The parable of the Stewards: Report and Judgment of the good stewards (Matt. 25:20-23)

As a reminder to us of what the stewards did, we should look briefly at verses 16-19.  These good stewards traded with the talents they had.  Risky and hard work, both stewards did the job at hand and doubled that which they were stewards over.

What is a steward?  One might call him a manager of sorts.  He is in charge of certain affairs of his master.  An example of a steward in the Old Testament would be Joseph.  He was set over Potiphar’s household, and later over the whole of Egypt!  A steward is not the owner but is the responsible party over what he was set. 

Etymologically we see a link to our key verse, 15, to each according to his ability.  A steward has the response - ability, or responsibility to handle the affairs.

Lastly - let's look at the reward.  Proportionately the two stewards were given equal success over the work.  No one would say that the work of stewardship over 5 talents (perhaps $250,000) would be the same as that of 2 talents, yet the reward was equal.

"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.’" (Matt 25:21 & 23)

Why might they have been given the same reward?  Verse 15 states, "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability" While the work of managing the affairs of his lord over 5 talents would have been greater than that of two or even 1 talent, the steward did it, as easily as the steward over two talent managed his stewardship.

Tomorrow I plan to consider how the last steward was missing the mark.  Amen

The parable of the Stewards: The background & introduction (Matt. 25: 14-19)

At the outset it must be noted that this is a parable. A story designed to teach morals & principles using parallels in this world.  As such, we must be careful how far we take these parables & the connections in this world.  Only as far as is necessary to teach the moral or principle before us.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man... To say is like is not to say is.

The key to the whole parable is the phrase found in verse 15, "to each according to his own ability"

What did the stewards do?  We see this in verses 16-18.  Verse 19 points out the judgment.

To each according to his own ability.  Our Lord does not expect of us what he does not give.  He knows what we can handle and grants to us as we are able, that which we can bear.  Whether an active responsibility to positively do something, or negatively a trial to bear. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 exemplifies this negative point, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Our Lord know that we are but dust. (Psa 103:14)

My wife’s favorite passage, Proverbs 3:5-6, also speaks to this principle when is states, "Lean not on your own understanding" 

Augustine of Hippo is quoted as praying, "Oh Lord, Command what you will, give what you command."

And He will - For He is good. And it is this point which is not agreed upon by the unjust steward.  We'll see this as we study.   Amen.

A warning in Matthew 25:1-13

The door was shut. They had been looking and planning, but foolishly they had not planned on his delay or running out of oil.  When they had returned - the door was shut.

Yet doesn't the Lord promise to let all who call upon Him in? Why does He not open to them? Truly we learn something of the mercy and severity of the Lord. 

He must shut the door.

Verse 5, "But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept."

It was not that the 5 wise virgins were better than the others in all ways - but they prepared.  All the virgins slumbered and slept.

And while the bridegroom delayed, did not the foolish have time and a-plenty to go get oil? Surely they did.  And His response is telling. In verse 12, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you"

It did not matter that they claimed to know Him. Clearly they left off from the preparation showing what kind of virgins they were.

Personal challenge: Do I feel that I am ready?  Is my lamp filled up?

Yet I cannot fall into the trap of making personal effort to earn merit.  Either I am a part of the bride, the Church, or not. As a church member, am I prepared to do whatever work is set before me?  Have I gotten lazy and sloppy?  Believers do slip up.  Sin is not totally expunged in this life.

Yet the evidence against those virgins was twofold.  Not only did they not trim their lamps to the end, Christ never knew them. When a professor is found at the last in no great sin and walking in the fellowship of his Lord, it is a proof of the Master’s care in his life.

Finally - let it be known that if the Lord had known those virgins, they would not have fallen away. They would have trimmed their lamps even until midnight.

Since the bridegroom stated, I never knew you, those virgins were without hope.  If you think, by your own wisdom, or strength, or craftiness, that you will trim your lamp in time, and to the very end - be warned!  Apart from Christ you can do nothing!

But what of those wise virgins?  Those wise virgins were not wise in their own strength, but by the strength of the Lord. 

Remember, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Consider John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Also 2nd Corinthians 6:2, "For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Watch Out!

Matthew 24:43 reads as follows, "But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into."  Another translation reads, "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into."

Don't be careless.  Be ready.  Watch!

Over and over we are told there are things we will not know (Matt. 24:36), and there are things we can know (vs 24:43).  And we serve a just God.  He does not leave us without hope.  He does not take out vengeance against us for not knowing what only he can know, but He does expect us to take to heart and act on that which we do know of Him, His nature, and His plan.  And He has revealed much of His will - if we will accept it.  Deuteronomy 29:29 is such a passage to tell us this, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Our trouble isn't that we don't know what He is asking of us.

Our trouble is that we do know, and it bugs us.  We do know and we don't like it...

So we twist and turn our life circumstances or we twist the Word of life, the Scriptures which do reveal everything we need for holy and godly living.

Paul tells us this in Romans 1:18-32.  We sin with knowledge- and though we may delude ourselves for awhile - in the end, be sure and know - your sin will find you out! (Numbers 32:23)

He will pursue you, in love, for reconciliation, to the end of the earth!

Confess your sin! (Proverbs 28:13 & I John 1:9)

Stop living carelessly!

Get ready!  Not only because the Lord will return... But who knows what may happen tomorrow?  Your life is but a vapor & you may not live as long as you hope! (James 4:14)   Watch Out!  Put your trust in the God Who has revealed everything for faith and godliness in the Bible.

Because He is we can be!

This morning I wanted to take comfort in the Psalms.  Psalm 5 is a favorite.  The Psalm runs back and forth between the Enemies of David and his God.  And we can learn much about this God whom David loved.  Most of you my readers love Him also - this therefore ought to bless you!

1-3
Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

These verses are for me a pattern.  I have for many years used the early morning as a time devoted first to God, although frequently not as wholeheartedly as I ought.  These verse tell me What, and When, to Whom, and even Why!

·         What - Prayer.  We read of words of meditation or groaning.  Have you ever noticed the groaning we sometimes feel deep within?  Dig deep my friend, pour out your soul to the Lord.  This is what we are to do.

·         When - in the morning.  Not that we shouldn't pray at other times, but here we read that David chose to speak to the Almighty in the morning.  Our Lord also did this frequently (Mark 1:35).

·         To Whom - plainly God above.  But take note of the phrase, "My King and my God" He is more than God to us, as King we our our allegiance.

·         Why - "my voice You shall hear in the morning."  While we may pray anytime, we have here and explicit permit and promise that He hears our morning groaning’s.

4-6
For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

These verses contrast the true and living God with the evil workers of iniquity.  God's holiness is demonstrated in stark relief against such an evil back drop of sin. 

7-8
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

This is the beautiful resolve of the righteous.  It is because of our faithful trust in the mercy of the Lord we come to worship.

·         Because He is faithful we can be.

·         Because He is holy we can be.

·         Because His name is on our lips and before the world - for His namesake, we are made holy through the sanctifying worship of holy living.

Oh Lord! Make your way straight before me!

9-10

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

Here we see the imprecatory part.  Evil is bad and we ought to be glad when it is dealt with properly.  We ought not gloat or glory in an evil doer getting his due, but instead consider that the name of the Lord is at stake and God must be vindicated. 

·         They are not faithful

·         Even their deepest part is destruction.

·         Their very throat is an open grave, demonstrating that they are dead.

·         They are liars.

Verse 10 is very telling.  Lest anyone cast a claim that God is unfair or unkind - It is their own counsel which brings them down!  It is not God's lack of concern for them which fails them - It is their own sin which gets them! (Read for comparison Eze. 18:33, & 33:11)

11-12

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Here is a last stanza for those trusting in God.  And that is the point.  We never read of the righteous trusting God because of their righteousness, but because of God's mercy, God's holiness, and God's holy namesake. 

·         He is our defender.  Our joy is found in Him because we also bear His name!

·         He is our shield from the very darts and attacks of the wicked.

·         He blesses the righteous not for any personal righteousness they have, but because their righteousness is entirely and wholly derived from Him.

Someone once said, "He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him if He will have him"

Indeed.  And we must do the same - trusting Him.

Let me close with my wife’s favorite verses, Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

You Dictator!

"You're a dictator.  You said, 'That chair is not to be moved anywhere but there' and you don't follow your own rules, so you're a dictator."

My son said this without malice or anger of any kind.  In sort of a matter of fact way - and the whole family erupted in laughter, including me!  And rather than argue about the appropriateness of such accusation publically - I let it pass.

But I haven't stopped thinking about it.  There is a running joke that I have heard and used before that might defend me.  Whenever I overrule the 'majority opinion' in my house, I simply tell them that I am not running a democracy, but a benevolent dictatorship!  :-)  But being told outright, “You’re a dictator" has a certain sting that smarts.  So I want to defend my leadership, whatever it is, Dictatorship, Democracy or stewardship.

 In considering the matter, one thought occurs, however I lead - will likely be the way they lead later on in adulthood.  Is a dictatorship necessarily bad?  I have to say that I think not.  But it must be carefully looked over.  Since we are people who are not perfect and quite apt to err, due to sin a dictatorship can get out of hand and no longer be benevolent.   So the Dictatorship has its place - as long as the dictator realizes he is not perfect.  He is not God. 

For example - when parenting the younger child, at times it makes sense to simply dictate the rule and apply it as necessary since children are not able to grasp the depth of a matter.  Later on the matter may be understood and therefore great care must be taken in enforcing rules.  It may even be the case that some rules be tossed out as only good for a child, who, now that he is an adolescent, no longer needs it.

So when raising children we do create arbitrary fences to teach them what those moral rules look like to the concrete mind.  (This in itself, is a somewhat dangerous practice, in that it may confuse them later in life as to works and faith) 

However when the concrete mind gives way to rational thought, so must some of the fences. (I say some of the fences, due to the weakness of our flesh.  Each of us knows our besetting sin and ought not to put ourselves in temptations way) 

What I am thinking of is Dictatorship with Stewardship.  Stewardship, in this context, is understood to be as the raising of our children to adulthood knowing that, at least to some degree, we will be held accountable for the result.  And to Whom do we steward the child?  God, of course!

I am ever so aware of the fact that in 8-10 years my own children will be moving out, marrying, getting jobs, going to college, and not necessarily in that order.  My influence in later years must be a strong as that of the earlier years - when it was relatively easier.  Fences are easier to rule by, since these are clear markers to discern whether a boundary has been crossed or not.  But ruling by a moral principle takes a great deal of time, love, care, discernment, and dependence upon God.

My friend, Do you know the heart of your child?  You absolutely must know it and have captured it in order to raise them in these later years.

So the end of the matter us that I believe I do need to obey my own rules and not be a dictator any longer.  But at the same time my family is in transition from fences to moral principles.  I as the head of household must be ready to examine old fences, to see if they should be taken down or moved.  Not an easy task, since I have 3 children - all in various stages of maturity.  But it is part of the job.

Oh - I did put the chair back at the desk and sat in the approved one!

Lord - Help us as we raise our children!

What is His purpose and ours?

¹⁷ Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ¹⁸ “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” (Matthew 20:17-19)

With so much commentary these days on what is God's purpose for your life I would like to propose that on occasion we won't know that purpose.  And sometimes we may never know.  Sometimes we may be forced for a season to move forward with the Lord, and not grasp His purpose in the matter.

Trust Him! Is He not the most trustworthy of men?!  We trust other men - yes with a bit more comprehension... Yet here is the Lord of the universe - Should we not trust Him, even if without all comprehension?!

Don't misunderstand me here.  Do not read this as a liberty not to read or study or seek understanding - But as an admonition to trust the all-trustworthy One, whose care for you has been established on the Cross (cf .1 Peter 5:5-7)

 

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.” (Matthew 20:28)

 

This verse directly addresses something I once pondered and was challenged by.  The 1st catechism question is, "What is the chief end of man?"  In my human wisdom I struggled with the answer, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."  As I was memorizing it I kept on changing the word 'enjoy' to 'serve' .

 

Yet here (verse 28 above) is a justification for the question - we are not primarily here to serve God.  We do, as a matter of course, but in the manifold wisdom of God all we ever do IS service to Him, whether grudging, or intentional.  He providentially moves us along as He wills.

 

But as we do what we do - primarily we are to enjoy Him.  This is a fundamental difference and we ought to think on it more. 

Trust Him!

Enjoy Him!

 

He is worthy!