Well done. You did good!
Many Christians are familiar with the phrase. “Well done good and faithful servant.”
We find that phrase in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. In this article, we’ll take a look at the parable and explore the importance of the famous phrase. And since this site primarily considers Bible prophecy, you can be sure there are important prophetic implications in the parable. Every man, woman, and child will face a future beyond the grave. The Bible predicts that. All of us will face the Creator and give an account of our lives. In this parable, we learn important principles we should apply to our lives so that we can hear those words when we stand before the Almighty.
For the kingdom of heaven is like.
As we get into another parable, we should keep in mind that Jesus has one focus as he tells the heavenly stories. He repeats a familiar phrase. He said again, “The kingdom of heaven is as.” In doing so, he gave us some positive and negative advice. It is positive for those of us who are looking forward to the kingdom of heaven. And it is negative for those who are hoping to avoid the kingdom of heaven.
It is the best of news and the worst of news.
In the parable that preceded this one, that of the ten virgins, he gave us advice and warning about our spiritual preparations. And now in this parable, we get advice about practical-living principles we can apply to our lives. We can and should look forward with glad anticipation to the Kingdom of Heaven. If we apply the principles of these parables of chapter twenty-five we can rest peacefully with the thought that our eternal future is in good standing with God.
Well done, faithful servant
The words, “Well done faithful servant,” are often heard during funeral services. They represent the desired finishing touch to one’s life for those who face death. All of us are woefully inadequate in a number of ways. We all have our shortcomings. There are no Christians who serve the Lord with all of their hearts. We get lazy, lose passion, get buried in guilt, or question our gifts or purposes. There are a number of reasons why we don’t always give our best to God. But our best is always required. It’s the standard that God has set for all of us.
So put your name in the blank and imagine yourself before God. ” _ _ _ _ _ well done good and faithful servant.”
We all should strive to hear those words when we enter into God’s Kingdom. But some of us live carnal lives. Some Christians live too close to the fires of hell and don’t push themselves in the fight against unrighteousness. And in the case of this parable, we all have gifts and talents. But too many of us don’t use them for the Lord. We will give an account of how we used our gifts for the Lord. Or how we didn’t.
And as a reminder, this is a continuation of the Olivet Discourse series.
The parable of the ten virgins.
In this parable, I’ll avoid giving too much commentary. The words are clear on their own. There are four individuals highlighted in the parable. First, there is a man who goes on a long journey. And then there are the three servants who are given tasks to accomplish while he is away.
Matthew 25:14 Jesus departed for a long time away
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.”
The man who goes on a long journey represents Jesus. The Lord went away and will return to earth approximately two thousand years after his crucifixion.
There’s an intriguing verse in Hosea that points to that timing issue.
Hosea 6:1-3
1“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. 2After two days he will revive us; on the third day, he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. 3Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
We shouldn’t be dogmatic about this. But Peter reminds us that one-thousand years are as one day to the Lord. So, the Hosea prophecy indicates that the Lord will return in two days or two thousand years after he left.
The man in the parable gave up his own possessions. And he gives gifts to all of us. We are to use those gifts for his kingdom. Too often, we use them for ourselves. Does Instagram ring a bell? Or most social media sites for that matter.
Matthew 25:15 But first, the talents
“And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability, and straightway took his journey.”
The word “talents” is an indication of a large amount of money. The exact amount is not important. We should just take for granted that it’s significant. And, it was the man’s possessions and he gave it to his servants to do something with. These servants were essentially employees. So don’t get hung up on the “slave” idea.
The man knew what each employee was capable of accomplishing. All of us come with a unique set of skills and gifts. We choose whether or not we will use them.
Ephesians 4:7
“But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
The Lord gives as he determines. It then becomes our responsibility to get things done for His glory.
Matthew 25:16 One received five talents.
“Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.”
One of the three men was given a huge sum of money. He doubled the boss’s belongings. We already know that a “Well done.” was well earned.
Matthew 25:17 Another received two talents.
“And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.”
Then the next employee was given two and he also doubled his boss’s money. This also will earn the prize of, “Well done.”
Matthew 25:18 And another received one
“But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.”
And now we come to the fourth person in our story. He was only given one. But one talent was equal to a large sum of money. But proportionately, he was given less than the others. We know why he was given less. The boss gave them money according to their abilities. We learned that in verse fifteen.
So, the man received according to what he could produce. But instead of producing, he dug a hole and buried it.
Matthew 25:19 The master returned
“After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.”
Then the time of reckoning came, and the man returned. The same applies to humanity. Eventually, the Lord will return. He will ask us what we have accomplished with what we were given.
Of course, He already knows the answer.
Matthew 25:20 The five talents became ten. Well Done.
“And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.”
The one who had five and doubled it was happy to give a great financial report.
Matthew 25:21 Well done good and faithful servant
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
And thus, he received the first part of his reward. “Well done.” From there, the blessings were to expand. For us, when we step into eternal glory, the blessings only get better after the first day.
Matthew 25:22 The two talents became four. Well Done.
“He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.”
The second man who received two talents gave an equally impressive financial report.
Matthew 25:23 Well done good and faithful servant
“His lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
And the hard work was rewarded. He served and produced according to his ability. There were equal praise and reward for the first two men.
Matthew 25:24 The one talent was buried. Not Well Done.
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed.”
We see from the third man’s response that there was some bitterness for some reason. It could have stemmed from jealousy as to how much the other men were given. It could have been directed at the master. The second point is more likely, but there probably was a bit of truth to both.
This scenario is something we often see in today’s work environment. Some people work hard and get praise and notice from their employers. Other employees don’t work as hard. The boss notices that and raises and promotions are rare. This leads to bitterness on the part of the employee who failed to produce.
And whose fault is that? We know the answer.
This parable reveals an obvious aspect of human nature. We see it around us every day. And we know who we are in this story, don’t we?
Matthew 25:25 But I was afraid
“And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.”
He made an excuse for not trying hard. “It’s your fault.” How often do we hear those words? Too many times. It’s not a new thing. People have always loved putting the blame on others.
Adam blamed God for giving him a bad wife.
Eve blamed Satan for his smooth-talking lies.
Satan wasn’t given a choice to lay blame, but that’s where the blame game began.
The third man dared his boss to find fault with his actions. And some people will try the same tactic when they face the Lord. It won’t work.
Matthew 25:26 One servant was wicked
“His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed.”
We saw in verse fifteen that the man of the house knew his servants well. But he still gave his lazy employee a chance to prove himself. And he even used the man’s excuse as a way to prove his utter failure. “Okay, if I am such a bad guy, you could have at least done something.”
But he didn’t.
Matthew 25:27 You should have tried
“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury.”
If the man had just given the money to “money changers” the result would have been more positive. A “money changer” was like a banker today. That little effort would have gotten praise from the boss. But it didn’t happen. And the responsibility lay at the feet of the servant who buried the gift he received.
Matthew 25:28 The one talent is taken away
“Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.”
Now the man was going to lose what he was given. At this point in his service, he was still working for the man. And he still had responsibilities, which the bitter man assumed would remain the same. But that was a faulty assumption.
The same is true amongst all humanity. There are a lot of people who hold bitter grudges against God. They claim unanswered prayers, lost loved ones, or a poor lot in life is all God’s fault. But none of those excuses will serve any better than the wicked servant’s excuses.
We’re better off taking what the Lord gives us and making the most of it. Then we will receive the first blessing from God, when he says to us, “Well done.”
Matthew 25:29 Learn the lesson of the talents
“For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him, that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”
Those who produce, even a little, will receive more. But those who are lazy or selfish will lose what they have. This parable is just a story that teaches a heavenly lesson. But we all live lives of consequence. If we harbor bitterness toward God or others, that keeps us unproductive for the Lord.
The warning is clear and ominous, especially as we see the next verse.
Matthew 25:30 The servant goes to darkness
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
No comment is needed regarding the end state of the lazy servant, so I’ll let the words sit as they are.
A young man is given a great task that is beyond his abilities.
His slow response leads to a good friend dying on his front porch.
Get the book here.
White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I’ve served as a children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It’s been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to follow Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He’s a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both of them on a spiritual journey. They find they can’t escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth that might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We’re all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they won’t go to church, maybe they’ll read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them.
Praying for the youth, and spiritual awakening.
Let me know what you think.