Parable of the Talents

Jeremy Duncan

Nov 17

Written By Kevin Borst

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Scriptures: Matthew 25:14–30, Luke 19:1–15

In this sermon, Jeremy looks at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and invites us to ask if the harsh master really represents God or something else entirely. What if the master represents unjust systems of power? Jeremy connects this story of talents to Zacchaeus in Luke 19, and the parables about minas. The story of Zacchaeus highlights the personal cost of stepping out of unjust systems and choosing to do what’s right. Following Jesus often means facing rejection or losing comfort, but it’s also the courageous and faithful path. Wealth and resources are meant to be used for God’s purposes, not just for personal benefit. In the end, Jeremy invited us to embrace the hard but beautiful way of peace, justice, and generosity, knowing we are always welcome at Jesus’ table.
Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: How does the metaphor of God as a parent that Jeremy used in the sermon opener resonate with you? How does your experience of being parented or your experience of being a parent influence your perception of divine judgement?
Share: What are some of the more traditional interpretations of the parable of talents that you heard?
What do you think about Jeremy’s approach to see the master in the parable as a figure of injustice? Does this interpretation ring true for you?
Reflect: Reflect on the concepts of fear and risk in the parable and the story of Zacchaeus. Have there been moments in your faith journey where fear held you back from taking action or doing the right thing?
How does the following point from the sermon encourage or challenge you?
“This parable is Jesus saying, Zacchaeus I love what I'm hearing, but I can see why your neighbours are skeptical…
Do you really know what you're promising right now?
Because it's not just restitution.
It is exclusion from the system that has afforded you all the privilege and wealth you have enjoyed for so long now…
See, this isn't a parable about the kingdom, Jesus never says it is.
This isn't a parable about God's judgement, Jesus never implies that.
This is a parable about the cost of doing the right thing…
And the hard truth is sometimes that means there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And it's not because you failed.
It's because you held fast to the way of peace…
And you need to know this.
Pain, suffering, consequence, rejection - this is not necessarily because you have failed…
Any gospel that tries to convince you the way of Jesus will be—easy
Is sadly a lie.”
Engage: Choose an idea to engage with:
1) Engage with the idea that wealth is not inherently for personal gain but to be used in alignment with God’s purposes. What might this look like in your own life? Or how do you personally wrestle with this responsibility in your life or context right now?
2) Jeremy challenged the idea that the "hard man" in the parable of the talents represents God. Do you agree with that?
And leading out of that, if the harsh master represent unjust systems and we’re talking about the cost of stepping away from them, reflect on your own life, where might you be complicit in maintaining systems of privilege or oppression, and what would it cost you to live in alignment with Jesus’ way of peace and justice?
Take away: What is one new insight you’ve gained from this discussion about the parable of the talents or the story of Zacchaeus? Or even from this concept of judgement as an invitation to move forward rather than condemnation?
Prayer from the sermon:
God of infinite grace,
would you remind us today that the test of our lives
is not our ability to figure you out
and place you on calendar,
to delineate your timing, and your choices, and your posture toward us,
but instead simply to learn how to trust well.
How to trust in our foolishness.
How to trust in your grace.
If we can let go of our attempts to control, or box in, or manipulate you
and instead embrace the journey of faith for what it is:
a confusing, doubt-filled, mess of humanity invited toward the divine,
then might actually we find
that your grace is enough anyway.
And so when we are foolish,
perhaps even more, when we think we are wise,
would we learn what it means to trust only in you.
And if we have fallen asleep for a moment,
then would you shake us, and wake us,
and inspire us to begin moving toward you all over again.
In the strong name of the risen Christ we pray,
Amen
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 91
MUSIC Curated by Nathan Funk
Bethel Music - If The Lord
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
Phil Wickham - Back to Life
Hillsong Worship - Cornerstone

SERIES BUMPER
Jesus on Judgement
ANCIENT PRAYER
Curated by Yelena Pakhomova
“May You Be Blessed Forever, Lord” by Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Today, we are praying an ancient prayer that comes to us from Saint Teresa of Ávila, a 16th-century mystic, writer, doctor of the church, founder of a monastic order, and a woman of intense spiritual life.
The mystics teach us how to be present to the movement of God in the deepest desires of our hearts, how to notice Divine goodness patiently waiting for us right in the midst of our busy lives, and how to accept moments of true rest that are always on offer.
So, as we pray Saint Teresa’s prayer, in which she blesses God for God’s faithfulness to her, I invite you to hold on to the faithfulness of God that you know in your life today. And may these words written over 400 years ago somehow find their way into our own prayers.
Let us pray with St. Teresa:
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for not abandoning me when I abandoned you.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for offering Your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moments.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for loving me more than I love myself.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for drawing out the goodness in all people, even including me.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for repaying our sin with Your love.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,
for being constant and unchanging, amidst all the changes of the world.
May You be blessed forever, Lord,for Your countless blessings on me and on all your creatures. Amen.