What would you consider to be a "Unprofitable Servant" Matthew 25:30?

Question

What was he guilty of doing?

Answer 1

Reading this verse in context helps shed light on the meaning.

Matthew 25:14 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.
Mat 25:15 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.
Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Mat 25:20 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.
Mat 25:21 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.
Mat 25:22 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.
Mat 25:23 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.
Mat 25:24 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:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 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:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 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.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

You see, the faithful servants took their talents (which was a sum of money) and went out and gained more talents. In other words, they took the little wealth they were given and made more wealth out of it for their master. The unprofitable servant, for fear of losing his talents, buried them in the ground and did nothing with them.

We can apply this parable from Jesus to our spiritual lives. If God gives us the ability to go and share the Gospel and do good works in his name, then we should take advantage of the opportunity. Not only do we glorify God by doing so but God will be sure to bless a faithful servant:

Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

We should not be like the unprofitable servant and take no action at all:

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

God Bless

Answer 2

Again, details of this can be understood in a symbolic sense. For example, Jesus, pictured by the man traveling abroad, would leave his disciples, go to heaven, and wait a long time until he received kingly power. (Psalm 110:1-4; Acts 2:34-36; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 10:12, 13) Again, though, we can perceive a broader lesson or principle that all of us ought to apply in our lives. What is that?

Whether our hope is that of immortal life in heaven or of everlasting life on a paradise earth, it is clear from Jesus’ parable that we should be exerting ourselves in Christian activities. In fact, the message of this parable can be summed up in a word: diligence. The apostles set the pattern from Pentecost 33 C.E. onward. We read: “With many other words [Peter] bore thorough witness and kept exhorting them, saying: ‘Get saved from this crooked generation.’” (Acts 2:40-42) And what excellent returns he had on his efforts! As others joined the apostles in the Christian preaching work, they too were diligent, with the good news “increasing in all the world.”—Colossians 1:3-6, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

Bear in mind the context of this parable—a prophecy about Jesus’ presence. We have ample confirmation that Jesus’ pa·rou·si′a is in progress and will soon reach a climax. Recall the connection Jesus made between “the end” and the work Christians need to do: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) With this in mind, which sort of slave do we resemble? Ask yourself: ‘Would there be reason to conclude that I am like the slave who hid what was entrusted to him, perhaps while he took care of his own personal concerns? Or is it clear that I am like those who were good and faithful? Am I totally committed to increasing the Master’s interests on every occasion?’

Sadly, some did not pass inspection. We read: “The one that had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be an exacting man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not winnow. So I grew afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’” (Matthew 25:24, 25) Similarly, some anointed Christians had not engaged in “business.” Before 1914 they had not enthusiastically shared their hope with others, and they did not want to start in 1919. How did Jesus respond to their insolence? He took away all their privileges. They were ‘thrown out into the darkness outside, where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth would be.’—Matthew 25:28, 30.

Answer 3

Hey Don S,

The unprofitable servant of guilty of two things:

First- the servant was guilty of not utilizing what God had given Him to accomplish God's work. God had given him talents to invest and i think God shows us that when we invest our lives in His kingdom and His agenda-- He will make it grow.

Secondly- the servant was guilty of having the wrong perception of His master. When the master returned and scolded the servant for his laziness- the servant's response is very telling: i thought you were a cruel and harsh master. It is not always uncostly and easy to follow the Lord (in fact we're told to carry our cross daily), but we don't do it out of fear that the master will be cruel if we don't do what He asks- we act in response to His mercy and love.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 4

Unprofitable in that verse means useless. He is guilty of being a useless servant. I wonder how many useless servants we have in the Churches today?

Answer 5

this could be a parable of a guy traveliong to a a ways usa potential preserve what I easily have given you until eventually I return. Jesus left the worldwide and calls to all to Salvation. all all and sundry is to be estimated to be waiting at christ return no longer basically the church. the ten virgins until eventually now this one grow to be 5 have been christians and arranged. 5 have been silly and non-believers. even although they heard GOD could return they believed no longer until eventually it grow to be too previous due. So is this parable different than they're given skills. The servant unprofitable by no potential observed or served the grasp and as a result did no longer something. this is the non-belivers who do no longer come to Salvation even although they hear approximately it they chosen to no longer serve the grasp. because of the fact of this they're forged into hell. they do no longer want to persist with GOD.

Answer 6

profitability bottom line .... they get to heaven by mercy and grace, not because they were overachievers

Jesus told St Peter and the other apostles, in the end they are unprofitable servants

Answer 7

The answer is on verse 27 (and the other preceeding verses as well)

" thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. "


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Answer 8

I didn't study any concordance, but the NIV calls him "worthless". I can't tell if he was guilty of knowing his master takes what is not his, or of hoarding the money, or of not investing!

Answer 9

On who wastes his time playing video games.

Answer 10

Not giving him a reach around

Answer 11

Anyone not making enough to naturally vote Republican. But they can make up for it by sending their sons off to die for our Lord & Savior Jesus Bush's glorious crusade.