Difference between revisions of "Sermon for September 27th, 2020"

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==Jesus and His Pair of Bowls: The Talents==
 
==Jesus and His Pair of Bowls: The Talents==
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This month we're looking at some of the parables of Jesus, or as I like to call them, Jesus' pair of bowls--a story in one bowl, and a deeper, spiritual meaning in the other bowl. 
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I'm reminded of the story about a man who walked into a bar and saw two lobsters, seated at the bar.  Each lobster had in front of him a bowl of french fries, and the man (who was hungry) asked if he could have some fries.  The bartender stopped him and said, "Don't bother, those lobsters won't share anything from their bowls."
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"Why not?" said the man.  "Because," said the bartender... "They're two shellfish."
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Like many of the parables we've already considered, todays "Parable of the Talents" is really about generosity and selfishness.  Let's dive into the parable.
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In verse 24, Jesus says "For it is as if..." and you might be asking yourself, "what is the "it" he's talking about?  This parable comes in a rapid sequence of parables, and the one right before this one begins "For the kingdom of heaven is like..." Then in the the subsequent parables (like ours today) he simply begins by saying "it is like" -- meaning the Kingdom of Heaven.  Two weeks ago, we saw that when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of Heaven, he's not talking about the place you go after you die.  He's talking about this life, on this earth, and how we can live that life in a way that better reflects God's values and God's principles.  Right now. Today.
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So what does that look like?
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*"It is like" - what is "it"?  The kingdom of heaven.
 
*"It is like" - what is "it"?  The kingdom of heaven.
*A Note on slavery
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*A Note on slavery. Jesus also said that the servant/slave would be greatest.
 
*Meaning of Parable: to throw alongside, or next to (things are not what they are)
 
*Meaning of Parable: to throw alongside, or next to (things are not what they are)
 
*Value of a talent (15 years of day labor)
 
*Value of a talent (15 years of day labor)
 
*Talents represent people--the most valuable resource to God.
 
*Talents represent people--the most valuable resource to God.

Revision as of 15:51, 26 September 2020

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Jesus and His Pair of Bowls: The Talents

This month we're looking at some of the parables of Jesus, or as I like to call them, Jesus' pair of bowls--a story in one bowl, and a deeper, spiritual meaning in the other bowl.

I'm reminded of the story about a man who walked into a bar and saw two lobsters, seated at the bar. Each lobster had in front of him a bowl of french fries, and the man (who was hungry) asked if he could have some fries. The bartender stopped him and said, "Don't bother, those lobsters won't share anything from their bowls."

"Why not?" said the man. "Because," said the bartender... "They're two shellfish."

Like many of the parables we've already considered, todays "Parable of the Talents" is really about generosity and selfishness. Let's dive into the parable.

In verse 24, Jesus says "For it is as if..." and you might be asking yourself, "what is the "it" he's talking about? This parable comes in a rapid sequence of parables, and the one right before this one begins "For the kingdom of heaven is like..." Then in the the subsequent parables (like ours today) he simply begins by saying "it is like" -- meaning the Kingdom of Heaven. Two weeks ago, we saw that when Jesus talks about the Kingdom of Heaven, he's not talking about the place you go after you die. He's talking about this life, on this earth, and how we can live that life in a way that better reflects God's values and God's principles. Right now. Today.

So what does that look like?


  • "It is like" - what is "it"? The kingdom of heaven.
  • A Note on slavery. Jesus also said that the servant/slave would be greatest.
  • Meaning of Parable: to throw alongside, or next to (things are not what they are)
  • Value of a talent (15 years of day labor)
  • Talents represent people--the most valuable resource to God.