Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples a man who was going on a journey distributed to his servants various numbers of talents. To one of them he gave five talents, to another two and to another one. Jesus continued, “After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-five of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus shares how the servant with one talent said, “I was afraid, and went and hid your talent” where we read:
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that is yours.
The verse reads, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth:” Matthew began with Jesus' words, “and I was afraid” which means “and the servant with one talent was struck with fear, put to flight and seized with alarm”, “and went and hid” or “and left and departed to conceal and keep secret” “your talent” which means “the master's sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency” “in the earth” or “within the arable land, soil and countryside”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the servant with “one talent” was fearful and rather than use his talent, he buried it.
The verse continues, “lo, there you have that is yours.” Matthew added Jesus' word, “lo” or “look, behold and see” “there you have” which means “there the master holds, possesses, and obtains” “that is yours” or “the talent which is the master's”. Matthew shared how Jesus said the servant with “one talent” returned to his master the “sole” talent that was entrusted to him.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how this “servant” who was trusted with “one talent” simply returned to his master what was given to him. Rather than use the “talent” to produce more for his master, this “servant” buried the “talent”. God provides “salvation” and “everlasting life” to all who “believe in, trust in, rely upon and cling to” His Son Jesus, and then He gives “gifts” which are to be used and not hidden. This “servant” should inspire all who read these words to never do as this “servant” and “hide” through “fear” what has been freely given to them.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus shares how the lord of the servant with one talent says, “you wicked and slothful servant”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
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