• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

DONATE
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Bloggers
    • Commenting Policy
  • Reading Lists
  • Scholar’s Compass
    • Scholar’s Compass Booklet
    • View Recent Posts
  • Connect
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Donate
    • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Christian Thought and Practice / Entrusted . . .

Entrusted . . .

May 27, 2018 by Tom Grosh IV No Comments

For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” — Matthew 25:14

Mind. Power. Reality. Soul. Space. Time. With Andy Walsh’s Science in Review: Thor, Thanos and Theology and the commissioning of those entering the next stage of their life in the background, I offer a brief consideration of the Parable of the Three Servants, or, The Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Note: First post in a series exploring the Parables Jesus Told. [1] 

JESUS MAFA. Parable of the Three Servants, or, The Talents, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48297 [retrieved May 12, 2018]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).

What is the context for the Parable of the Three Servants, or, The Talents?

In Matthew 24 – 25, Jesus prepares his disciples for the future (short and long term). His final teaching in the Gospel of Matthew follows a strong critique of the hypocrisy of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (Matthew 23). The remainder of Matthew’s Gospel summarizes Jesus’ final hours, the resurrection, and the great commission.

What is the teaching the Parable of the Three Servants, or, The Talents?

As with the Parable of the Ten Virgins (before) and the Teaching of the Sheep and the Goats (after), Jesus calls his disciples to be ready. They have been entrusted with the Lord’s work, the very Kingdom of God. In contrast to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees of his day, Jesus’ disciples are to be faithful with the resources and responsibilities with which they have been entrusted. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, the love for bridegroom is expressed by a faithful, proper investment / preparedness. Does this involve a capitalistic perspective without a concern for “the least of these”? No, that is quite clear in the pointed Teaching of the Sheep and the Goats.

What is the application of the Parable of the Three Servants, or, The Talents, in our context?

Higher education is filled with the pursuit of mind, power, reality, soul, space, and time.[2] Although Jesus’ parable initially seems like a hard statement on the third servant, it appears that the third servant knew his supervisor reaped where he did not sow and gathered where he scattered no seed. We regularly experience this in higher ed. Imagine “burying” the resources given when one is a significant part of a long term project? How would one’s supervisor respond? How true that when one advances the work, one receives more responsibility / resources.

God yearns for faithful living. Today, let us once again resolve to embrace and embody the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40, also see the Parable of the Good Samaritan) entrusted to us by our God. May we by God’s grace evidence transformed, accountable, and faithful living. May we live with joyous expectation for the coming of our Lord Jesus. May we become more and more like Christ (individually and corporately as part of the Kingdom of God) where we have been called to serve each and every day.

To God be the glory!

Discussion Questions

  1. How do you care for that which which you have been entrusted?
  2. What resource(s) do you sense that you (and those whom you work with) have been called to steward (or entrusted with): mind, power, reality, soul, space, and time?
  3. How are you (and those whom you work with) tempted to abuse this resource (and others)?
  4. In what manner do you evidence the love of God and the love of neighbor in your daily living / work?
  5. How do you find it challenging to love God and love of neighbor in your daily living / work?
  6. To whom are you extending the Word of life in word, deed, and lifestyle (compassion, grace, gratitude), i.e., inviting to join the Kingdom of God?
  7. Do you rejoice in the Lord’s blessing / justice toward you and others? Are there ways in which the Lord’s blessing / justice makes one uncomfortable?

Notes

[1] An adaption of a recent adult elective I taught at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church. The title is taken from an excellent resource by David Allan Hubbard: Parables Jesus Told: Pictures of the Kingdom (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1981). As for the definition of a parable, I appreciate the work of Klyne R. Snodgrass. He writes in Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2008, 9), “In most cases then a parable is an expanded analogy used to convince and persuade.” I will give consideration to the definition of a parable in future posts.
[2] Maybe their collection is aptly tied together by ego. Yes, I am expecting to see this seventh infinity stone (and the one who comes with it) serving a significant / vital role in next year’s Avengers film.

About the author:

Tom Grosh IV
Website | Posts

Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!

    This author does not have any more posts.

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: Christian Thought and Practice Tagged With: parables, Parables Jesus Told, Parables Jesus Told Series

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member

Membership is Free. Sign up and receive our monthly newsletter and access ESN member benefits.

Join ESN Today

Scholar’s Compass Booklet

Scholar's Compass Booklet

Click here to get your copy

Top Posts

  • Christian Views of Creation
  • Writing a Christian Personal Statement
  • Faith and Doubt in Emily Dickinson’s “This World is not Conclusion”
  • A Prayer for Campus Ministries and Churches
  • A Prayer for Those Finishing a Semester

Facebook Posts

Facebook Posts

Footer

About Us

The Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) is a national network within InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries which supports those on the academic pathway as they work out how their academic vocation serves God and others. We encourage and equip undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and early career faculty as they navigate each stage of their academic vocation and transition to the next step in or beyond the academy.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Recent Posts

  • Beginning Well With the Four Loves
  • Faithful Presence: Three Tensions of Faithful Presence in the Midst of Pluralism: Affirmation and Antithesis
  • Faithful Presence: Faithful Presence in the Midst of Pluralism: Introduction

Article Categories

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us
Member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students
Copyright © 2022 - InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA ®. All rights reserved.

InterVarsity, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, and the InterVarsity logo are trademarks of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and its affiliated companies.