RE: Bible Study: DECIPHERING THE PARABLE OF THE TEN MINAS
Thank you for the write up at length. I think it would be wise to consider that this parable is a segue into another illustration which does bear the fire you noted as absent. I believe the juxtapositioning does give some credence to the idea that the former example is referring to the second death and not a mere forfeiture of heavenly rewards.
I think the unfaithful servant is indeed a worker of iniquity, a non gospel believer. He did not preach the good news and bring increase because he did not believe for starters. Instead, he chose to bury the notion of salvation by pure grace for such a salvation renders ALL the glory to God"
Matthew 25:24 KJVS
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Indeed. A man reap what he sows.
Galatians 6:7-8 KJVS
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Yeah, man plants the seed but it is God alone who provides the increase.
I urge you to review the entirety of the passage but I will include a significant portion.
Matthew 13:3-8,10-16 KJVS
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; [4] And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [5] Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: [6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. [7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: [8] But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. [10] And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? [11] He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. [12] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. [13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. [14] And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: [15] For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. [16] But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
In conclusion, I believe the passage you noted absolutely has to do with the second death but you have to look at it from a different perspective. When your eyes have been made keen to it, the gospel of grace is laden throughout the whole Scripture and the talents are providing a gospel illustration.
Thanks for the long comment but you're not really addressing my points. In other words, you don't really have anything new for me that would cause me to change my mind about my theology or interpretation of the Bible. On the contrary, you seem to be suggesting now that justification before God as far as eternal life is concerened, is not by grace alone through faith alone apart from works which can easily be demonstrated by verses like Romans 4:5, Romans 3:28, Galatians 5:13 and many more... whereas my theology not only does not ontradict these verses, but also affirms them and makes much better sense from this parable and many other similar parables such as the one I expanded on in my previous article.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. @msg768
We are certainly in agreement concerning salvation not being by works. For this, I am indeed thankful and glad we are able to bring discussions of theology onto this platform. Of course, there are times we may disagree on certain issues and that's ok. May truth come to light in all things.
I think the issue is whether this parable is about works or not. You rightly address the legalists that would use such a passage to defend a salvation conditioned on works. They are wrong. Dead wrong.
As I understand it, this passage seems to have indications about belief or unbelief in the gospel. One believes in the glorious truth of sinners being redeemed by the finished work on the cross and they will most assuredly desire to share it knowing that this good news will liberate others from the yoke of bondage that is the law. The growth of the Kingdom is the gain of the faithful servants.
I believe you're backloading the simplicity of the gospel. Eternal life is by grace alone through faith alone apart from works as clearly shown in both this parable and the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Our works and performance determine our heavenly rewards which is why Jesus said those who disobey the least of the commandments, will be the least in the kingdom of heaven! Jesus clearly taught that there will be people who disobey his commands and will even teach others to disobey his commands but will still be in heaven... even though they will be the least in heaven...
Hi @msg768, glad to see that you referenced the parable of the vineyard in your response. That passage seems to stand in opposition to any notion of degrees of reward in heaven. The workers all receive the same reward as do believers. The everlasting life obtained by the Christ. I don't see varying levels of reward in heaven in the Scriptures. If there is any hint of a reward or benefit, I believe such is distributed on this side of eternity.
For instance, when you think about the workers in the talent parable in evangelical terms. Being given charge of the cities could very well be a shepherd of those who had been converted through his preaching the gospel. This seems like a perfectly reasonable interpretation in terms of temporal reward which better synthesizes with the principles in the vineyard analogy.
Furthermore, if we ask ourself if we break the least of the commandments, the only truthful answer is yes. This is affirmed in the epistle of James.
So, in truth, even if we think we keep the greater points of the law and transgressions even in though for one of the least, we are guilty of all the penalty thereof being death. Praise God that He payed for those sins for those given to Him. From the greatest to least. Past. Present and Future.
There is nothing that can separate for those He died. There is no longer condemnation in Christ Jesus. This testimony is enough. We can really rest in our Sabbath and act according to love not for mercenary rewards. The motive may look similar in the outside but I assure you God knows the difference.
The rewards are distributed equally in that parable yet they are distributed differently in this parable because they are not the same reward! Eternal life is free and given to everyone who believes but your status in the kingdom of heaven depends on your works. That's the only way to make sense of the whole Bible... As far as I'm concerened, any other theology fails to explain everything the Bible says...