THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, 25.14-30

This parable is divided into four parts: (a) the householder delivers his goods (vv.14-15); (b) the way the servants handle the talents (vv.16-18); (c) the judgment of both the first and the second servant (vv.19-23 ); and (d) the judgment of the third servant (vv.24-30).

In order more accurately to study this parable, we must first know the difference between our reconcilation with God and our relationship to the Lord. Otherwise, we shall not be able to understand clearly the Scriptures but will find difficulties and conflicts in this passage and in many other places in the Bible.

Let us see that before the Father we are children, but before the Lord we are servants (or bondslaves). Through faith we become children; by works we become servants. On the principle of grace we come to be children; on the principle of responsibility we come to be servants. We become children through the blessed Son; we become servants by the Holy Spirit.

This passage speaks of the relationship between the servants and the Lord, not of the relationship between the children and the father. Commencing from Matthew 14, the relationship between children and the Father is no longer mentioned (such relationship being eternal); only that between servants and the Lord is thereafter presented (such relationship lasting only until after the millennium). The relationship we have to the Father pertains to salvation and eternity, whereas the relationship we have to the Son pertains to overcoming and kingdom reward. The parable of the talents is related to reward and not to eternity, since the problem of eternity has already been solved.

There is a basic difference between the Old and New Covenants. The Old demands works before life, which means being servants before becoming children. The New Covenant, though, gives life before works, that is to say, being born again before becoming servants. And why? Because God does not want believers to serve Him by their flesh.