All the members of that one body are many, yet they form one body. So also is Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Think about your own body. Is there a member that does not function? Is there a member without a purpose or a talent? No. Every member has a function. Every member has a purpose. Christ works the same way. If you are in the body of Christ, you have a purpose. You have a talent. You are attached for a reason.
God wants these things manifested. He wants them exhibited and expressed in His body. Through them, we become witnesses in our city, our county, our state, and to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). It means we take these things and manifest them. We express them. We exhibit them. That is how we become witnesses for Him.
Fear is not an Excuse
Many have not done this for the same reason the man in the parable did not. He was slothful and lazy (Matthew 25:26). Instead of using what was given, he hid it in his heart because he was afraid.
Fear will not excuse us when reckoning day comes. None of us will have an excuse. We will not stand there and say we were afraid – afraid of what, that people would laugh, afraid we might miss what the Spirit was saying, afraid someone would not be healed (Matthew 25:24–25)?
On that day, we will either say, Lord, here is what You gave me, and here is what it produced. Then we will hear, enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21). Or the command will be given to take what was given and give it to the one who used it well, and the unprofitable servant will be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 25:28–30).
Now I want you to take this home tonight. Sit down with it. Look it over and see if these things be so (Acts 17:11).
I believe it is time for us to step out of the boat. It is time to move in the gifts of the Spirit. We should begin to bring forth the talents God has given us. The purpose is not excitement or show. I will call that down if it begins. The purpose is to be a witness. People can come and receive healing. They can hear a word and know there is no way the speaker could have known it. That becomes a witness for God.
We all Received a Deposit
These are the gifts of the Spirit. They are the goods of God. They are given to every man (1 Corinthians 12:7). How many are included in every man? Every person. If you are a person, you have at least one of them.
Is it both scriptural and safe to say that each person in the body of Christ has a function, just as each member of the body has a function (1 Corinthians 12:18)? Every member of the church has received a deposit. Some received five talents – $135,000. Some received two talents – $60,000. Others received one talent – $30,000. Yet all were given enough goods to be productive and functional in the body (Matthew 25:14–15).
That is the point being made. God gives us enough. The amount may relate to the power or calling of the servant. Where much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). At the very least, every person has received a deposit sufficient to be productive and purposeful in the body of Christ. If that is true, then the question must be asked. Are you manifesting it? Are you exhibiting it? Have you expressed your gift? What are you doing with it?
I also believe there has been misuse of some of these things. That misuse has occurred throughout Pentecost, just as it did in Corinth with tongues (1 Corinthians 14:23). Even so, Paul still said not to forbid speaking with tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39). He also said to desire to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:5).
Misuse does happen
Misuse may occur, but that does not cancel the truth. I believe we are mature enough in this fellowship to handle it correctly. You have seen how I address disorder. I will not allow things to get out of balance. We will keep everything decent and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
None of that changes the fact that 1 Corinthians chapter 12 carries the same authority as John 3:16 (John 3:16).
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Let’s look further into this passage.
Matthew 25:16-18
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
The Faithful Servants Who Multiplied Their Talents
Are you using your talent(s)? Which one of these servants are you? Have you been given much, some, five, two, or one? The important question is not how many you were given. The important question is what you are doing with what you have received.
The first servant went and traded with his talents. The word “traded” means to toil with it. It means to engage in it as a task or occupation. That servant increased the deposit by 100%. The Lord deposited something, and it produced an increase. I believe the Lord would be pleased with that kind of increase. What He wants to see is growth. He wants to see an increase in our lives. Remaining in the same place is not His desire. When He comes on that day, we should be able to return more than what He first gave.
The second servant did the same thing. He also increased the deposit by 100%. The third servant took the deposit and hid it in the earth (Matthew 25:16–18).
It is necessary to understand whose talents these are. They do not belong to us. They belong to the Lord. He gives them to us, yet He never forces us to use them (Matthew 25:14). A person can dig a hole and hide the deposit. Another person can trade with it and use it. Trading does not mean swapping it around. The word means to toil with it and engage it.
The Muscle Example
Think of it like a muscle. If you want to lift heavy weights, you must exercise the muscle. You must use it and develop it. Tie your arm to your side, and the muscle will deteriorate. The strength will fade. Use that arm, and the muscle develops and grows.
The same principle applies to the talents. Our responsibility is to take what we have been given and develop it. We must multiply it and increase it. Anyone may choose to hide it or use it. Yet every person has at least one talent and will give an account on reckoning day (Matthew 25:19).
The same truth applies to you and me. I might know the deposit you were given. I may even know how many talents you have. Still, each person must decide whether to increase the talent or hide it. Every one of us is responsible for what we do with it.
Anyone who has read the end of this parable knows what it says. When this lesson is finished, the right response is to be encouraged to discover what you have and increase it. This is a hard word. I know it is hard. For a long time, many people have avoided hard words.
Reckoning Day – The Servants Give Account
Verse 19 is the reckoning day.
Matthew 25:19
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
The word “reckoneth” means to compute or to settle an account. It speaks of reckoning day. That day concerns what we have done with our talents. It concerns what we have done with the deposit and the goods God has given us (Matthew 25:19).
Reckoning day may be a long time coming, but it will come (Matthew 25:19). The question is whether we truly believe it. Do we really believe there is a reckoning day? Our actions reveal what we believe. When a person believes something, that belief shows in how they live.
Do People Believe in Reckoning Day?
I am of the opinion that much of the church does not believe in the reckoning day. Many seem to imagine walking up to a gentle figure with a lamb in His lap and a bird on His shoulder who simply blesses everyone. That is not the picture Scripture gives. On that day, it will not be a lamb. It will be a lion (Revelation 5:5).
Does the church world believe in the Day of Reckoning? In many cases, it does not even believe in the deposit of gifts, much less in giving an account for them. Does the church world really believe what is written in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 (1 Corinthians 12:1–11)?
Many have hidden their Talent
Where will people stand on reckoning day if they do not believe in the goods of God (Matthew 25:14)? This is why this message presses so strongly in my spirit. Something is being missed. If what I am saying is true, then many people are facing serious trouble.
Many servants have taken their talent, dug a hole, and hidden the Lord’s deposit (Matthew 25:18). That is the burden behind this message.
Matthew 25:20–23
20 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.
21 His lord said unto him, 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.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, 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.
Now here is reckoning day. The first servant came forward to give an account. He said, ” Here is the deposit you gave me, and look at what I have done with it” (Matthew 25:20).
100% Increase
He increased it 100%. That means he did the best he could with what he was given. The talent God gave him was taken and used to its fullness. Something else stands out. This servant was excited. He was not afraid. He said, look at what I have done. A person who is afraid does not say look. Fear says do not look.
There is no fear on reckoning day when a servant has used what God gave him (Matthew 25:24–25). The Lord answered with well done. That means excellent and wonderful. He called him a good and faithful servant. The servant had been faithful with a few things. Because of that faithfulness, he was made ruler over many things and was invited to enter into the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21). The same response was given to the second servant.
One thing must be noted. The deposit was not the servant’s possession. The servant only held it until reckoning day. On that day, both the deposit and the increase were returned to the Lord (Matthew 25:20). What we possess is not truly ours. The gifts we hold belong to Him. On reckoning day, we will return both what we were given and what we increased (Matthew 25:19–20).
That raises a serious question. Will we have something to give Him? As I prepare this message, I must ask myself the same thing. Will we be able to say, “Look, it has increased for your glory”?
Our talents are only entrusted to us in this age. They determine what we will rule in the next age (Matthew 25:21). What determined whether the first servant would rule? If he had done nothing with the five talents he received, he would not have ruled (Matthew 25:26–30).
Eternal Outcome
What he did with the talents determined the outcome. The same truth applies to us. The goods God has given will determine what we do in the next age (Matthew 25:16–21). We may remain in the grave until the resurrection. That does not change the point. When that day arrives, and we stand at reckoning day, it will matter whether we multiplied what He gave us. Then He can say well done. Because you were faithful in this, now you will rule in that (Matthew 25:21–23).
Look again at the passage. The servant who received five talents brought five more and said the Lord had delivered five talents to him and he had gained five additional talents (Matthew 25:20). The Lord responded that he had been faithful over a few things and would now be made ruler over many things (Matthew 25:21).
The reason he ruled was his faithfulness with the talents and goods God gave him. Faithfulness came first. Rulership followed. Many have been taught that we will rule and reign with Christ without responsibility. That idea suggests a person can receive Christ, hide what was given, and still rule and reign. That is not what Scripture teaches.
Talents Deal with Eternity
There is a reckoning day. Our talents are entrusted to us in this age. What we do with them determines what we will rule in the next age (Matthew 25:19–21).
I hope we hear this. I hope we truly understand it. What we do in the next age is determined by what we are doing now (Matthew 25:21).
The same principle applied to the second servant. He brought the two talents he had received and returned with two more besides them. The Lord said, “Well done,” because he had been faithful over a few things. Because of that faithfulness, he would be made ruler over many things (Matthew 25:22–23).
The Goodness and Severity of God
Before going further, it helps to look at Romans chapter 11 and plant an important thought. Romans 11 speaks about the Jews being broken off from the olive tree and the Gentiles being grafted in. That teaching should already be familiar.
Romans 11:22
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
The point here is the goodness and the severity of God. Consider what happened to the two servants who developed their talents and returned twice what they received. In their case, God showed goodness. Yet the parable also shows what happens to the next servant. That is where the other side appears.
Scripture calls it the goodness and the severity of God (Romans 11:22). If you have an NAS Bible, it says the sternness of God. It speaks of the severity of those who fell. Toward others, there is goodness if they continue in His goodness. Otherwise, they also shall be cut off (Romans 11:22).
There is much contained in that statement. It shows that a person can be cut off (Romans 11:22). The men in this parable believed they were servants. This man thought he was a servant. He had been given power and the ability. He had dunamis. I would say he had the Holy Ghost.
Lion and the Lamb
Scripture tells us to behold the goodness and the severity of God (Romans 11:22). Now look at another place that shows these two aspects of the Lord, Revelation chapter 5. The scene is the throne room. The book with the seals is brought forward, and it must be opened. No one is found worthy to open it. John begins to weep.
Then one of the elders tells him that someone is able to open the book. The elder says not to weep. He announces that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book (Revelation 5:5).
Revelation 5:5–6
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The Biblion is brought forward with the seven seals that must be opened (Revelation 5:1–5). The elder announces the Lion of the tribe of Judah. John then looks and sees a Lamb standing in the midst of the throne, as it had been slain (Revelation 5:6).
These are the two aspects of Christ – the Lion and the Lamb. The same two aspects appear in this parable. The servants who took their talents and multiplied them experienced the goodness of God. They continued in belief. They believed in reckoning day and desired to please their master. Because of that belief, they used their talents, multiplied them, and moved in their gifts (Romans 11:22) (Matthew 25:16–21).
The Wicked and Slothful Servant
Matthew 25:24-30
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Now consider the next part of the parable. The servant who received one talent came and spoke to the Lord. He said he knew the Lord was a hard man who reaps where he did not sow and gathers where he did not scatter (Matthew 25:24). Because of fear, he hid the talent in the earth and returned it unchanged (Matthew 25:25).
This servant also comes to reckoning day to give account (Matthew 25:19). He repeats that he knew the Lord was a hard man who reaps where he did not sow and gathers where he did not scatter (Matthew 25:24).
On reckoning day, we will not see the Lamb in that sense. Scripture shows the Lion (Revelation 5:5). The Lord does not correct the servant’s statement about being a hard man. Instead He says that the servant knew the master was hard and still did nothing (Matthew 25:26).
That is why this must be understood. The Lamb was slain for salvation. We thank God for His grace and goodness. Yet after salvation, there is another reality. Then we must deal with the Lion.
Jesus Himself said not to think He came to bring peace on earth (Matthew 10:34).
Matthew 10:34–39
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother…
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Does that sound like a lamb? A man’s foes shall be those of his own household (Matthew 10:36). Anyone who loves father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. The same is true for loving a son or daughter more than Him (Matthew 10:37).
A person who does not take up his cross – his purpose, his talents, the bestowing and endowment given to him – and follow after Him is not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:38). Whoever finds his life will lose it. Whoever loses his life for His sake will find it (Matthew 10:39).
Look quickly at Mark chapter 8 (Mark 8:34–35). These passages show that this is the Lion (Revelation 5:5). The message is serious. I know my words sound strong. Some may think I have returned to the way I taught before. Today, it must be said this way. This truth needs to be heard. It must come forth to the body.
Mark 8:34–38
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
This raises another question. Are you ashamed of what God has given you to do? Are you ashamed of your talents and your purpose? Some people are ashamed of bringing a message in tongues, an interpretation, or a prophecy. We cannot be ashamed of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit manifests through these things. He is seen through tongues, interpretations, prophecy, healings, faith, miracles, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:8–10).
If someone is ashamed of Him, the Lord says He will also be ashamed of that person when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). That is reckoning day (Matthew 25:19).
Gentle Response?
Some might expect a gentle response on that day, as if the Lord would excuse fear or timidity. That is not the message here. What a person does with the talent given to him is his own responsibility (Matthew 25:14–15).
A servant may choose to dig a hole and hide it (Matthew 25:18). Teaching and explanation can be given, but the decision remains personal. The servant in the parable knew there would be a reckoning day and knew the Lord was a hard man (Matthew 25:19) (Matthew 25:24).
The Lord is good and worthy of love. At the same time, there is a proper fear of Him, a godly fear that belongs in our hearts (Proverbs 9:10). Yes, and I know He is hard. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). I know He is real. I know He will do what He says.
The servant in the parable said he was afraid. Many people have said the same thing. Fear was his reason for hiding the talent (Matthew 25:25). Excuses will not stand on reckoning day. A person may give excuses now, but not then. Each of us will give account for ourselves to God (Romans 14:12).
Someone may say now that they do not believe in tongues. That can be said to people today. The question is what will be said to Him. The teaching is written plainly in Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:8–9). You read that, did you not? I use that example because it is controversial. Everyone understands the point when it is mentioned.
No Excuses
We have no excuses (Romans 14:12). Fear only comes when a person has hidden the deposit deep in the heart (Matthew 25:25). If the deposit is released and labored with, it will increase for His glory (Matthew 25:16–17).
The first and second servants were not afraid. They were excited. They said, “Look at what you gave me and how it has increased” (Matthew 25:20–22).
Fear of reckoning day comes when what was given has not been increased (Matthew 25:24–25). The Lord then calls that servant wicked and slothful (Matthew 25:26).
Matthew 25:26
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Wicked means hurtful, evil, calamitous, derelict, vicious, and full of malice. Slothful means lazy and adverse to exertion. It describes someone who does not want to work or apply effort. That is the kind of servant described here (Matthew 25:26).
A slothful person refuses to exert himself. He does not want to toil with the talent given to him (Matthew 25:26). The servant in the parable would not labor with what he had received.
I have seen how these things work when people gather to learn and practice the gifts of the Spirit. When they are exercised, they become meaningful to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7–10).
Practice your Gift
One simple example comes from when we built our house in Griffin. I became very tired and nearly exhausted from the work. At times, I would walk through the unfinished house and begin to prophesy over it. I spoke about the walls being finished, the wiring in place, and the work being completed (1 Corinthians 12:10). No one else was there, but it helped me learn to exercise the gift. It gave me experience in speaking prophetically (1 Corinthians 12:10). Gifts develop when they are used.
A person does not have to begin with a public declaration. You can begin privately. Speak to your own situations and learn to use the gift. That way, when the time comes to place your hand on someone and speak a word from the Lord, it will flow naturally because the gift has been exercised (1 Corinthians 14:1).
The same principle applies to tongues. A person can pray in tongues at home and become comfortable using the gift (1 Corinthians 14:2). When the opportunity comes to bring a message in tongues publicly, it will not feel strange or forced (1 Corinthians 14:27).
I often encourage people to practice their gift privately. If someone has a song from the Lord, they should sing it at home so they are prepared to bring it to the fellowship (Ephesians 5:19).
Use Your Gift
Each person has something placed within them. The question is whether it is being used or buried (Matthew 25:18). Everyone has a talent that can strengthen the body and help the church become a witness in Lafayette (Acts 1:8).
Scripture also speaks strongly about slothful people. The Lord does not approve of laziness (Proverbs 6:6–9). A slothful person can often be recognized by the company he keeps (Proverbs 18:9).
Proverbs 18:9
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Proverbs talks about the ant, how the ant. Look at the ant, it works all summer long, and it stores up all this food so that when hard times come, when cold times come, it’s got something it needs(Proverbs 6:6–8).
Scripture speaks strongly about the slothful and the sluggard (Proverbs 6:9–11). The Lord does not approve of slothfulness. A slothful life is compared to a briar bush. That kind of life becomes tangled and difficult (Proverbs 15:19).
The problem with the servant in the parable was laziness. It was easier for him to dig a hole than to toil and exercise the deposit (Matthew 25:18). The same question must be asked of us. Many know that God has placed talents within them. These are abilities and gifts meant to strengthen the body (Matthew 25:14–15).
Reckoning Day is Coming
Yet people often leave those gifts unused. It seems easier to leave them hidden in the heart than to bring them out and exercise them (Matthew 25:25). That is why this message must be spoken strongly. Reckoning day is coming (Matthew 25:19).
The servant’s problem was that he would not exert himself. Digging a hole required less effort than developing the deposit (Matthew 25:18). The same temptation exists today. People may prefer to let someone else carry the responsibility.
However, these gifts are necessary for growth. They strengthen both the individual and the body. Using them requires effort and labor. Refusing to exercise what God has given leads to slothfulness. Watching in Scripture is connected with doing. The call is to act and respond (Matthew 24:42).
The Lord said that the servant should at least have placed the money with the exchangers so that it would produce an increase when He returned (Matthew 25:27–29).
Matthew 25:27
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
The Command to Increase What God Has Given
I want what I gave you, but I want more than I gave you. The command is to take what was given and use it. When the Lord returns, He expects at least an increase. He expects at least interest (Matthew 25:27).
The instruction then follows. Take the talent from the servant who did not use it and give it to the one who has ten talents (Matthew 25:28).
Matthew 25:28–29
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
According to this Scripture, when the Lord comes, He expects to find His deposit in us plus increase. That is what the passage says to me (Matthew 25:27–29).
The Lord expects increase when He returns (Matthew 25:27). Growth should continue from the moment of salvation. At the very least, we should have used the deposit. We could have spoken a message in tongues, laid hands on someone for healing, or attempted to prophesy. The expectation is that the deposit would produce an increase by reckoning day (Matthew 25:27).
Each person should ask whether there is movement and change. Are we the same today as we were three months ago in the use of our gift? I am not speaking about general spiritual growth. I know people are growing. The question concerns the specific talent or gift God has given (1 Corinthians 12:8–9).
A Child Grows
A child is expected to grow. If a year passes and there is no growth, something is wrong (Luke 2:52). The same principle applies to the children of God. We should be continually growing in what God has given us to do.
Consider what would happen if each person dedicated himself to using the talent given to him. If we labored and exercised those gifts, even this small group would change greatly over time. Growth would begin slowly and then increase rapidly.
That is the kind of development needed among us. When an opportunity comes to speak a word, it should be given. If someone receives a word for another person, that word should be shared. Tongues are valid and should not be neglected (1 Corinthians 14:39).
A message in tongues could prompt someone to bring interpretation and cause the gifts to operate among us (1 Corinthians 14:27–28). People desire words from the Lord, yet few are willing to step forward.
We must begin to exercise the gifts we have received. The goal is not to remain where we are. In three months, there should be growth in the use of our talent. When the Lord comes on reckoning day, there should be more to return to Him than what He first deposited (Matthew 25:27).
Talents Given as a Test for the Age to Come
Because the Lord expects more than the initial deposit, He commands that the talent be taken from the lazy and unprofitable servant and given to the servant who has ten talents (Matthew 25:28). If a person has not been faithful with his talent, he will not rule. The talent will be taken and given to someone who has used his own faithfully (Matthew 25:28–29).
Each of us must decide how we will respond. We cannot wait for someone else. I cannot wait for you, and you cannot wait for me. Every person must purpose in his heart that there is a reckoning day and begin to move in what God has given (Matthew 25:19).
The instruction is clear. Take it from him and give it to another (Matthew 25:28). This teaching does not sound like modern Christianity. Some might ask where love appears in such a statement. Yet Scripture speaks of the goodness and the severity of God (Romans 11:22) and in Matthew 25 verses 14-30. The Lord who speaks here is also described as a lion (Revelation 5:5).
The reason for this judgment is simple. If a person cannot take the deposit given in this age and be profitable with it, why would he be entrusted to rule in the next age (Matthew 25:21)? If someone will not use what is given now, it would not make sense for him to rule later.
I want a Successful Overseer
Think about it this way. Would you want someone ruling over you who is wicked and lazy (Matthew 25:26)? None of us would want that. The same standard applies in the kingdom.
Talents are given in this age as a test. They reveal whether a person will be faithful. Those who are diligent and faithful will rule. What could have belonged to the lazy servant will instead be given to those who have proven capable (Matthew 25:28–29).
Everything the Lord allows us to possess now serves as preparation for the age to come. What we do with what we have been given proves our readiness for what lies ahead (Matthew 25:21).
The question then becomes personal. How are we doing right now? If the Lord returned today, how would we stand according to what we have studied tonight (Matthew 25:19)?
Consider the example spoken of in John chapter 17 (John 17:4–5).
John 17:4–5
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
The Lord said that He had glorified the Father by accomplishing and completing the work given to Him (John 17:4). There is no glorification unless we do what God tells us to do. After we obey and use the talents given to us, we can expect glorification. Scripture speaks of seeking glory after fulfilling what is required (Romans 2:7).
The Father is glorified when each person completes the work given to them. When that work is finished, a person can ask and expect to be glorified (John 17:4–5).
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Two Outcomes on Reckoning Day
The parable ends with a serious warning. The unprofitable servant is cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).
Matthew 25:30
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Lord entrusts us with His goods and expects increase from what He gives. If there is no increase, the parable raises serious questions about the condition of that servant (Matthew 25:14–30).
I want to be clear about what I am saying. I am not doubting the salvation of people where there has been an increase. Obviously, there has been growth among those who are using what God has given. The concern is with someone who claims salvation but never produces increase. If a person receives the deposit and never uses it, that raises doubt about that person’s condition.
The parable ends with the unprofitable servant cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). That description does not sound like someone who is saved.
Jesus also said that people are known by their fruits (Matthew 7:16).
Matthew 7:16
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
I want to be clear that I am not making this work-oriented. Entering the kingdom does not come from speaking in tongues or prophesying. Initial salvation comes by grace and by the goodness of God (Ephesians 2:8–9). Grace does not remove responsibility. There is still a reckoning day (Matthew 25:19). When grace is working in a life, fruit should appear. I believe there will be fruit where God is truly at work (Matthew 7:16).
The servant in the parable was still a servant, just like the other two. He may have had fewer abilities, but he was still a servant (Matthew 25:14–30). He was given goods or a talent just like the others (Matthew 25:15).
Because of laziness and wickedness, he became unprofitable. The result was that he was cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30). I do not claim to understand everything about that, but I know there will be a reckoning day (Matthew 25:19). I also know the Lord expects increase from what He has given (Matthew 25:27).
On that day, there will be two groups. One group will be profitable, watching and doing in the light. Those servants will rule and enter the joy of the Lord (Matthew 25:21). The other group will be unprofitable, hiding their talents in their hearts and doing nothing. Those servants remain in darkness and are cast into deeper darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30).
Passages like this do not make me play with my salvation. They make me take it seriously. I do not want to play with salvation or with the gifts of the Spirit. My desire is to use what God has given. That is why I want to experience everything God has for me. If something is shown in Scripture, I want to walk in it.
Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 – Use the Talent God Has Given You
I encourage you to do the same. Use the deposit that has been given to you (Matthew 25:15). If the gifts described in Scripture are valid, then we should examine our own lives (1 Corinthians 12:8–10). There will be no excuses on reckoning day (Matthew 25:19).
Questions and Answers About Matthew 25 Verses 14-30
What is the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 Verses 14-30?
The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 Verses 14-30 teaches that the Lord gives His servants responsibilities and expects them to increase what He has entrusted to them. In the parable, a master gives talents to three servants before leaving on a journey. Two servants multiply what they receive, while one hides his talent. When the master returns, he rewards the faithful servants and judges the unprofitable one. The lesson in Matthew 25 verses 14-30 shows that God expects His people to use what He has given them for His purposes.
What does a talent represent in Matthew 25?
In Matthew 25, a talent originally referred to a large amount of money. In the teaching of the parable, the talent represents what God deposits in His servants. These deposits include gifts, abilities, opportunities, and responsibilities. Each servant receives something from the Lord and is expected to use it for His work.
What is the main message of the Parable of the Talents?
The main message of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 verses 14-30, is that watching for the Lord’s return means actively using what He has given. Faithful servants take what they receive and produce increase. Unfaithful servants hide what they were given and do nothing with it. The parable warns that every servant will give an account on reckoning day.
What is reckoning day in Matthew 25:19?
Reckoning day refers to the time when the master returns and settles accounts with his servants. In the parable, this represents the day when the Lord calls His servants to give an account for what they have done with what He entrusted to them. Each servant must answer for how they used their talents.
Why was the servant called wicked and slothful?
The servant was called wicked and slothful because he refused to use the talent he had received. Instead of working with it and producing an increase, he buried it in the ground. His problem was not lack of ability but lack of effort and faithfulness. The master judged him for failing to act.
What happens to the unprofitable servant in Matthew 25:30?
The unprofitable servant in Matthew 25 verses 14-30, is cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. This judgment shows the seriousness of refusing to use what God has given. The parable warns that servants who hide what they receive instead of increasing it will face severe consequences.
What does “well done, good and faithful servant” mean?
When the faithful servants return with increase, the master praises them by saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This approval shows that they were faithful with what they were given. Because they were faithful over a few things, they are entrusted with greater responsibility and invited to enter the joy of their lord.
How should believers apply the Parable of the Talents today?
Believers apply this parable by discovering and using what God has placed in their lives. Every person has received something from the Lord that can serve His purposes. The call is to develop those gifts and use them faithfully so that when the Lord returns, there will be an increase.
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