The Mysteries Of The Kingdom Of God

(Matthew 25:13-19 KJV) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. [14] For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man traveling 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. [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. [19] After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?

One of the marks of Jesus’ teaching was that He taught by parable. The disciples asked Jesus “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”. That’s a great question. Jesus gave His disciples a very clear answer. He said:

(Matthew 13:11-13 NKJV) Because IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but TO THEM IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN. [12] For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. [13] Therefore I SPEAK TO THEM IN PARABLES, because SEEING THEY DO NOT SEE, and HEARING THEY DO NOT HEAR, NOR DO THEY UNDERSTAND.

The difference between the Christ follower and the casual followeris that BOTH heard Jesus’ parables. But the lost person never hung around and asked Jesus what He meant.

The lost person or the casual follower of Christ will never understand the “MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”. They don’t want to know. The lost person – before they are saved – are not convinced that they are sinners in need of salvation. The Pharisees did not see themselves as sinners in need of Jesus. Jesus told these self righteous, law abiding people:

(Matthew 21:31-32 LSB) … Truly I say to you that the TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES WILL GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD BEFORE YOU. [32] For JOHN CAME TO YOU IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and you did not believe him; but the TAX COLLECTORS AND PROSTITUTES DID BELIEVE HIM; and you, seeing [this], did not even regret afterward so as to believe him.

John the Baptist came preaching REPENT and BELIEVE IN JESUS. That is the “WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”. But the Pharisees rejected Jesus so that they might follow their own path to God, a man made path, and lost the salvation they could have had through Christ.

Until a person REPENT and commit themselves to JESUS, they cannot walk the way of righteousness. Those who walk with Jesus can understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Parable Of The Talents

Matthew 25:13-14 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14 For the kingdom of heaven is as A MAN TRAVELING INTO A FAR COUNTRY, who CALLED HIS OWN SERVANTS, and delivered unto them his goods.

The parable that we’re looking at today is called “The Parable Of The Talents”. In this parable we see:

A MAN TRAVELING INTO A FAR COUNTRY

Jesus tells us Who this Man is in the context. In verse 13 Jesus warns us to “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the SON OF MAN cometh”. The “SON OF MAN” is a reference to the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Prophet Daniel used the phrase “SON OF MAN” when he prophesied the coming of Jesus the Messiah (Daniel 7:13). When Jesus came, He applied that phrase to Himself. When Jesus spoke of His upcoming crucifixion, He said:

Matthew 17:12 (LSB) the SON OF MAN is going to suffer at their hands.

Jesus is the Son of Man, the Messiah, the One Who has gone into “a FAR COUNTRY”.

He has ascended into Heaven. He “sits on the right hand of God the Father” (Acts 2:33). He is waiting for His Father, our God and His God, to send Him back to this earth. The Bible says – JESUS SAID:

Mark 13:32 Concerning the day or the hour (of My return) NO ONE KNOWS, not even the angels in Heaven, NOR THE SON, but ONLY THE FATHER (see also Matthew 24:36-42; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).

Jesus Christ is the “Man traveling into a far country”. Before Jesus ascended to Heaven,

HE CALLED HIS OWN SERVANTS

The “SERVANTS” of the Lord are those who have given themselves to Jesus. Christians are called to serve the Lord. The Bible says,

(Romans 12:11 LSB) be fervent in spirit, SERVING THE LORD

(Colossians 3:23 LSB) do your work heartily, AS FOR THE LORD rather than for men

So Jesus calls the Christian to His side. He is in Heaven, traveling in that far country. What does the Lord do? The Bible says:

He DELIVERED UNTO THEM HIS GOODS

Jesus gave HIS SERVANTS HIS GOODS. Those who are saved by Grace are given TALENTS.

(Matthew 25:15 KJV) And unto one HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, to ANOTHER TWO, and to ANOTHER ONE; to EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS SEVERAL {idios, “his own”} ABILITY; and straightway took his journey.

Jesus gives each Christian servant TALENTS. He gives one person FIVE, another person TWO, and another person ONE talent. He doesn’t give the talents based on who He loves more, or based on who He loves less. The text is very clear that He gives “TO EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS SEVERAL{idios, “his own”}ABILITY”.

The Parable Makes No Sense If
You Don’t Understand What A “Talent” Is

It’s impossible to understand this parable if you don’t know what Jesus means by “TALENTS”. In the ancient world a “talent” was both a weight as well as a value. A talent in denari weighed about 75 pounds. A talent was equivalent to 6000 denari, or 6000 days of labor – around 16.43 years of work. If we look at this from an average wage of $40,000 per year, then what was given each man was:

5 talents = $3,286,000
2 talents = $1,314,400
1 talent = $657,200

A “Talent” represented a vast amount of money for each person. Jesus gives us something much better, much more precious than money.

What do these “talents” represent?

Some people that the “talents” refer to human abilities. They take it like the word “talent”, as in “Elaine is a talented pianist”. Or “He’s a talented actor”.

Yet others have interpreted “talents” to refer to human riches or money. The Prosperity Preachers tell you if you invest in their ministries, God will give you more money.

A few Bible scholars believe that these “talents” to refer to spiritual gifts or the Holy Spirit of God. In a sermon preached at Duke University Chapel by Dr Sam Wells said:

“These talents are not natural abilities or big bucks but particular gifts suited to the time between Jesus’ first coming and his second. … The Holy Spirit is the talent Jesus leaves the Church for the time until He returns. So this parable is not telling us how to come to terms with the fact that we are super talented or super rich. It is telling us that, in giving us the Holy Spirit, Jesus has left the Church all the gifts it needs for the time between his first coming and his second, and that we must use those gifts or we’ll be in big trouble.”

The problem with seeing the gifts as the Holy Spirit or Spiritual Gifts is that one person received 5 Talents, one two, and another one. If the Talents are the Holy Spirit, did someone receive 5 Holy Spirits, and the other 2? And what about the one who we find out has his talent taken away. Jesus taught us that the Holy Spirit is not taken away.

Jesus said:

(John 14:16-17 NKJV) And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER– [17] the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

When you are “born again” of God’s Spirit, He comes to you and abides with you FOREVER. It is the Holy Spirit of God Who “SEALS YOU unto THE DAY OF REDEMPTION” (Ephesians 4:30). God has given us “the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22). And the Apostle John said:

1 John 2:27 the Anointing which ye have received of Him ABIDETH IN YOU

God has promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Jesus has said “I am with you always, even UNTO THE END OF THE AGE” (Matthew 28::20).

The “talent” cannot represent the gifts of God, nor the Holy Spirit. The “talent” does not refer to human ability, or money. At the beginning of this message Jesus told us that the talents are “The MYSTERIES of The Kingdom Of Heaven”

(Matthew 13:11-12 NKJV) Because IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, but TO THEM IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN. [12] For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

The “MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” are the truths and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are called “MYSTERIES” because they are completely different from what the world teaches is acceptable behavior. Jesus taught us:

(Matthew 5:43-48 LSB) You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ [44] “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on [the] evil and [the] good, and sends rain on [the] righteous and [the] unrighteous. [46] “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] “And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing [than others]? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? [48] “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jesus teaches His people – saved by Grace – a way of life that is absolutely contrary to the ways of this world. It is a sacrificial way of life. It is a loving way of life. The Way of Christ – the Mysteries of the Kingdom Of Heaven – bring peace and blessing and joy to those who do them.

The “Talents” represent the “Mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven”, the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Child of God DOES these talents to be blessed.

(Matthew 25:14-15 KJV) {Jesus}called His own servants (the Christian), and delivered unto them His goods (the Word of Christ). [15] And unto one He gave five MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, to another two, and to another one; to every {person} ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY; and straightway took his journey.

Jesus’ Word has power. When you walk in His Word, doing as He says, you will be blessed. God’s Word will not return void, nor will it ever pass away. Jesus said:

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, BUT MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY

The Word that Jesus spoke is the Word of Life. It is MYSTERIOUS to the world, but our way of life.

Beloved, if you are saved then you are …

Romans 8:17 HEIRS OF GOD, and JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

We sing, but often fail to listen to the words we sing.

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

When attacked as being less than other preachers, the Apostle Paul countered with these words:

(1 Corinthians 4:1-5 ESV) 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. [3] But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. [4] For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. IT IS THE LORD WHO JUDGES ME. [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then EACH ONE WILL RECEIVE HIS COMMENDATION FROM GOD.

The point of this parable is that Jesus has given us great talents, great truths that we are to follow if we love Him. If we follow the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, we will live blessed and full lives. Look at the parable again:

(Matthew 25:16 KJV) Then he that had received the five MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM.

One servant received FIVE TALENTS or FIVE MYSTERIES from the Lord. He went out and did what his Lord told him to do. He acted out what he was told. He heard Jesus, then did as Jesus commanded. He “loved the Lord his God with ALL his heart and with ALL his soul and with ALL his mind” (Matthew 22:37-38). He put Jesus first, and not himself. He “humbled himself under God’s mighty hand, and God lifted him up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6-7). Continue reading:

(Matthew 25:17 KJV) And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.

The second Servant of Christ was give knowledge of two mysteries. He heard what Jesus said, then went out and did EXACTLY AS THE MASTER DIRECTED. The servant with FIVE gained FIVE by being obedient. The servant with TWO gained TWO. Both individuals lived their lives according to the Word of our Lord.

The Disobedient Servant Is Never Blessed
Nor Will Jesus Walk With Him

(Matthew 25:18 KJV) But he that had RECEIVED ONE {mystery} went and digged in the earth, and HID HIS LORD’S MONEY {His valuable Word or Teaching}.

You cannot be blessed if you do not both HEAR and DO what Jesus says. Jesus told us this in other places.

(Matthew 7:24-27 LSB) Therefore everyone who HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND DOES THEM, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and fell against that house; and [yet] it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. [26] And everyone HEARING THESE WORDS OF MINE AND NOT DOING THEM, may be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] And the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.

God through Christ Jesus has given us a glorious salvation. “NOW we are the SONS OF GOD” (1 John 3:2). We have eternal life RIGHT NOW (John 3:16, 36). We are given the Word of Christ so that we can live as victors, doing what He has said RIGHT NOW. But sadly, there are many Christians who do as this pitiful servant did. They dig a hole in the ground, and bury His Word.

There Is A Day Of Reckoning Coming
For Every Person, Christian or Casual Follower

(Matthew 25:19-20 KJV) After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and RECKONETH WITH THEM. [20] And so he that had received five talents (MYSTERIES) came and brought other five talents (MYSTERIES), saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents (MYSTERIES): behold, I have gained beside them five talents (MYSTERIES) more.

The first servant did the five mysteries of the Kingdom of God. He was obedient to Jesus in what he understood and received. God’s Word never returns void. He did as Jesus said. How did Jesus reward him?

(Matthew 25:21 KJV) 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.

The Christian who both HEARS and DOES the things Jesus says, glorifying Him, honoring Him, will “ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD”. That person is blessed in this life, and in the life to come. Jesus continues:

(Matthew 25:22-23 KJV) He also that had received two talents (MYSTERIES) came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents (MYSTERIES): behold, I have gained two other talents (MYSTERIES) 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.

Please note that the Christian who was given five mysteries and the servant who was given two mysteries are both given the exact same reward. Both Christians did their level best to honor Jesus with how they obeyed His Word. And both were eventually were made RULERS OVER MANY THINGS. But what of the servant who – having the Word of Christ – never invested it in life? He heard Jesus, received what he could, but did NOTHING with it.

(Matthew 25:24-25 KJV) 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 (MYSTERY) IN THE EARTH: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.

How did the Lord respond to this? Look what He says to the Christian who did nothing on this earth for the Lord:

(Matthew 25:26-30 KJV) 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: [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. [28] TAKE THEREFORE THE MYSTERY FROM HIM from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten MYSTERIES. [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. [30] And CAST YE THE UNPROFITABLE SERVANT INTO OUTER DARKNESS: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus did not say that this Servant is lost. But He does say that this servant is WICKED and LAZY. Those who are Christians are to walk with the Lord in the light. But Beloved,

1 John 1:5-7 God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

God will not walk with the believer who does not honor and follow Jesus. We are not to just HEAR His Word, but we are to live by it. Are you living by His Word to the best of your ability? Are you walking with the Lord in the Light of His Word? There is no joy for the lazy and wicked believer. We must walk with Him in love, doing what He says.

For His glory and our peace. Amen.