A question about the bible?

Question

Can someone please explain Jesus' parable to me about the talents?
Its in Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27

What is He trying to tell us about the Kingdom of God?


Also, can you help me vote on an answer to this:http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqCWA_gF2vsrzA2fPIGqlwLsy6IX?qid=20060629171213AALeqxg

Thanks and God bless!

Answer 1

I see it as basically using your gifts wisely. If you don't learn from your mistakes you will always be of no help to yourself or anyone else, if you invest your gifts will flourish, your ventures will be fruitfull and if you keep where you are you will never have more.

Answer 2

Basically the parable is trying to teach you that although we are all the same in GODs eyes, we are still very different.

Gods people are the body of Christ. Some are the feet, some are the hands, some are the heart, etc.

Once you submit yourself to GODs service, you will find that you are called to do certain things for him. This will be the gift you have been given. Maybe you are to be a healer : one who can listen to the heartbreak and give comfort and healing to the heart.

Maybe you will be the hands, working to keep the body maintained and in good working order.

Maybe you will be the feet: spreading the love of GOD with your testimony.

Whatever it is that you are called to do, it will be done not by your own power or knowledge, but by GOD, a gift from him to you, to be used for GODs glory, never your own.

Answer 3

In this parable, 1. The Master is Christ, who is the absolute Owner and Proprietor of all persons and things, and in a special manner of his church; into his hands all things are delivered. 2. The servants are Christians, his own servants, so they are called; born in his house, bought with his money, devoted to his praise, and employed in his work. It is probable that ministers are specially intended here, who are more immediately attending on him, and sent by him.
Again in Luke-They thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear, Luk_19:11. The Pharisees expected it about this time (Luk_17:20), and, it seems, so did Christ's own disciples; but they both had a mistaken notion of it. The Pharisees thought that it must be introduced by some other temporal prince or potentate. The disciples thought that their Master would introduce it, but with temporal pomp and power, which, with the power he had to work miracles, they knew he could clothe himself with in a short time, whenever he pleased. Jerusalem, they concluded, must be the seat of his kingdom, and therefore, now that he is going directly thither, they doubt not but in a little time to see him upon the throne there. Note, Even good men are subject to mistakes concerning the kingdom of Christ, and to form wrong notions of it, and are ready to think that will immediately appear which is reserved for hereafter.

Answer 4

God gives everybody gift(s). some people use then to help others and some just keep them for them selves. There is great gain if we are not selfish with the gifts God give us. But if we use the talent foolishly we will receive no reward. If we show God that we can be trusted with the small gifts He gives us, He will give to us more.

Answer 5

In this story it's not realy about the Kingdom of God, but rather about us. You when we became christians we given a gift. A spiritual gift that we must use. If we don't use it for his glory and will then it will be taken away from us and given to another more one. And if we do what is right then we will gain more than another gift, but also our Lords Graditude. Do you understand? Hope so!

God bless you!

Answer 6

This parable illustrates that Jesus' disciples must work while still on earth to increase his "belongs".
Jesus begins:"For it[that is,circumstances connected with the kingdom]is just as when a man,about to travel abroad,summoned slaves of his and committed to them "his belongings".Jesus is the man who,before travelling abroad to heaven,commits to his slaves - disciples in line for the heavenly Kingdom - his belongings.These belongings are not physical possessions,but they represent a cultivated field into which he has built a potential for bringing forth more disciples.
Jesus entrusts his belongings to his slaves shortly before ascending to heaven.He does this by instructing them to keep on working in the cultivated field by preaching the Kingdom message to the most distant parts of the earth.As Jesus says "To one he gave five talents, to another two,to still another one,to each one according to his own ability,and he went abroad."
The eight talents - Christs belongings -are thus distributed according to the abilities,or spiritual possibilities of the slaves.The slaves stand for classes of disciples.In the first century the class that received the five talents evidently included the apostles.Jesus goes on to relate that the slaves who received the five and the two talents both doubled them by their kingdom preaching and making of disciples.However,the slave who received the one talent hid it in the ground.
"After a long time",Jesus continues,"the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them".It was not until the 20th century some 1900 years later,that Jesus returned to settle accounts,so indeed,it was "after a long time".Then Jesus explains:
"The one that had received five talents came forward and brought five additional talents,saying'Master,you commited five talents to me,see,I gained five talents more'.His master said to him,'well done,good and faithful slave!you were faithful over a few things,I will appoint you over many things.Enter into the joy of your master"The slave that received two talents received the same commendation and reward.
How,though,do these slaves enter into the joy of their Master?Well the joy of their Master,Jesus Christ,is that of receiving possession of the Kingdom when he went abroad to his Father in heaven.As for the faithful slaves,in modern times,they have great joy in being entrusted with further Kingdom responsibilites,and as they finish their earthly course,they will have the culminating joy of being resurrected to the heavenly Kingdom.What about the third slave?
"Master,I knew you to be an exacting man,"this slave complains."So I grew afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground.Here you have what is yours."The slave deliberately refused to work in the cultivated field by preaching and making disciples.So the master calls him "wicked and sluggish"and pronounces the judgement."Take away the talent from him........And throw the good for nothing slave out in the darkness outside.There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be"Those of this evil slave class,being cast outside,are deprived of any spiritual joy.
This sets forth a solomn lesson for all who profess to be followers of Christ.If they are to enjoy his commendation and reward,and avoid being thrown into the darkness outside and ultimate destruction,they must work for the increase of the belongings of their heavenly Master by having a full share in the preaching work.

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Answer 7

Use what God has given you.

Use it, don't lose it!

Don't let something sit & gather dust! This is wasteful.

Don't hide your light under a bushel basket, let it shine!

Answer 8

The two parables are similar.

I believe that you can't loose your salvation....and that there are "fake" Christians.

The parable you speak about is where a man leaves to travel to a far country...he leaves his servants in charge...and he leaves them with talents. (some form of money)

Matthew 25:15 (NKJV)
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.

Notice that the man gives differing amounts according to the servants ability. The man is a just man.

Two of the servants trust and have FAITH that the man will return. They both put their talent to work and reap a harvest. Notice that they are given different amounts to work with and they both reap a different harvest...but both produce SOMETHING and both hear, "WELL DONE."

Notice also that both servants also get put in leadership according to their works.

The one servant was foolish and had a faulty view of who his master really was... he calls him a "hard man" and says he was afraid of him. (sounds like some Christians that forget they are forgiven and that they they don't need to work for salvation. Christians are to serve Christ because he has saved us...it is an outflowing of our thanks.)

Matthew 25:24-25 (NKJV)
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'

In the parable from Luke...the master calls the one that didn't produce or serve him willingly an enemy.
Luke 19:27 (NKJV)
But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' "

Now, I will leave you another disturbing parable.....
Matthew 7:17-23 (NKJV)
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
[21] "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [22] Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' [23] And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
___________

There are false Christians everywhere...even in your church. They are the ones that really haven't changed since the time they have accepted christ. They are still babies in Christ after 10 years of being a Christian. They don't read their bibles. They don't teach their children to follow him. They come to church week after week and are as deaf as theye were before they came.

Why? Because Christ hasn't penetrated their hearts. Look for the fruit. If they have been Christians for a long time and don't know anything about the Bible and don't change after reading the Bible...then I would really wonder about them.

Do Christian's sin...you bet we do. We all can look like the world at times.

2 Cor. 13:5 (NKJV)
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

Is Jesus in them...you? Test yourself.

I used to doubt so much. I wasn't sure if I really was in the faith. I just kept reading, learning....falling into sin, getting out of sin.... Then it dawned on me...I'm getting into and getting out of sin. I used to LOVE sin when I wasn't a Christian. I didn't want to get out of sin before I met Christ.

Sometimes it just takes time.

Answer 9

God gave us gifts to use for his will to built Him up and to help others :)

Answer 10

We are all given gifts that can be used by God, if we allow him to. Don't squander them.