19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 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.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 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.’
Jesus’ followers will face a time of reckoning when He comes back.
25:19
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
The master called his servants to account as his first order of business when he came back from his long journey (referring to the Second Coming). “Long time” indicates indefinite delay in the Lord’s return. Much time will have passed between His ascension following the resurrection and the day when He comes again.
25:20
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
The first servant did not brag about his success but simply stated a fact about his success in investing.
The servants here represent those who are present at the Second Coming.
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.
The master both praised and rewarded the faithful servant.
Enter into the joy of your lord.’
We will experience joy in the kingdom when we realize we served the Lord faithfully in time.
25:22
He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
The second servant did the same as the first servant with the resources he had.
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.’
The lord gave the same commendation to the second as to the first servant. God rewards us not for our brilliance but for our faithfulness. Excellence of service has its reward—appointment and promotion to higher office.
PRINCIPLE:
God always gives us ministry capital to do ministry.
APPLICATION:
Paul was under no illusion about his success in ministry. He did not brag about what he accomplished but stated a sense of fulfillment about what God did through him. At the end of his life, he made this statement:
2 Ti 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
We will receive the Lord’s words, “Well done,” when we accomplish ministry for Him. That is pleasure in His pleasure in us. God takes care of His balance sheet.
God lends us a certain amount of ministry capital. It takes money to make money. It honors Him if we use it wisely. We cannot offer the excuse that we are not as talented as others. God gives gifts and talents to trade for spiritual capital. He does not give them for our exclusive enjoyment.
Dr. Grant,
For those who are present at the second coming, what does it mean when you say that they will be promoted to a higher office? What will they be placed in charge of? I once heard a Mormon use this verse to attempt to justify becoming a god, but this seemed far-fetched, as there is nothing in the context (or the whole Bible for that matter) about becoming a god. He also thought that sharing in our Master's joy is the same is experiencing the same joy that He has in ruling the universe. Is this person connecting dots that are illegitamate to connect? Thanks for the help!
Jakob
Jakob, At the Rapture the believer will receive rewards (not punishment) at the Judgment Seat of Christ (not the Great White Throne Judgment for non-believers). 2 Co 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
Mormon explanations are interpolations of reading into the text something that is not there.
According to the context of this passage, it appears that believers will hear this from the lord after he returns.
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.’
Why don’t souls hear this when they enter heaven?
Sean, I am not sure about your question, but my guess is that your question is why some will hear “well done” or others will not. Those who live faithful Christian lives on earth will receive the Lord’s commendation for that faithfulness in heaven.