The Parables of Christ no. 25
Ten
Talents
Rev. Brian Kocourek
Now, this Morning
we will continue in our study of the parables, and we will study the parable
found in.
MATTHEW 25:14 ¶
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.
Now the first
thing we need to understand is why Jesus used the words “a far country”?
There are
six times in the New testament that Jesus used the phrase “a far country”, and
all six had to do with the parables concerning the
Now, I can
say this because we find the same parable is given to us in the Book of Luke
where in Chapter 19 we read, Luke 19:11 ¶ And as they heard these things, he added and
spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought
that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A
certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and
to return.
Therefore
I want you to notice that Jesus is telling this parable because the disciples
were not in tune with what was happening and what was going to happen. And He was trying to tell them that He would
be off the scene for a while. In fact we later hear him say, I go to prepare a
place for you, but where I go you can not come now. And here we find this certain nobleman
went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Now the
second thing I want for you to understand is that in the story as given to us
by Luke we see that this man is a Nobleman meaning he is a lord. And Since he
tells us Jesus told this story because they thought that the
Now, this
bring us to the next thought which is the number of men in this story. In the
Book of Matthew we are told, He called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods,
but we are not told how many men are involved. By casual reading you
might think there are three men involved but the story as told in the Book of
Luke tells us there are ten men involved. And there is your number ten again.
And ten represents what? A completion of a cycle, right? We have had ten
virgins representing the end of the church and ten pieces of silver
representing the end of redemption and the refining of the Holy Ghost in the
church. And now we are looking at this number ten again and its meaning of an
end of a cycle. And this time it speaks of these men.
Luke 19::13 And he called his ten servants,
and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Notice
that these men were given a stewardship over something of value. These were men
that were given the talents or 10 pounds of silver, and they were not women in
this story. Last week we saw how the church had received her ten pieces of
silver and this week we see how the men which represents not church but the
ministry. Therefore, this does not speak of the church. These are men and thus
this speaks of the ministry. The ten represents the end of the cycle of the
ministry or God who have been given a stewardship, and
the three distinct men pointed out show us the three types of ministers, which
we know that there are three types of believers among the church and therefore
there are three types of believers among the ministry as well.
Now, not
everyone might agree with that, but that is Bible is clear that a woman always represents
the church, and since this does not speak of women it does not speak of the
church. It speaks of men, as stewards of something the Lord has given them
charge over.
I CORINTHIANS 4:1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I PETER 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability
which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Now, notice
that it does not speak of the steward of the mysteries in reference to a woman.
She a woman represents the church as we have shown you several times over the
last few parables.
Therefore
we see in I TIMOTHY
344-1 LAODICEAN CHURCH
AGE -
CHURCH AGE BOOK CPT 9 Now
I know you ladies don't like this kind of preaching, but sister, you are dead
wrong in what you are doing. The Bible forbids you to cut your hair. God gave
it for a covering. He gave a command for you to wear it long. It is your glory.
When you cut your hair you signified that you left the headship of your
husband. Like Eve you walked out and went on your own. You got the vote. You
took men's jobs. You left off being females. You ought to repent and come back
to God. And if all this wasn't bad enough, a whole lot of you took the idea
that you could invade the pulpits and the church offices that God reserved for
men and for men only. Oh, I touched a sore spot then didn't I? Well, show me
one place in the Bible that God ever ordained any woman to preach or take
authority over a man, and I will apologize for what I have said. You can't find
that I am wrong. I am right, for I stand with the Word and in the Word. If you
were Spiritually rich you would know that is true.
There is nothing true but the Word. Paul said, "I suffer not a woman to
teach nor to usurp authority over the man." You
can't possibly take a place amongst the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4 and
not take authority over men. Sister, you had better listen to that Word. It was
not the Spirit of God manifesting in a Spirit-filled life that told you to
preach because the Spirit and the Word are ONE. They say the same thing.
Somebody made a mistake. Somebody was fooled. Wake up before it is too late.
Satan fooled Eve, your mother; he is fooling the daughters now. May God help you.
Now, let’s
review just exactly what it is that these men are given to be stewards over. 15
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.
Notice those
words that Jesus says, to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway
took his journey. These are the same words the Apostle Peter used in
1 Peter
Now, there
are ten men representing the end of the ministry, at the time of the Kingdom of
God being established in the earth, and since he breaks down these ten into three
types, given three amounts, we can associate these there kinds of ministers to
the three kinds of believers in the church.
So we see
here that the Lord gives to these men something of value. The first one he
gives five talents. In the parable found in Luke it is called pounds. Either
way it is something of value and is to be invested.
Notice in Matthew 25: 15 one is given five talents. Now we
know that five is the number of Grace. And we know that Grace means favor, but
we must understand what kind of Favor, because there are five types of favor. 1) Favor shown
to the miserable we call mercy, and 2) Favor shown to the poor we call pity,
and 3) Favor shown to the suffering we call compassion, 4)
Favor shown to the obstinate we call patience, but 5) Favor that
is shown to the unworthy we call Grace.
And we
know that Abraham was the Father of the Grace covenant with God, and it is no
surprise then that when God changed his name from Abram to Abraham, that the
fifth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet the letter(hey)
which is the symbol for the number 5, was inserted as the fifth letter in his
name, changing it from 1A 2B
3R 4A 5M. to 1A.2B.3R.4A.5H
6A7M
Matthew 25:16: Then he that had received the five
talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Notice in
this parable we have the five talents becoming ten which is the end of the
cycle of Grace. And Notice the five plus five is Grace plus Grace, or can we
say Grace Grace unto it. Notice Grace
witnessed by Grace, therefore He was given a ministry of Grace. And that
ministry was confirmed by Grace.
ZECHARIAH 4:6 Then
he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the
word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my
spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 7 Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall
bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto
it.
Notice
then that the ministry that goes from five and adds five is Grace adding Grace
or Grace Grace unto it. That is a ministry that is the capstone ministry.
SPOKEN WORD ORIGINAL SEED
62-0318E 108-1 God is taking the elect out of that Pentecostal church (that hybrid),
pulling it out, and finishing up the Word. (and I would like to add that he
is talking about the finishing up of it, which is the ending of a cycle, and
then he says, Grace Grace unto it. 5 and add five gives you ten and the ending
up of the Word. ) And it's got to be so close until the Word Itself will blend with this
Word. There comes the Headstone, crying, "Grace, grace, amazing grace.
MESSAGE OF GRACE 61-0827 56
But now, according to the prophecy, there will come the Headstone. And I
want you to notice that when the Headstone comes, the prince that's going to
cry out the message will cry out, "Grace, grace."
Look, we
find in the Book of Peter where we are told that Grace and Peace are multiple
to us through the knowledge of God. II PETER 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord, Therefore then there must be a Word ministry that
produces grace in the hearts or understanding for the believer. Because Grace
is multiplied unto us by the knowledge of God and which is a conjunction, and
the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. And in 1 Peter 1 we are told that there
is to come to us a ministry of Grace at the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
I PETER
Notice
Paul tells us in I CORINTHIANS 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace
of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are
enriched (that means like fertilizer,
we enrich the soil to produce a finished harvest from just a seed.) That in every thing
ye are enriched by him,(notice it is He that is doing it.
He said in the Book of Acts, ACTS
Now in
getting back to 1 corinthians 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed
in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; (the word gift in the
Greek is the word charisma and it means endowment. In other words when we speak
of a child being gifted, it does not mean they are athletic, but they are
mentally endowed to be able to understand what others among their peers just
don’t seem to be able to understand. Thus this grace is to endow us to be able
to understand the unveiling of Christ.) Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed (that
means the testimony of witness of Christ was established in you) in you: 7 So that
ye come behind in no gift (no lack of understanding); waiting for the coming (the apokolupsis or
unveiling or revealing) of our Lord Jesus Christ(that is exactly what
Peter told us would come. He said this grace would get us ready for the unveiling
of Christ. And he told us to gird up the loins of our mind, which means to get
ready to move out because it will come fast and furious just like a race. As it
says, in 2 corinthians 3:18 it will come from image to image and from glory to
glory (doxa to doxa, opinion to opinion, judgment to judgment, assessment to
assessment) 8 Who
shall also confirm (that means to establish you, for he which began
the good work in you will perform it. And He is here to do it. He that gave the
word is here to confirm it, PRESENCE OF GOD UNRECOGNIZED 64-0618 1 Working for this one purpose, for you to
recognize the Presence of Jesus Christ. See? If He is present, then, why,
everything is settled. He made the Word. He is here to confirm It. He proves that He'll confirm It. "He is just the
same yesterday, today, and forever.") And so we see that He
Himself has come in this hour to confirm His own Word to us, and to confirm ) you unto the end, that ye
may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom
ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be
no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and in the same judgment.
MESSAGE OF GRACE 61-0827 65
It takes the simplicity of believing God to make His Word speak out to
show that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Takes a
humble heart dedicated to God, bring Jesus Christ unto present tense. Amen.
If it taken theology, what would the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist,
Catholic, and so forth, we wouldn't have a chance us poor unlearned people. But
it doesn't take knowledge. "Not by power or by might, but by My
Spirit," saith God, "I'll unfold this mystery." And he'll cry to
it, "Grace, grace, with shoutings and cryings." That's what it is
today: God's amazing grace to His people. How He takes the illiterate, the
unlearned, shows that Jesus is the same.
GOD'S ONLY PROVIDED PLACE
OF WORSHIP 65-1128M
262 But now we come to the head, the capstone. "Grace. Grace." the
capstone cried. The
headstone crying what?
"Grace. Grace."
Passed from death and creed into a living Word of the
living God. God's only provided plan for His age, His sons in the
Word age quickened by the Spirit like a spark that's lit off of something to
make it alive; and seated now in heavenly places in present tense, already
alive and subject to every promise in the Word. Then what does that do? You
being a part of God's gene, a part of the Word, other men a part of God's Word,
seated together, manifest the entire Body of Christ, because there's no
leaven among you. (See what He's talking about, Brother Brown?) No leaven
among you, just the Word only, seated in heavenly places in the door where He
put His Name: Christ Jesus. (And I would like to add, remember
the parable of the leaven, that is false doctrine, and here he says there is no
leaven or false doctrine among this group that has the Grace Grace headstone,
capstone ministry. ) 264 No leaven
among you, that brings the entire Fulness of the Godhead bodily among you.
Couldn't do it in Luther's age, couldn't do it in Wesley's age, couldn't do it
in the Pentecostal age; but in the day when the Son of man will be manifested,
revealed, brought back the church together with the entire Deity of God amongst
His people, showing the same visible signs, manifesting Himself like He did
at the beginning when He was manifested on earth in a form of a Prophet God
(Oh, Glory.) promised by Malachi 4, promised by the rest of the Scriptures.
Where you worship at? The house of God, seated, in present tense.
Next let us notice that the second
man was given two talents or pounds of silver. We know that one excludes all
difference, and denotes that which is sovereign. But Two affirms that there is
a difference, and that there is another; while ONE affirms that there is not
another.
That is why brother Branham said the
only difference between the father and the son is that the son had a beginning.
Now, there may only be one difference, but there is a difference, because we
are dealing with two, God and His Son.
And brother Branham called him a dual being which dual means two.
Now the number two shows there to be
a difference and this can be for
good or for evil. We see two in the Bible doctrine of Twins, one is good and the other is evil. A thing may differ from
evil, and be good; or it may differ from good, and be evil. Hence, the number
Two takes a two-fold coloring, according
to the context. And that is important that you remember that, according to the
context it appears.
It is the first number by which we
can divide another, and therefore in
all its uses we may trace this
fundamental idea of division or difference. Remember when Jesus sent forth the
disciples they split up and went two by two, and these were all good, except of
course wee had one group out of the six that had a mixed fruit, because one
group had Judas in it. also the animals were saved in the ark coming in two by
two. So it all depends on the context and the fruit it bears.
The two may be, though different in
character, yet one as to testimony and friendship. Fellowship being two fellows
in one ship, provided they have one purpose and one mind. AMOS 3:3 Can two
walk together, except they be agreed?
I CORINTHIANS 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
MATTHEW 18:19 Again I say unto you,
That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered
together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
So we see that unless the mind of
the two is the same mind, with the same purpose the number two will more times
than not show a disunity or a difference, or division.
Where man is concerned, the number two
testifies of his fall, for it more often denotes differences which implies
opposites, enmity, and oppression. LUKE
In the Book of Genesis we are told that when the earth lay in the chaos
which had overwhelmed it we find in the
first chapter and verse 2 the condition of the world was universal ruin and
darkness. GENESIS
1:2 And
the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the
deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
The second thing recorded in
connection with the Creation was the introduction of a second thing—Light; and
immediately there was difference and division, for God DIVIDED the light from
the darkness.
And the Second day had division as
well, for in Genesis
1:6. Let
there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it DIVIDED the waters
from the waters.” Here we have Division connected with the second day.
So we see
that the number two shows differences, and division.
17 And likewise he that [had
received] two, he also gained other two. Now, this is important
because the two plus two becomes four which is the number of the world. And
although these men could have gone either way with their ministry they end up
producing the world and the cares of the world through their ministry. They
double unto her double as does God to the harlot
REVELATION 18:5 For her sins have reached
unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6 Reward her even as she
rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup
which she hath filled fill to her double. 7 How much she hath glorified
herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she
saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
herefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine;
and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who
judgeth her.
Now the number four is made up of
three and one (3 + 1 = 4), and it denotes, therefore, and marks that Which
follows after the perfection of God, by adding to it, thus we find man’s ideas
and man’s way, and we are warned in the Book of Revelation that he that adds to
the Word will have the plagues added to Him. That’s tribulation. Hence the
written revelation commences with the words, In the beginning God, which there
is only one thing perfect and that is God, and the very next thing mentioned is
Creation. Thus in the Beginning, God Created and therefore the next thing
mentioned after the perfection is the creation. Therefore, the number four
always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation; of
man in his relation to the world as created; which is the number of man in his
opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a
beginning of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is
the number of material completeness, Hence t is the world number, and
especially the “city” number. The fourth day saw the material creation finished
(for on the ‘fifth and sixth days it was only the furnishing and peopling of
the earth with living creatures).
The sun, moon, and stars completed
the work, and they were to give light upon the earth which had been created,
and to rule over the day and over the night (Gen 1. 1419).
Four is the number of the great elements—earth, air, fire,
and water.
Four are the regions of the earth—north, south, east, and west.
Four are the divisions of the day: morning,
Four are the seasons of the year summer, autumn, winter and
Spring
Four are the great variations of the lunar phases. Full,
half quarter and no moon.
SEED SHALL NOT BE HEIR
65-0429B 135
Now, remember, according to Revelations, the whole mystery of the Book
is sealed with seven seals that the reformers didn't have a chance to bring
forth, the four stages of reforming, the four stages of four Beasts that went
out to meet the four powers of the world.
QA ON THE SEALS 63-0324M 485-1
{178} You remember the antichrist number, four?
See?
So we see
that these ministers that were given two took the wrong way and doubled the two
to become four with went into the number of anti Christ, or the number of the
world, showing that there ministry although given a stewardship and entrusted
with the same valuable thing given to the other, produced only a worldly
church.
Now, I
wish I had more time to take this number two and show you more of the effects
of this ministry but, we need to move onto the last one.
Matthew 25:18
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his
lord's money.
Notice
what this man did. He wouldn’t even publicly display what had been given to
him. This is the unbeliever who hides the word from the people as Jesus said,
they would not go in and neither would they suffer others that are going to
enter.
Matthew
Notice
what the Apostle Paul says about these men. ROMANS
1:18 For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; and
that is exactly what Jesus tells us in the parable, that the end of these men
will be which we shall see when we come to it shortly.
So we see
that nature of these men is identified by their characteristics. They are men
who have done a certain something and what they did is a reflection of who they
are. and the parable shows us three kinds of believers right among us in the
clergy. The believer is he that partakes in the ministry of Grace and reflects
back that ministry of grace. That is the believer. The make believer is the one
who takes the two and can go either way with it but chooses to go the wrong
way, and differs and is at variance and ends up producing a worldly effort, and
a worldly church. And the one who hides it altogether is just an unbeliever
that’s all.
Now, let’s
continue with the parable and Lord willing we will try to close. LUKE 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him,
saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass,
that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, (so if he was there and then went and received his
kingdom and now is returning, this speaks of his second coming.) then he commanded
these servants to be called unto him, (MATTHEW
16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of
his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.)
So let’s
in closing look at the rewards that will be handed out to each of these three
types of ministers.
Matthew 25: 15 then he commanded these servants to
be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much
every man had gained by trading. 19 After a long time the lord of
those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Now, let’s
look first at the Believer Minister…
20 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. 21
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.
Now, what
is the joy of the Lord? David said, PSALMS
And the
Apostle Paul taught us, I THESSALONIANS
And why is
there so much joy for us at his Parousia? Jude tells us it is because he is
here to keep us from falling. JUDE
Now in the
Book of Luke, we also read of this Believer 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained
ten pounds. (notice also the ten signifying that is all that is
gained and that is the end of the cycle and since it is dealing with the
ministry that is the end of the ministry at the time of the setting up of the
kingdom.) 17 And
he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a
very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And again we see
that he will be set up over ten cities which again shows that there will be no
more than this concerning the rulership or stewardship of those cities.
Now let’s
look at the ministry that doubled unto her double. Now remember, the number two shows
there to be a difference and this
can be for good or for evil. We see
two in the Bible doctrine of Twins,
one is good and the other is evil. A thing may differ from evil, and be good;
or it may differ from good, and be evil. Hence, the number Two takes a two-fold
coloring, according to the context. And
that is important that you remember that, according to the context it appears.
It is the first number by which we can divide
another, and therefore in all its uses we may trace this fundamental idea of division or difference. The two may be, though different in
character, yet one as to testimony and friendship.
Remember when Jesus sent forth the
disciples they split up and went two by two, and these were all good, except of
course wee had one group out of the six that had a mixed fruit, because one
group had Judas in it.
Now, what
we find in the ministry of two is this. In one parable they produce four which
is the number of the world, and yet in the other parable there is none that was
given two, for all ten were given only one pound each. So we see the second one
mentioned in that parable returned 5 which is also the measure of Faith, and is
no different from the first except the first produce a double portion of Grace,
from the other. One produced five twice which is ten, ending the church age
messengers, or the cycle of ministry to the church, and then the one who
followed, produced five which is grace as well, I believe could be the five-fold ministry because they produced
five fold what they had been given. 18 And the second
came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise
to him, Be thou also over five cities.
Now the
last group is those unbelievers who knew better but purposely held back the
doctrine from the people so it would not produce Grace to them.
24 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: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent
in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine. 26 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: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to
have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give
it unto him which hath ten talents. 29
For unto every one that hath (that word is echo) shall be given, and
he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even
that which he thinks that he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant
into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And
so off to tribulation he goes.
Now, let’s look at Luke
Let’s just
bow our hearts in prayer.
Dear
Father we have tried to bring the word to the people today in a way that would
show them that you are still alive and among us, and that your word is aliving
word, and the same yesterday, today and forever.
Father
there was so much that we looked at today, that it is almost over whelming, and
if there be any thing or any part that I did not give it out right, or that I
did not get just exactly right the way you wanted it, then I ask you to
overlook that and look upon my intentions
by Your Loving Grace, and help us Father to See you in the midst of your
people getting us ready for the soon departure of your Elect children. I love
you Father and I love your Son Jesus Christ, my older brother whom you sent to
this earth to become my propitiiation. I weep Father when I think of the brutal
and bloody death that He willingly suffered on behalf of me, my family and your
children here and those who are assembled with us around this revealed Word wherever
they may be throughout the world. Be with us through the week, and continue to
bless us with your Living Word for we ask it in Jesus Name, Thy Obedient and
faithful Son, Amen.