The Parable of the Servants and the Talents… People who believe in OSAS explain that parable…
The Parable of the Talents
**Matthew 25:14
14"
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
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Since the first word is “again” we need to know the original reference(s). The previous Scripture is also a parable. So logically, the position and context mean that these 2 parables are addressing the same issue.
Matthew 25:1-4, 10-13. (note, I only picked certain verses for the sake of brevity. I believe that they are all in context.)
1**"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
10"But while they (the unprepared virgins) were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11"Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12"But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.**
This obviously refers to gaining entrance into heaven, and that it will come by surprise.
**Matthew 24:35-37 (New International Version)
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father.**
Now that we have the context of the previous parable, back to the talents.
**Matthew 25:14-18, 26-30.
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’**
Let’s also look into the seed mentioned above. Both the seed and the fruit are repeated symbols throughout the Bible.
**Matthew 7:15-
A Tree and Its Fruit
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.** Personally, I believe that the book of James, especially “Faith without works is dead” is how we identify the good fruit from the bad fruit.
21**"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
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All of these parables refer to salvation. Being prepared for salvation (oil), works in *accordance *of salvation (talents) and the product of salvation (fruit). So since no man knows **the day or the hour **of Jesus’ return, Being prepared (in advance) is crucial.
OSAS starts with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the preparedness of salvation. Once God places His Holy Spirit within us, then we are ready to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do. After His resurrection, Jesus met the apostles in the upper room. He specifically told these cowards to wait for Pentecost, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that He sent, after He went back to heaven. Then these cowards became the bravest of men testifying to the truth of Jesus at great cost, even unto death, as a result of receiving the Holy Spirit of God. In OSAS, this is a one time event. Scripture states that the only unpardonable sin is blaspheming, or simply not accepting, the offer of God’s Holy Spirit, the sign or seal of our salvation. And I believe it is impossible to blaspheme or evict the Holy Spirit once He has made a home within us.
In Christ Jesus,
