{"id":2090,"date":"2016-02-19T21:19:45","date_gmt":"2016-02-19T20:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/?p=2090"},"modified":"2018-08-23T15:08:21","modified_gmt":"2018-08-23T14:08:21","slug":"matthew-2514-30-parable-gabs-gold","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/matthew-2514-30-parable-gabs-gold\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 25:14-30 – The parable of the gabs of gold"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u2018parable of the bags of gold\u2019 is discussed in this study. \u2018The parable of the ten minas\u2019 from Luke 19:12-27 is also commented upon.\u00a0 (The full text)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The context in which Jesus tells the parable.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Prior to the parable of the bags of gold, Matthew<\/strong> opens chapter 25 with Jesus\u2019 parable about ten virgins who are waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom.
\nJesus clearly refers to His return in that parable.<\/p>\n

In the Gospel according to Luke<\/strong> the parable of the ten minas is followed by Jesus\u2019 entry into Jerusalem and His arrest.<\/p>\n

In both Gospels Jesus is taken prisoner and condemned shortly after these parables.
\nJesus\u2019 departure from this world and His return is referred to in both parables.<\/p>\n

A man \/ a man.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In Matthew 25:14<\/strong> Jesus talks about \u2018a man going on a journey\u2019<\/strong>.
\nIn Luke 19:12<\/strong> about \u2018A man of noble birth\u2019<\/strong> who goes to a distant country to have himself appointed king.<\/p>\n

Jesus<\/strong> is referring to Himself<\/strong> here.
\nHe is about to be crucified and, after His resurrection from the dead, to leave the world, in order to take His place in heaven at the right hand of the Father.<\/p>\n

The servants.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In both parables (Matthew 25:14 \/ Luke 19:13) the master calls the servants who are in his service to him.<\/p>\n

The servants symbolise the disciples<\/strong> of Jesus.
\nA disciple of Jesus has put his life under His authority, just like servants live under the authority of their master.
\nThe similarity between servants and disciples is discussed extensively in the studies \u2018Discipleship (1)\u2019<\/span><\/a> and \u2018Conversion and discipleship in the O.T.\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The property.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In Matthew 25:15<\/strong> Jesus compares the master\u2019s property with bags of gold<\/strong>.
\nIn Luke 19:13<\/strong> Jesus equates the master\u2019s property to minas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In both parables Jesus presents the master\u2019s property as a financial value<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The value of a bag of gold:<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe value of 1 bag of gold<\/strong> was the same as 6,000 drachmas<\/strong> (Greek currency), or denarii<\/strong> (Roman currency).
\nAn example of the denarius<\/strong> is to be found in Jesus\u2019 parable where a master is looking for workers for his vineyard.<\/p>\n

He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day<\/strong> and sent them into his vineyard.\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 20:2)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One denarius<\/strong> was a day labourer\u2019s wage therefore.
\nOne bag of gold<\/strong> is thus equal to the wage for 6,000 working days<\/strong>.
\nCalculated in terms of our time one bag of gold<\/strong> has the value of approximately 25 annual salaries<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The value of a mina:<\/strong><\/span>
\nIn the New Testament the mina<\/strong> (\u2018mna\u2019<\/strong> in Greek) only appears in this parable in Luke, so it is difficult to represent its value.
\nConsulting different works produces widely different values for the mina.
\nThis is not important with reference to the interpretation of the parable in Matthew 25 however.<\/p>\n

The property as a symbol.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Before his departure the master divides his property among his servants.
\nIf the master in the parable is Jesus and the servants are His disciples, what do the bags of gold and the minas represent?
\nWhat is \u2018the property\u2019 of Jesus that He entrusts to His disciples at His departure?<\/p>\n

Towards the end of His life on earth Jesus said:<\/p>\n

It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you<\/strong>.
\n(John 16:7)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The bags of gold and the minas are symbols of the Holy Spirit<\/strong> whom every disciple of Jesus receives in his heart, according to the promise:<\/p>\n

I will give you a new heart<\/strong> and put a new spirit<\/strong> in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit<\/strong> in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.\u00a0\u00a0 (Ezekiel 36:26-27)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, of whom Paul writes that He makes His dwelling in the heart of the disciple<\/span><\/a>, as a result of which the disciple fulfils the law, through the divine love<\/span><\/a>, for:<\/p>\n

God\u2019s love<\/strong> has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit<\/strong>, who has been given to us.\u00a0\u00a0 (Romans 5:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Holy Spirit and the love of God are inseparable, one from the other.<\/strong>
\nThe Holy Spirit, as the third Person of the Divine Trinity, IS<\/span> love, for God IS<\/span> love.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The master entrusts his property to his servants.<\/span><\/h3>\n

The master dares to entrust his property to his servants during his absence.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Jesus also left the Holy Spirit, the Advocate behind after His departure from this world. Jesus entrusts the Holy Spirit, who puts the divine love in their heart, to His disciples.
\nHe trusts that they will remain faithful to His teaching during His absence, and that they will voluntarily allow themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, who, as Jesus said:<\/p>\n

\u2026 will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.\u00a0\u00a0 (John 14:26)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What each servant receives.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Matthew 25:15<\/strong> says that the master entrusts a different amount<\/strong> to three servants<\/strong>.
\nEach servant receives an amount in accordance with his competence<\/strong>, his natural ability.
\nThe first servant receives 5 bags of gold<\/strong> (equivalent to 125 annual salaries), the second servant 2<\/strong> (equivalent to 50), and the third receives 1 bag<\/strong> (equivalent to 25 annual salaries).
\nLuke 19:13<\/strong> says that the master gives one mina to each servant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When compared, both parables show that the servants:<\/p>\n