What Did Jesus Mean When He Said....?

Question

(Paraphrasing)
To he who has, more will be given. To he who has not, even the little he has will be taken away.

Answer 1

Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Christ indicates His scathing rebuke of religionists who "have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5) is in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9,10, which originally was applied to the Jewish leaders of Isaiah's time. Since Christ says it also applied to His own time, it evidently is a general principle, applicable to all ages. Those who truly desire to know God's truth will receive it abundantly (Matthew 13:12); those professing Christians who persist in rejecting or distorting God's Word will eventually lose even what they seem to have.


ITS AMAZING THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD OR THE WORD ARE THE FIRST TO GIVE EVERYONE A THUMBS DOWN.

Answer 2

If it is the verse I think you are referring to (Matthew 25:29), Christ had just told the parable of the talents. That verse is at the end of the parable. This means that those who are given a lot, a lot is expected. Those who are given a little, a little is expected of them. But if you do nothing with what you are given, it will all be taken away just as it was with the servent who was given 1 talent. Please read verses 14-29 to get the whole story and get that one verse in context. (see link below for KJV)

A similar verse is in Matthew 13:12 (Matthew 13:10-14 for the whole story in context). In this one Christ is explaining to his disciples that those who have faith in him will understand the parables and those who don't won't. The disciples had asked Him why He spoke in parables to the people. Parables were a way of "weeding out" the unbelievers. See 2nd link below.

Answer 3

Jesus was talking about people who listened to Him and understood what He was saying and as a result of that they wanted to hear more. It's has to do wth the parable that He gave about the seed and the different types of soils.

Matthew 13:3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear." 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

If a person hears Him and then falls away or turns to this world and stops following Him then it will be just like the seed that didn't bear any fruit. They had something for a while but in the end it just shriveled up and died.

Answer 4

I think it has to do with spreading the gospel.
The parable goes like this;
A rich man gave money to say 3 people. The first one put it in a bank to draw interest the 2nd invested it and make lots of money and the 3rd buried it and didn't do anything else with the money.

When the rich man asked, "OK where's my money" the first one gave him his money and a little interest. This is like someone who spread the gospel to a few people. That man was rewarded wonderfully.

The 2nd man made a lot of money for the rich man. This is like someone who has lead many to Christ. He is given a GREAT reward in heaven.

The 3rd man Didn't make any money for the rich man. This is like someone who kept the plan of salvation to himself. Didn't tell anyone about Christ and did not even accept Jesus. He will not only not get a reward but will be punished.

That's what i get out of it.
†

Answer 5

that can be applied to a lot of different things. think of your job- your boss (hopefully) wouldn't give you any more responsibilities if you can't handle what you're already doing right now, but if you can't handle the duties you already have, your job is most likely in jeopardy. my dad taught me a faithful saying when i was a kid that means the same thing: ''the reward for a job well done is often the opportunity to do more work.''

what Jesus said can apply to wealth, power, wisdom, understanding, love, faith, or a number of other things.

Answer 6

This was in reference to the use of the talents by the servants when the master was away.

Those that were productive and worked well for the master were rewarded with more to be responsible for, while the lazy servant had even his small responsibilities taken away from him.

Note that the Lazy servant that did not use his talents was thrown into the darkness. (Hell)

Answer 7

i don't think it was meaning quite what you seem to be asking, but he mean it or he would not have said it. i think he ment those who show mercy will recieve it. those that don't will not even get the little amount they have shown. or replace mercy with love, and still you get the same effect. that you will get what you give which seems to be a resounding theme in the bible, of course i have no idea what i'm rambling about since i don't know this passage or anything about it.

Answer 8

He refers to a measure of spirit.
John said God is love.
God is eternal.
So if we love we are in God.
If we love little we waste our lives.
If we love greatly we are an inspiration for others to do the same.
The only part of us that survives this life is the love.
This is what it is to die to oneself and to be reborn.
So if one shuts the doors of perception on love they die.
But what gave them life is still of god and must go back to god who gives it to the worthy.
That’s why water is used to symbolize people in revelations, we are vessels of life.

Blessed Be!

Answer 9

It is called the Parable of Talents, and Christians have taken it to mean that diligence in carrying out one's responsibilities is essential for more important tasks in the future. Those who do not meet their expectations will have no expectations of them in the future.

Answer 10

What i believe he meant was that those who had faith would have their faith strengthened, and other things like eternal life in heaven(he who has, more will be given), and that those who don't have faith, having had those options when they were deciding what to believe, will not have any of it. I am not for sure of this, so for the best answer ask your pastor.