Definition: a talent was a bar of silver that had the purchasing power of more than $1000. In the first century, that was an enormous amount of money.

1. Why did the man entrust his money to his slaves (verse 14)?

2. What determined the amount that he entrusted to each slave (verse 15)?

3. What did the slaves who received the five and the two talents do (verses 16, 17)?

4. What did the slave who received the one talent do (verse 18)?

5. What did the master do when he returned (verse 19):\?

6. What had the slaves with the five and the two talents accomplished (verses 22-22)?

7. What did the master say to each of them (verses 21-23)?

8. Regarding the slave who received one talent:
   1. What was his personal opinion of the master (verse 24)?

   2. How did that opinion affect him (verse 25)?

   3. What did that opinion cause him to do?

9. Did the master lose anything?

10. What did the master say to this slave (verses 26,27)?

11. What did the master do (verses 28-30)? Why (verse 29)?

Things to note about God's kingdom:

1. In the kingdom, God is the master and we are the slaves.

2. God's expectations for the individual are determined by the person's ability.

3. God provides each of us opportunity on the basis of our ability.

4. God expects us to put our blessings to work for His benefit.
   1. The kingdom is His.

   2. We are His.

   3. Our blessings are His gifts to us.

   4. Our abilities and blessings are to be used to benefit His purposes in the kingdom.

5. Our willingness to use our blessings and abilities to benefit His purposes is the difference between spiritual success and failure.

6. Regardless of results, those who make conscious use of their abilities to bless God's purposes are equally rewarded.

7. When God blesses us, even if He loses nothing, we are wicked if:
   1. Fearfulness motivates us to be inactive.

   2. We have an unjust, incorrect view of God's nature.

   3. We do nothing.

8. The wickedness of fearfulness and inactivity will be severely punished.

9. God generously gives opportunity to those who use it.

10. God takes opportunity away from those who do not use it.

David Chadwell

Jesus' Kingdom Parables Study Guide (part 12)
Wednesday evening Bible class, 10 June - 18 November 1998
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1998
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

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