Sermon Notes
The Talents
THE PARABLES OF JESUS – Part 7
October 11, 2026
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14-30
Lessons From the Talents
1. The Gifts
who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
Matthew 25:14b
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
Romans 12:6a
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:11
2. The Use of the Gifts
16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17
So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a
hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Matthew 25:16-18
3. The Consequences of Using and Not Using
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in
charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matthew 25:21 and 23
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more,
and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
Matthew 25:28-29
Small Group Discussion Questions for the Week of October 11, 2026.
Opening
1. Who was one of the most talented people you knew in school? What happened to that person?
Digging Deeper into the Scriptures
Read Matthew 25:14-30
1. How and why does the master entrust his money to these servants (vv. 14-15)?
2. A talent was not a personal ability but a rather large measure of money. Put yourself in the place of the first and
the third servants. What thoughts, beliefs, and feelings would you have experienced if you were entrusted with
their talents?
3. As you look at the statements of the three servants (vv. 20, 22, 24-25), what can you infer about their
relationships with their master?
How might their relationships have affected their actions in verses 16-18?
4. Compare the reactions of the master to the first and second servants (vv. 19-23). What matters to him, and
what does not matter?
5. How does the master’s treatment of the one-talent servant seem to you: Fair? Harsh? Lenient? Why?
Applying the Scriptures
1. How does our relationship with God affect our attitudes toward what we do?
2. If the Master returned today, what would he say about the way you have used what he gave you?
What kind of responsibility do you feel toward God regarding your talents?