The parable of the talents - no boring people in Heaven?

[JamesSuth]

I was reading the parable of the talents (Matthew 25). It ends with Jesus saying "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

One of my character flaws is that I tend to have more passion to pray for the lost when they are interesting people that I'd personally like to see in Heaven. It is true that God gives us promptings to pray for certain people, but I think some of my interest in praying for some people is based on my own interests rather than the leading of the Spirit. So, I was reading the parable of the talents again and the ending was really interesting. The person who had one talent had it taken from them and given to the one who had ten. I wonder... God's evaluation of us is different to human evaluation. Perhaps the person with ten talents represents the faithful believer who just lived their ordinary life well, using all the limited opportunities available to them. But maybe they are not the people who could fill hours with interesting conversation. They may never have had opportunity, or motivation, or interest. Perhaps the person with one talent could be a person who has done a lot in their life, but is not a believer. Maybe they made a scientific discovery, or won Wimbledon, or won a medal in the military, the list of impressive human achievements could go on. A lot of those people are believers, but if they are not, their one talent is taken and given to the one who has ten. Perhaps to the one with an ordinary, but boring life. So, what I'm thinking is perhaps those really interesting people (and who they are varies depending on our interests ), even if they don't go to Heaven, all that attracts us about them will be in Heaven, because it gets given to believers. I wonder if we will meet every inventor, every sports winner, every explorer in Heaven, not because they are all saved but because what they did is taken from them and given to a believer who would have done it had they had the opportunity? There will be no boring people in Heaven . What do others think?

I also think that many of us will be quite different people in Heaven. For example, there is a great deal I'd like to do if I didn't have health issues. I think Heaven will be amazing, and our Creator Father will take great delight in us serving Him to our fullest potential.

 

[Salluz]

One thing to note is that "talent" is a unit of weight. It does not mean "good at." A talent was around 75 pounds. Even one talent of gold would be worth close to 2 million dollars today, so think an extravagant investment. Something of value to God.

 

[daygo]

One thing to note is that "talent" is a unit of weight. It does not mean "good at." A talent was around 75 pounds. Even one talent of gold would be worth close to 2 million dollars today, so think an extravagant investment. Something of value to God.

Imo there's only one thing of value to God that is know his word.

 

[Jan51]

I think that parable is about how people will be rewarded and be given responsibilities in the coming kingdom, based on how faithful we have been with whatever responsibilities or assets the Lord has blessed us with in this life.

 

[katt]

What exactly does this parable mean.. I've always wondered..if one is raptured..he or she cannot be thrown to the wolves..so..how does the servant that didn't use his talent get thrown to the wolves? This parable has always worried me.. because I have never known what my gift is..so I have no idea if I've ever used it..I assume Jesus is meaning the word talent to mean gift..either way..when I read or hear this parable..I always send a little prayer up..asking God to please no matter what my talent or gift is..please make sure I'm using it..whether I know it or not...

 

[Jan51]

What exactly does this parable mean.. I've always wondered..if one is raptured..he or she cannot be thrown to the wolves..so..how does the servant that didn't use his talent get thrown to the wolves? This parable has always worried me.. because I have never known what my gift is..so I have no idea if I've ever used it..I assume Jesus is meaning the word talent to mean gift..either way..when I read or hear this parable..I always send a little prayer up..asking God to please no matter what my talent or gift is..please make sure I'm using it..whether I know it or not...

It is not our English word talent/abilities. A talent was at that time a measure of money, here is the reference from Strong's Concordance:

1. the scale of a balance, a balance, a pair of scales
2. that which is weighed, a talent
   1. a weight varying in different places and times
   2. a sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency
      1. the Attic talent was equal to 60 Attic minae or 6000 drachmae
      2. a talent of silver in Israel weighed about 100 pounds (45 kg)
      3. a talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg)

 

[Andy C]

There are many teachings on this parable, some with differing views, but one thing should stand out - the Lord was not referring to the Church. This parable is for after the church is gone, and applies to those who are left behind.

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

The Lord’s use of parables always gets my interest. A parable is a fictional story meant to illustrate a principle or truth. The word parable comes from the Greek parabollo, which literally means “to throw alongside.” Aesop’s fables demonstrate a secular application of this teaching method.

The Lord Jesus wasn’t the first to use parables in His teaching, (there are many in the Old Testament) but He sure elevated their importance in communicating biblical truths to His listeners. I’ve heard His use of parables described as “putting a heavenly truth into an earthly context.” His parables often angered the religious leaders of His day because they got the point of the story, and it was usually critical of them.

What Does That Mean?​

In interpreting a parable, remember that everyone and everything in the story is symbolic of something else. The key that unlocks the symbolism is found either within the context or elsewhere in scripture. One nice thing about the Bible is that things used symbolically in one place are generally used in the same way through out. Leaven (or yeast) always symbolizes sin. Adultery and fornication always symbolize the worship of other gods; a spiritual unfaithfulness. Theologians call this the principle of expositional constancy. Observing these guidelines will help you correctly interpret parables and increase your overall knowledge of scripture at the same time.

Are You Talented?​

So we have three guidelines in interpreting parables; context, scripture, and expositional constancy. Failure to follow them causes us to miss the point. For example, look at the way the Parable of the Talents has been interpreted, or should I say miss-interpreted. One problem is that talent is also an English word meaning a skill or ability. But in the Greek language a talent was a unit of measure, often defining an amount of money. Since everything in a parable is symbolic of something else, to think of the talents as symbolizing either skills or money is wrong, and really distorts the message of the parable. Instead, think of the talent as symbolizing something of great value to the Lord; something that belonged to Him, and that He entrusted to His servants while He was away. You can see that neither skills nor money correctly define the symbolic talents.

Context, Context​

Now notice the time frame the Lord refers to. The word “again” in Matt 25:15identifies the time of the story as being the same as in the previous story, the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids. That parable begins with the phrase “at that time” so you have to keep going back all the way to Matt 24:21 and 29 to discover that the time about which He is teaching occurs after the end of Great Tribulation, when He comes back to establish His kingdom.

What will the situation on Earth be at that time? Follow the parable. He will have been gone for a long time and will have just come back. He will have left some valuable property of His in the care of various servants, and some will have multiplied their share while others will have buried theirs. He is now requiring an accounting of them that will determine their destiny. The context tells us a lot, but what property of His is symbolized by the talents?

Is That Scriptural?​

This is where using scripture to interpret scripture comes in. We know from scripture that money is not important to the Lord, and that His achievements are not limited by whatever skill we have and are willing to apply to accomplish His ends. But is there something of His, something extremely valuable to Him, prized even above His name, that he has entrusted to us, and that will be buried and all but lost to many at the end of the age?

So What’s The Answer?​

The answer is found in Psalm 138:2, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name (KJV).” But from Amos 8:11 we discover that “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land– not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” And in Isaiah 55:10-12 we are told that His word, once invested, will always bring a return. It is His most valued possession, He left it with us, and He expects us to invest it.(Matt 28:16-20)

But the last days will be a time of deception so great that most of those alive on earth will succumb to a system of lies that will literally turn black into white; darkness into light; and therefore life into death. The only reference point for truth will be His Word, and many of those with whom it has been entrusted will have rendered it so meaningless as to be buried.

Acting in the authority of the Lamb, but speaking the words of the Dragon, they’ll try to prevent their flocks from learning the Truth. The fact that those servants will have proven themselves to be impostors from the beginning is shown by their destiny; “outside in the darkness.” The one and only unforgivable sin after all, is unbelief.

Summary, Please​

So the talents represent His Word, the Gospel of our Salvation. Those who sow it liberally into the hearts of their listeners find it multiplies. Where there were five, ten now appear. Where there were two, now there are four. Those who simply study it find their understanding multiplies. Richer and deeper meanings appear from passages they thought were familiar. Over and over they discover that as their understanding grows their faith deepens.

Those who bury it and pay no attention find its value diminishes the longer they ignore it. Not only are their friends and neighbors deprived by their lack of communication, but they themselves lose insight and understanding. Finally even what little they had is taken from them.

And so the old principle “Use it or Lose it” comes back into play at the End of the Age. Keep in mind we’re talking about a time after the Church has left the Earth. The doctrine of Eternal Security expires with our departure and those left behind will be responsible for maintaining their faith (Rev. 16:14)

And that’s the lesson of the Parable of the Talents. (Revised 06-05-04)
https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/parables/the-parable-of-the-talents/

 

[Salluz]

There are many teachings on this parable, some with differing views, but one thing should stand out - the Lord was not referring to the Church. This parable is for after the church is gone, and applies to those who are left behind.

This is where the "three rules of Bible interpretation" come into play:

1) context
2) context
3) context