Gregor,
Thank you for challenging me to think through my faith in Christ.
You ask: "why was the punishment so severe?????? In many respects it doesn't add up, it doesn't make sense."
I would like to make the case that the man in Matt. 25:14 represents Christ and that the judgement which is handed out in Matt. 25:30 is just.
First, I would suggest that the "talents" represent all the resources (time, money, gifts, abilities, etc.) that God has given in measure to all mankind according to their abilities. (v. 15) Originally a talent was a measure of weight, latter it became a fixed amount of silver or gold. Today it is used to describe ones special abilities and gifts. I understand that this latter use in the English language was derived directly from this parable.
Second, I would suggest that God has called all mankind to believe and trust in him (John 3:16-18).
Third, I would therefore suggest that the man in verse 14 represents Christ and the call is universal to all mankind (his own creation).
Fourth, I would suggest from verse 15 that all of man's gifts and opportunites are from God and that what God expects in return is for man to be faithful with what they have been given. (verses 21 & 23)
Fifth, I would suggest that God expects no more from any man then he is able to do and only give each person the amount of responsibilities that they can handle. (5 talents to one, 2 talents to another, 1 talent to another)
Sixth, I would suggest that being faithful requires one to take risks and travel the untired road. Christ said that "anyone who does not take his cross and follow me in not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matt. 10:38-39)
Seventh, I would suggest that God's love and blessings is handed out equally not based upon how much talent each person has but based upon how faithful a person is with what he has. (verses 21 & 23)
Eighth, I would suggest that verse 29 teaches that the reward for being faithful is more responsibilities.
Ninth, I would suggest that the unfaithful servant never loved Christ nor stepped out on faith and followed him. (i.e. never excepted salvation in Christ) I believe that by attempting to save his own life by his own means he lost it.
Tenth, I would suggest the useless servant makes excuses like many will on judgement day: (I was afraid. I had so little talent. I only did what I thought was best. What else could I do God. It your fault God for being such a hard God. God I tried to live a good life, isn't that good enough?)
Finally, I would suggest that Christ may have been directing this passage particularly to the Scribes and the Pharisees. Listen to how Barclay describes it:
®There can be no doubt that originally in this parable the whole attention is riveted on the useless servant. There can be little doubt that he stands for the Scribes and the Pharisees, and for their attitude to the Law and the truth of God. The useless servant buried his talent in the ground, in order that he might hand it back to his master exactly as it was. The whole aim of the Scribes and Pharisees was to keep the Law exactly as it was. In their own pharse, they sought "to build a fence anround the Law." Any change, any development, any alteration, anything new was to them anathema. Their method involved the paralysis of religious truth.
Like the man with the talent, they desired to keep things exactly as they were --- and it is for that that they are condemned. In this parable Jesus tells us that there can be no religion without adventure, and that God can find no use for the shut mind.¯
Cisco |
