1. How many talents have you got and how are you using them?
1.1. When you don't get what you want form God, do you...
1.1.1. immediately interpret it based on your own agenda?
1.1.2. screen out items that don’t match your personal desires?
1.1.3. take notes but file them away without applying them to your life?
1.2. The three talent guy.
2. These are servants or "christians" who are called "Wicked"
2.1. Least of these
2.2. Love me obey
2.3. but there is really a more basic complaint. He is condemned on the basis of his own words
2.3.1. He sees the master as a hard, unjust taskmaster.
2.3.2. He does not know him.
3. What Why?!
3.1. Is he lazy Does he have no sense of loyalty Is he insulted he was not trusted with more?
3.2. Luke 19:21 (NLT) 21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’
3.2.1. Who says the master was hard, took things that was not his, harvested crops that someone else planted.
3.2.1.1. He did not really know the master.
3.3. Luke 19:22 (NLT) 22 “ ‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant,
3.3.1. "If you Knew" The King uses his own standard to condemn him.
3.4. Luke 19:23 (NLT) 23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
3.4.1. Although he is associated with the master, he does not trust the master.
3.4.2. He is measuring the servant by the servant’s own standards, a measure he fails to live up to.
3.4.2.1. None of us really want to be judged by the standards with which we judge others.
3.4.2.1.1. Matthew 7:2 (NLT) 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
3.4.2.1.2. Matthew 7:3 (NLT) 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
3.4.2.1.3. We don't see faults in ourselves.
3.4.3. This guy is a disciple of sorts, but no relationship.
3.5. Luke 19:24 (NLT) 24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
3.6. Luke 19:25 (NLT) 25 “ ‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
3.6.1. The rest keep their money to administrate. Nothing is taken from them.
3.7. Luke 19:26 (NLT) 26 “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
3.8. Luke 19:27 (NLT) 27 And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’ ”
3.8.1. The End OF Days
3.8.2. 3 categories of people, Faithful, Unfaithful, Those that reject the true king.
4. The Talents
4.1. Luke 19:11 (NLT) 11 The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.
4.1.1. It was going to take awhile and would not be what they expect
4.1.2. Jesus informs his disciples that the kingdom will not come until his return.
4.1.3. He must explain what he expects of them in the interim.
4.1.4. Both Herod in 40 B.C. and Archelaus in 4 B.C. went to Rome to receive ruling authority from the emperor.
4.1.4.1. In the case of Archelaus, who was not popular, there was a public outcry not to grant him the position.
4.1.4.2. The People got their way.
4.1.4.2.1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiLHtHuEnig
4.1.4.2.2. Rome responded by giving him a less comprehensive mandate—an ethnarchy or governorship, not a kingship.
4.1.4.2.3. Jesus was using current events to make his point.
4.2. Luke 19:12 (NLT) 12 He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.
4.2.1. Called away... sooo talking about Himself
4.2.2. The Greek expression literally refers to his “receiving a kingdom”—a remark that pictures Jesus’ reception of the kingdom after the vindication of his resurrection and ascension.
4.3. Luke 19:13 (NLT) 13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’
4.3.1. or Minas or Talents equivalent to one hundred drachmas, about one hundred days of an average working wage
4.3.2. Matthew tells us they did not get the same amount.
4.3.2.1. Matthew 25:15 (NLT) 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
4.4. Luke 19:14 (NLT) 14 But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
4.4.1. People have been doing this since Jesus went back up to Heaven.
4.4.1.1. Acts 1:9–11 (NLT) 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
4.4.2. They even send a delegation to those making him king. It is a picture of Israel's rejection of Jesus.
5. The Results
5.1. Luke 19:15 (NLT) 15 “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.
5.2. Luke 19:16 (NLT) 16 The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’
5.3. Luke 19:17 (NLT) 17 “ ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’
5.4. Luke 19:18 (NLT) 18 “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’
5.5. Luke 19:19 (NLT) 19 “ ‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’
5.6. Luke 19:20 (NLT) 20 “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.
5.6.1. The third servant has no sense of loyalty to his master.