The Parable of the Talents and Eternal Security (Individual Messages)

Matthew 25:14–30 (LEB) 

14For it is like a man going on a journey. He summoned his own slaves and handed over his property to them. 

15And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went on a journey immediately. 

16The one who had received the five talents went out and traded with them and gained five more. 

17In the same way the one who had the two gained two more. 

18But the one who had received the one went away and dug up the ground and hid his master’s money. 

19Now after a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 

20And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents. See, I have gained five more talents!’ 

21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ 

22And the one who had the two talents also came up and said, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents. See, I have gained two talents more!’ 

23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ 

24And the one who had received the one talent came up also and said, ‘Master, because I knew you, that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter seed. 

25And because I was afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours!’ 

26 But his master answered and said to him, ‘Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter seed. 

27Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and when I returned I would have gotten back what was mine with interest! 

28Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 

29For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 

30And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness—in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 

 

You probably heard that the parable of the talents is about doing good works, or using your God-given gifts and callings, and as a result, receiving rewards or judgment, to the extent of even losing your salvation. Indeed, if we read this story in isolation, there are a few apparent reasons why we might adopt this view. First, the three people who received the talents from the man going on a journey were all servants or slaves of the man, which could imply that they were already in the kingdom, saved, and born again. The throwing away of the third servant into the outer darkness from verse 30 as a result of his not using and multiplying what the master has given him can mean loss of eternal salvation. Second, the master gave each servant a different number of talents, expecting them to put it to work, steward it well, and multiply it. This can easily prompt us to think about the gifts, skills, and callings that God has given to each believer, which can be taken away if they are not used properly.

 

Question: Is the third servant a genuine believer from the start, who didn’t do enough good works and lost his salvation as a result? Let’s suppose that this is the case and read Romans 4:4-5,

Romans 4:4-5 (LEB)

4   Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited according to grace, but according to his due. 

5   But to the one who does not work, but who believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness,

As you can see, we have a problem elevating the ‘parable of talents’ as ‘works’ in light of what Paul taught in these verses: we have a salvation by works and not by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice alone. And what about what Jesus said in John 6:28-29 regarding works? In these verses, Jesus was asked about the kind of works we need to do to please God. I want you to notice that Jesus tells them what pleases God. It wasn’t works (plural), but only one work, and that work was to BELIEVE:

John 6:28-29 (LEB)

28 So they said to him, “What shall we do that we can accomplish the works of God?” 

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one whom that one sent.”

Even Jesus refused to elevate works. Yes, we ARE made for good works. It’s who we are. However, the notion that our salvation depends on them and is a reward is not biblical.

 

Now, let’s assume that the servant is a born-again believer who didn’t use his gifts as much as he should, and he didn’t fulfill his God-given calling on this earth. Does that