In this article, let’s explore a fascinating parable that Jesus shared in Matthew 25:14-30, known as the Parable of the Three Servants.
The theme of the parable centers on wisely using what you have been given. I have read this passage many times, but one day I received a profound revelation—one that is rarely heard and unlikely to be found in typical Google search results.
1. The Master Entrusts Silver to His Three Servants
In the parable, the master gave three of his servants bags of silver according to their abilities: five to one, two to another, and one to the last (Matthew 25:15).
The ratio of silver entrusted to each servant was proportional to their abilities. This means each servant possessed abilities of varying degrees—abilities that can be understood as gifts, talents, knowledge, and experience, either assigned at birth or acquired over time.
2. The Three Servants’ Account
When the master returned from his trip, he called each servant to give an account of how they had used the money entrusted to them.
The two servants—one with five bags and the other with two—had doubled what they were given.
This implies two things:
- The two servants used their personal abilities – gifts, talent, experience, knowledge, ideas, etc. – to double what the master had entrusted. In financial terms the bags of silver entrusted on each is referred to as seed capital.
- The additional amount the made from the seed capital is called Return on Investment (ROI) which is expressed by the following formula:
- ROI = (Final Value – Seed Capital/ (Final Value) *100
- Therefore, the master made a 100% ROI from the two servants, and 0% ROI from the last servant.
3. The Master’s Remark To Two Of The Three Servants
The master commended the two servants for what they had done with the seed capital. The ESV translation renders the master’s remarks as follows in Matthew 25:21, 23
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
The profound and often overlooked meaning of this parable lies in the master’s remark. Although the servants’ skills remained the same, the master now entrusted them with additional and greater responsibilities.
This might seem overwhelming—or even a setup for failure—since they had only previously handled five and two bags, respectively.
The key to the servants’ continued success lies in the fact that they have been granted access to enter into the joy of the master.
The master calls them to now operate in the realm of joy where he resides.
One key attribute of this realm of the master’s joy is described in Nehemiah 8:10.
The joy of the LORD is my strength.
This means the realm of joy into which the servants were ushered would empower them with strength to handle greater responsibilities—beyond what their personal abilities alone could manage.
The secret to success, especially when entrusted with more responsibility, lies in remaining in the presence of God. In His presence, you find complete joy, and that joy becomes your source of strength.
Psalm 21:6 NLT
“You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.“
3.1 The Key To Growth In The Kingdom
The two servants were called good and faithful, meaning they trusted the master and demonstrated faith in him through actions of obedience.
What you do resembles the amount of faith you have in God.
Faith and obedience to God elevate you to higher spiritual levels, enabling you to manage greater responsibilities with excellence and efficiency.
Additionally, growth in the Kingdom of God is founded on a firm belief and faith in God, for without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Anyone in the bible who acted on faith was elevated to a higher spiritual reality. Below I share how Paul and Jesus demonstrated being good and faithful servants of God.
3.2 Paul, A Servant Of God
Paul, then called Saul, was a highly intelligent and devout Pharisee, well-versed in the Law of Moses and religiously observant.
He was respected and successful in his role as a Pharisee. However, after encountering Jesus, his life took a complete turn, and he became a servant of God. He began preaching the Good News, and in Colossians 1:23, he describes how the Gospel was advancing:
“The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.”
Paul had been teaching the Law to the Jewish people. But after his divine encounter, he was raised to enter into and operate in a new realm with greater responsibilities. These greater responsibilities included preaching the Good News to the Gentiles, which he confirms in Colossians 1:25.
“God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.”
To fulfill this great responsibility, Paul stayed in the presence of God and preached the Good News with excellence and efficiency.
He traveled to many regions proclaiming this message. Moreover, Paul accomplished this immense task not by his own willpower, but by divine strength. Colossians 1:29 confirms this:
“That is why I work so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works in me.“
To his protégé, Timothy, Paul writes this about being a servant of Jesus Christ:
“I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who has given me the strength to do his work.”
1 Timothy 1:12
3.3 Jesus, The Good And Faithful Servant Of God
In John 17:4, Jesus prayed to the Father:
“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
Jesus, like the three servants, was given work to do by God, the Master, and He completed that work—bringing God a great return on His investment.
Next, he prays in John 17:5,
“Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”
In this Scripture, Jesus is praying to enter into a greater spiritual reality—the full presence of the Father—because of the work He completed faithfully here on earth.
This is akin to the master’s words to the two servants in the parable: “Come, enter into the joy of your master.” Therefore, in the Kingdom of God, a job well done leads you into a higher realm in the presence of God.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus was led to the cross, where He cried out in Matthew 27:46, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Then Jesus died for three days, and during this period, He descended to hell in His own personal capacity, unassisted by God, for God had forsaken Him.
However, God raised Him from the dead into a new spiritual reality and ultimately seated Him at the highest seat of honor at God’s right hand.
When Jesus came to earth, He was entrusted to save the children of Israel. After accomplishing this, God brought Him into His presence at the seat of highest honor and entrusted Him with greater responsibilities—saving all people, including Gentiles.
Through the power of the name of Jesus, many continue to be saved today because Jesus is alive, and the message of the Good News continues to advance. This success is founded on the fact that Jesus is now seated in the full presence of God and continues to work in us so that He may bring glory to the Father through us.
4. The Masters Remark To The Last Of The Three Servants
The last servant returned the same bag of silver, offering no return on investment to the master. His account to the master provides a glimpse into his thought process:
“Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
His response reveal some few points captured below:
- The servant hid the bag in the ground and the master was not glorified.
- Nothing God entrusts us with is supposed to be hidden or hoarded, but to be used to bring Him glory.
- Jesus said no one lights a lamp and put it under a basket, likewise God never entrusts us with things to remain unused. But they are to profit God who will receive honor and praise (Matthew 5:15-16).
- The servant’s inaction was an attestation of lack of faith in God. For faith without works is dead.
5. How To Become A Good And Faithful Servant
- Becoming a good and faithful servant involves a critical juncture in one’s life that involves repentance.
- Thereafter, God calls you to enter a new realm were you operate in His presence.
- God then gives you additional responsibilities to fulfill. Fulfillment of these responsibilities is incumbent upon staying in His presence.
- These newly received responsibilities cannot be achieved by manpower, but by the Spirit of God as God equips you with divine strength to execute the responsibilities well.
Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit.” (Zachariah 4:6)
- Paul expressed in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.
- When you do execute responsibilities capacitated by God, only Him receives the glory.
6. Final Remarks On The Parable Of The Three Servants
Dear reader, the Parable of the Three Servants is richly layered and multifaceted. This article aims to reveal a deeper understanding for believers in Christ.
God has entrusted seed capital into our hands and expects a high return on His investment.
In the Kingdom of God, the best performers are invited into His delightful presence and entrusted with even greater responsibilities.
God calls us to bear much fruit, and operating in His presence equips us with the divine strength needed to fulfill these greater responsibilities—just as illustrated in the Parable of the Three Servants.
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