From Time To Time - Part Thirty Six Jul 28, 2024 by: John Herbert | Series: From Time to Time Study Notes PDF Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Mt 25:14 “It is just as a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. We shall continue to look at the parables of the talents and the minds today. The full text of this message can found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday July 28th 2024 From Time to Time – Part 36 1). Mt 25:14 “It is just as a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Lk 19:12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ We have seen in our previous studies that the purpose for the nobleman going into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return, cannot be separated from his actions with regards to his own household servants. a). That which the nobleman gave to his servants and what they were then to do with what they had been given during his absence was for a future day when those servants who had been faithful in doing the Lord’s business, who according to their ‘ability’ would produce differing amounts of increase, just as we see in the parable of the sower - Mt 13:8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. These faithful servants in the day of the nobleman’s return were elevated from a position of servitude to the nobleman, to a position of ruling alongside him in the kingdom he had received. b). And to bring this over into the Christian experience will enable us to see that we are presently in a time of servitude to our Master, and we are in this position of servant for a specific purpose, so that the Lord can prove our faithfulness to be genuine, whether thirty, sixty or a hundredfold. A proof, whereby He can elevate us from the position of service to the position of regality. No longer a servant but a joint heir with Him as an adopted firstborn son, a ruling relationship peculiar to the earth and the Seventh Day, that is also expressed through the roles of Husband and wife, King and consort queen, fulfilling the foundational type of Adam and the Woman. c). Just to make sure we are absolutely clear, let’s remember that what is pictured for us through the minas and the talents is the Word of the Kingdom, the gospel of the glory of Christ, the Word of Christ – Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge with which we are to work have been pictured for us in the foundation in Genesis Chapter 24 through the jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold and garments, given to Rebekah by Abraham’s oldest servant, and seen in the antitype in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3 through the gold, silver and precious stones built upon the foundation of Christ, the One who is the Word made flesh. This is the wisdom which is brought forth from above concerning not only the reality of Christ’s coming Kingdom within the timeframe that God has established in the first thirty-four verses of Genesis, but also that which is required of us if we are to be found faithful in that coming Day - Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life/soul will lose it, but whoever loses his life/soul for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul/life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul/life? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. This then, for us, is now our time of work of faithful obedience as a servant of the Word made flesh, a work of faith in relation to patient endurance through trials and testing as we submit ourselves, as a servant, to the leading and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The Helper who has been sent to guide us into all truth, sent to help us attain the position of regality in the Kingdom on offer to us – Heb 10:36 For you have need of [patient] endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith……. Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [patient endurance]. 4 But let patience [patient endurance] have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Ro 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance [patient endurance]; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This is now the time, before we are called to account, when we are to follow the example set for us by our Lord – Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 1 Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…….. 1 Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. And as we had noted last time, the way our Lord conducted Himself during His earthly ministry culminating in the events of the cross, has left us the example we are to follow. And it was that which He would accomplish through His earthly ministry that was the joy set before Him. The joy of that coming Day, when He with His joint heirs, with His wife, will rule together in the Kingdom. And hopefully, it won’t have escaped our notice that in the parable of the talents, we see a mention of this joy that is later identified in Hebrews – Mt 25:23 His lord said to 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.’ For us to enter into the joy of our Lord, having this same joy set before us as was set before the Lord, we are required to organize our life in such a way in the present, just as Jesus did, that we would declare through the way that we live, that, the coming Day of rulership with the Christ in His Kingdom is of more value to us than anything else. Something we would be well prepared to suffer for through trial and testing, and something we are prepared to die to self for. It is not a coincidence that the future salvation seen in connection with rule in the Kingdom is called – Heb 2:3 ……..so great salvation……… There is nothing greater that the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the Universe could bestow upon His creation than this. This is something that angels desire to look into. d). And if we go back to our verse from the parable of the talents, v23, and add to it the companion verse from the parable of the minas Lk 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ We can see the inescapable connection between faithfulness now during the time of trial and testing and dying to self as we patiently endure, and rulership with the King of kings then. The inescapable connection that it would be good for us to note. e). Or to say all of this a slightly different way, the Lord has entrusted to us various degrees of responsibility in His house, through the Word of the Kingdom, through which we are to conduct His business in His absence. And our responsibility to faithful obedience is proved through trial, testing and patient endurance, so that if we are found faithful, our faithfulness will have proven that we are worthy to receive an exponentially greater responsibility in the Millennial Kingdom. We are to be ‘faithful in very little’ that we can be given ‘authority over much. f). The Lord’s purpose for purchasing us and placing us as servants in His household should by now be very obvious to us – Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. This is how the Lord’s revelation to us on this very subject, began in Genesis – Ge 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. And this is where it finds its conclusion in the Book of the Revelation Re 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” This is something that we are not in ignorance of. 2). However, for the unprofitable servant in both parables, the nature and purpose of servanthood in the Master’s house was something they had failed to understand – Mt 25:24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, [austere in the parable of the minas] reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ We had seen last time that as we stand alone before our Judge the thoughts and intent of our hearts will be open before Him. Although we choose to keep things hidden and out of sight now, nothing will remain hidden in that Day - Ro 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. And this is just what we see taking place with the unprofitable servant in the parable. The unprofitable servant in effect blames his Lord for his unfaithfulness. He perceives the Lord to be a hard Man, an intolerant Man, a severe Man, reaping where He had not sown and gathering where He had not scattered seed. a). And the perception of reaping where He had not sown and gathering where He had not scattered seed, is the way the unprofitable servant uses to describe what His Lord had expected of him. It was the servant’s responsibility to conduct the Lord’s business for Him in His absence. But, from the servant’s perspective, his Lord was just making use of him for His own end. The servant failed to understand, although he could have understood, as did the other servants, that the trials, testing and patient endurance he was expected to go through are the result of the Lord’s love for him. – 1 Pe 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. He had failed to understand that this is the way the Lord had provided for him that would lead him to glory, honor and praise at his Lord’s return - Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” The servant failed to comprehend the purpose for the example the Lord had left for him – Ro 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 2 Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and age lasting weight of glory…. Consequently, the unprofitable servant had done nothing with that which had been entrusted to him. He hid it away and ignored it. We will realize that in that Day there will be many Christians who will present excuses and claim mitigating circumstances for their absence of faith. This is something we have seen before from a slightly different perspective, although showing the same truth, in – Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ And as the parable of the talents is just as the parable of the ten virgins, we can find the same there – Mt 25:11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Nothing is said in the parable as to why the foolish virgins thought the Lord should open the door to allow them into the wedding, but there would have been a reason why they thought He should open to them. Nothing is said in the parable of the virgins because the reason is given to us in the parable of the talents and in the parable of the minas. In essence it is that which comes from the unprofitable servant’s mouth - 1 Co 4:4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. 3). Let’s remind ourselves of the Lord’s response to what the unprofitable servant said – Mt 25:26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Lk 19:22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Just as faithfulness must receive commendation and reward, so unfaithfulness must receive both rebuke and chastisement. And it cannot be any other way than this if the Lord is the righteous Judge who judges without partiality – 1 Pe 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear….. Ro 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 age lasting life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath………. And following the sharp rebuke of the unprofitable servant in both the parable of the talents and the minas we see this, So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents…… Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ That which the unfaithful servant has is to be taken from him and given to those who already have. a). Now, how are we to understand this? Well, we have already established that the talents and the minas are used metaphorically to picture the Word of the Kingdom, the gospel of the glory of Christ, that portion of the wisdom from above entrusted to us that we might produce a profit from it. But to take a portion of the Word of the Kingdom from the unprofitable servant and then give it to the faithful servant who has made a profit, at the time when the work of the faithful servant has ended and he can make no further increase, makes no sense. b). Rather, we need to understand this by going back and looking at the profitable servant first – Mt 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Lk 19:16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ As we look at the faithful servants in both the parables, we clearly see the direct correlation between their faithfulness with that which was entrusted to them and the positions of authority, the positions of rulership, they were given as a reward. If we then reverse this, so to speak, the unfaithful servant, having done nothing with that which was entrusted to him, received no authority, he received no position of rulership, from his master, but there would have been such a position available for him had he proved faithful. There would have to be a just recompence of reward. c). It is then, this forfeited position of authority/rulership, which is taken from the unfaithful servant that is given to the faithful servant as an additional position of authority/rulership on top of that which he already has, so that he will have an abundance in the Kingdom Age. d). We should keep in mind that there have always been a finite number of positions to be filled in the Kingdom administration. Positions now occupied by only a third of the angels created for them. An important contributing factor to the chaos the world continues to spiral into. And these are the same positions that are available to all Christians, but clearly from all that we have seen, not all Christians will realize the positions of authority/rulership that are on offer to them, because of their unfaithfulness with that which has been entrusted to them. Nevertheless, this position of authority/rulership that could have been theirs must still be filled, there cannot be any gaps in the Kingdom administration. Everything must be done decently and in order. And this position of authority/rulership now lost to the unfaithful servant for all time, will be filled by giving it to another, who, through faithfulness, has already attained their own position – 1 Co 3:14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss……. Re 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. We will continue with this next time if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed. From Time To Time - Part Thirty Six Jul 28, 2024 Speaker: John Herbert Series: From Time to Time Category: Sunday Morning x
Refresh A Recap from the Sermon Mt 25:14 “It is just as a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. We shall continue to look at the parables of the talents and the minds today. The full text of this message can found by clicking the PDF button. Sunday July 28th 2024 From Time to Time – Part 36 1). Mt 25:14 “It is just as a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Lk 19:12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ We have seen in our previous studies that the purpose for the nobleman going into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return, cannot be separated from his actions with regards to his own household servants. a). That which the nobleman gave to his servants and what they were then to do with what they had been given during his absence was for a future day when those servants who had been faithful in doing the Lord’s business, who according to their ‘ability’ would produce differing amounts of increase, just as we see in the parable of the sower - Mt 13:8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. These faithful servants in the day of the nobleman’s return were elevated from a position of servitude to the nobleman, to a position of ruling alongside him in the kingdom he had received. b). And to bring this over into the Christian experience will enable us to see that we are presently in a time of servitude to our Master, and we are in this position of servant for a specific purpose, so that the Lord can prove our faithfulness to be genuine, whether thirty, sixty or a hundredfold. A proof, whereby He can elevate us from the position of service to the position of regality. No longer a servant but a joint heir with Him as an adopted firstborn son, a ruling relationship peculiar to the earth and the Seventh Day, that is also expressed through the roles of Husband and wife, King and consort queen, fulfilling the foundational type of Adam and the Woman. c). Just to make sure we are absolutely clear, let’s remember that what is pictured for us through the minas and the talents is the Word of the Kingdom, the gospel of the glory of Christ, the Word of Christ – Col 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge with which we are to work have been pictured for us in the foundation in Genesis Chapter 24 through the jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold and garments, given to Rebekah by Abraham’s oldest servant, and seen in the antitype in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3 through the gold, silver and precious stones built upon the foundation of Christ, the One who is the Word made flesh. This is the wisdom which is brought forth from above concerning not only the reality of Christ’s coming Kingdom within the timeframe that God has established in the first thirty-four verses of Genesis, but also that which is required of us if we are to be found faithful in that coming Day - Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life/soul will lose it, but whoever loses his life/soul for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul/life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul/life? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. This then, for us, is now our time of work of faithful obedience as a servant of the Word made flesh, a work of faith in relation to patient endurance through trials and testing as we submit ourselves, as a servant, to the leading and the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The Helper who has been sent to guide us into all truth, sent to help us attain the position of regality in the Kingdom on offer to us – Heb 10:36 For you have need of [patient] endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith……. Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [patient endurance]. 4 But let patience [patient endurance] have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Ro 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance [patient endurance]; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This is now the time, before we are called to account, when we are to follow the example set for us by our Lord – Mt 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 1 Pe 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously…….. 1 Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. And as we had noted last time, the way our Lord conducted Himself during His earthly ministry culminating in the events of the cross, has left us the example we are to follow. And it was that which He would accomplish through His earthly ministry that was the joy set before Him. The joy of that coming Day, when He with His joint heirs, with His wife, will rule together in the Kingdom. And hopefully, it won’t have escaped our notice that in the parable of the talents, we see a mention of this joy that is later identified in Hebrews – Mt 25:23 His lord said to 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.’ For us to enter into the joy of our Lord, having this same joy set before us as was set before the Lord, we are required to organize our life in such a way in the present, just as Jesus did, that we would declare through the way that we live, that, the coming Day of rulership with the Christ in His Kingdom is of more value to us than anything else. Something we would be well prepared to suffer for through trial and testing, and something we are prepared to die to self for. It is not a coincidence that the future salvation seen in connection with rule in the Kingdom is called – Heb 2:3 ……..so great salvation……… There is nothing greater that the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the Universe could bestow upon His creation than this. This is something that angels desire to look into. d). And if we go back to our verse from the parable of the talents, v23, and add to it the companion verse from the parable of the minas Lk 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ We can see the inescapable connection between faithfulness now during the time of trial and testing and dying to self as we patiently endure, and rulership with the King of kings then. The inescapable connection that it would be good for us to note. e). Or to say all of this a slightly different way, the Lord has entrusted to us various degrees of responsibility in His house, through the Word of the Kingdom, through which we are to conduct His business in His absence. And our responsibility to faithful obedience is proved through trial, testing and patient endurance, so that if we are found faithful, our faithfulness will have proven that we are worthy to receive an exponentially greater responsibility in the Millennial Kingdom. We are to be ‘faithful in very little’ that we can be given ‘authority over much. f). The Lord’s purpose for purchasing us and placing us as servants in His household should by now be very obvious to us – Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. This is how the Lord’s revelation to us on this very subject, began in Genesis – Ge 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. And this is where it finds its conclusion in the Book of the Revelation Re 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” This is something that we are not in ignorance of. 2). However, for the unprofitable servant in both parables, the nature and purpose of servanthood in the Master’s house was something they had failed to understand – Mt 25:24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, [austere in the parable of the minas] reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ We had seen last time that as we stand alone before our Judge the thoughts and intent of our hearts will be open before Him. Although we choose to keep things hidden and out of sight now, nothing will remain hidden in that Day - Ro 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. And this is just what we see taking place with the unprofitable servant in the parable. The unprofitable servant in effect blames his Lord for his unfaithfulness. He perceives the Lord to be a hard Man, an intolerant Man, a severe Man, reaping where He had not sown and gathering where He had not scattered seed. a). And the perception of reaping where He had not sown and gathering where He had not scattered seed, is the way the unprofitable servant uses to describe what His Lord had expected of him. It was the servant’s responsibility to conduct the Lord’s business for Him in His absence. But, from the servant’s perspective, his Lord was just making use of him for His own end. The servant failed to understand, although he could have understood, as did the other servants, that the trials, testing and patient endurance he was expected to go through are the result of the Lord’s love for him. – 1 Pe 1:5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. He had failed to understand that this is the way the Lord had provided for him that would lead him to glory, honor and praise at his Lord’s return - Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” The servant failed to comprehend the purpose for the example the Lord had left for him – Ro 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 2 Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and age lasting weight of glory…. Consequently, the unprofitable servant had done nothing with that which had been entrusted to him. He hid it away and ignored it. We will realize that in that Day there will be many Christians who will present excuses and claim mitigating circumstances for their absence of faith. This is something we have seen before from a slightly different perspective, although showing the same truth, in – Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ And as the parable of the talents is just as the parable of the ten virgins, we can find the same there – Mt 25:11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Nothing is said in the parable as to why the foolish virgins thought the Lord should open the door to allow them into the wedding, but there would have been a reason why they thought He should open to them. Nothing is said in the parable of the virgins because the reason is given to us in the parable of the talents and in the parable of the minas. In essence it is that which comes from the unprofitable servant’s mouth - 1 Co 4:4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God. 3). Let’s remind ourselves of the Lord’s response to what the unprofitable servant said – Mt 25:26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Lk 19:22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Just as faithfulness must receive commendation and reward, so unfaithfulness must receive both rebuke and chastisement. And it cannot be any other way than this if the Lord is the righteous Judge who judges without partiality – 1 Pe 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear….. Ro 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 age lasting life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath………. And following the sharp rebuke of the unprofitable servant in both the parable of the talents and the minas we see this, So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents…… Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ That which the unfaithful servant has is to be taken from him and given to those who already have. a). Now, how are we to understand this? Well, we have already established that the talents and the minas are used metaphorically to picture the Word of the Kingdom, the gospel of the glory of Christ, that portion of the wisdom from above entrusted to us that we might produce a profit from it. But to take a portion of the Word of the Kingdom from the unprofitable servant and then give it to the faithful servant who has made a profit, at the time when the work of the faithful servant has ended and he can make no further increase, makes no sense. b). Rather, we need to understand this by going back and looking at the profitable servant first – Mt 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Lk 19:16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ As we look at the faithful servants in both the parables, we clearly see the direct correlation between their faithfulness with that which was entrusted to them and the positions of authority, the positions of rulership, they were given as a reward. If we then reverse this, so to speak, the unfaithful servant, having done nothing with that which was entrusted to him, received no authority, he received no position of rulership, from his master, but there would have been such a position available for him had he proved faithful. There would have to be a just recompence of reward. c). It is then, this forfeited position of authority/rulership, which is taken from the unfaithful servant that is given to the faithful servant as an additional position of authority/rulership on top of that which he already has, so that he will have an abundance in the Kingdom Age. d). We should keep in mind that there have always been a finite number of positions to be filled in the Kingdom administration. Positions now occupied by only a third of the angels created for them. An important contributing factor to the chaos the world continues to spiral into. And these are the same positions that are available to all Christians, but clearly from all that we have seen, not all Christians will realize the positions of authority/rulership that are on offer to them, because of their unfaithfulness with that which has been entrusted to them. Nevertheless, this position of authority/rulership that could have been theirs must still be filled, there cannot be any gaps in the Kingdom administration. Everything must be done decently and in order. And this position of authority/rulership now lost to the unfaithful servant for all time, will be filled by giving it to another, who, through faithfulness, has already attained their own position – 1 Co 3:14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss……. Re 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. We will continue with this next time if we remain and the Lord is willing, and we have prayed.