Transcription downloaded from https://bibletalks.htd.org.au/sermons/37381/parable-of-the-talents-bilingual/.

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[0:00] Hello. Please don't worry about why you are in the house. Please don't worry about the whiteboard. We will put some things in the house. Have you ever wondered what you have to do with your parents?

[0:18] If you haven't come to your parents, what are your life now? I'll go to that later. Let's change. I've been thinking a lot.

[0:34] What if my grandparents hadn't left China? What if I've been born to a different family? I remember being confronted by this question very early in my life.

[0:50] I was 10 years old, and I was touring through China. I was 10 years old, and I was traveling through China.

[1:02] We were there in the three gorges before it got flooded. I was in the three gorges before it got flooded. My brother and I were walking ahead of our tour group. I was in the two boys. I was walking ahead of the tour group.

[1:16] And on the side of the road, there were two brothers. And on the side of the road, there were two brothers. Now, they actually looked about the same age as us. They were extremely skinny. They were extremely skinny.

[1:30] Now, the younger one, he was crying. He was crying. His legs were shriveled. His legs were shriveled.

[1:42] His legs were shriveled. He looked like he was in pain. And the older brother stood there with his hands stretched out. And the older brother stood there with his hands stretched out. And he was asking if we had any money.

[1:56] Now, my brother and I never talked about this day. But I know both of us were thinking, what if that was me?

[2:08] Now, for me, life is just kept on going. There have been some ups and downs.

[2:19] But I finished high school and university. I have a job. I have a lovely wife and a son.

[2:30] I have a house. I have a bed. I have a car. I have a house. I have a bed. I have a car. And even if I didn't have all of those things, God has still given me so much.

[2:43] I have food to eat. Clothes to wear. I have good health. I have good health and friends.

[2:54] I have good health and friends. Now, the reason that most of our families moved here is to give us all better opportunities. I know that most of our families moved here is to give us all better opportunities.

[3:05] To live a better life. To give us as many chances as possible to succeed. And that's what I think sometimes though we have too many possibilities, too many choices.

[3:25] And sometimes it's hard to know what the right choices is. and we can't know what's right. We have a lot of major life choices ahead of us.

[3:43] It might be VCE, it might be University, it might be what job to take. It might be what job to take. It might be whether you ask that girl or guy out, or whether you want to get married.

[3:54] So how do we decide on all these things? I believe this parable has the answers for us.

[4:10] Let's pray that we can understand. Dear Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it guides us. Lord, please keep us from distractions now.

[4:24] And help us to understand how you would have us respond.主, I求你让我们能够专一地来听你的话语,所以让我们能够明白能行得出来. And your word is like a sword. And your word is like a sword.

[4:37] I pray that it cuts deep to our hearts. I pray that it cuts deep to our hearts. We put these things in your name. Amen. We put these things in your name. Amen. Now, I'm guessing most of you have probably heard this passage before, right?

[4:50] I believe you've probably heard this passage before. I've heard this passage before. Come on, guys. Give me some sort of response. Yes. Yes. No, I can't. Now, did Ben preach on this last year or a while ago before?

[5:05] Do you guys remember? No? No, no. No,黃牧師. No,黃牧師. Were you here when Don Carson preached on it?之前有一个很有出名的布道神學家,他有说过.

[5:16] Okay, good.沒聽過. Sorry? That's all right. Alright. Now, this parable is actually pretty straightforward. A boss has given his servant money.

[5:32] Or talents. Now, the boss goes away, and he's going to come back. Now, he goes, well, for the servants that made money when he was away, he gives them a whole lot more money.

[6:00] But the servant that didn't make money was thrown out. Now, our parents, especially Asians, understand the principles of investment very well.

[6:28] If they know if you reward them just a little bit, say in our studies, if they reward us a little bit, say in our studies, that will be more of a reward. We might get a real or bigger reward of a better job or something.

[6:39] So they try to bargain with us. So he'll be able to talk to us. Usually it goes something like this.

[6:49] If you get 80%, I'll give you 100 dollars. If you get 90%, I'll give you 200 dollars.

[7:01] Now, if you get 100%, maybe I'll buy you a car or a nice holiday. If you get 100% of them, I'll give you a car or let you go out.

[7:13] From the smiles on your face, I take it that you guys know this, and their parents do this. I'll give you 100% of them. I'll give you 100% of them. I'll give you 100% of them. I'll give you 100% of them. Now, a bad sermon might go something like this.

[7:27] A bad sermon might go something like this. God has given us a lot of money. We're rich. We live in Doncaster.

[7:39] We live in Doncaster. God wants us to make even more money. And God wants us to be rich. So, become a Christian. So, become a Christian.

[7:49] And God will bless you with lots of money. God wants us to be rich. Now, if I started preaching like that, I'm pretty sure Ben and Ivy wouldn't ask me to come back.

[8:04] I believe if I started this. I believe Ben and Ivy下次 won't let me come back. Because this is very true. Now, what we need to understand is what Jesus is telling his disciples.

[8:18] What we need to understand is what Jesus is telling his disciples. So, the context of this passage is very clear. So, the context of this passage is very clear.

[8:28] In verses 1 to 3, you can see. In verses 1 to 3, you can see. We know that Jesus, He's actually near Jerusalem. So, look in your Bible, if you're looking along. So, we can look in your Bible. If you're looking along.

[8:39] If you're looking along. Jesus, that's close to the Bible. Now, we know that Jesus knows He's going to die very, very soon. And He's told His disciples this parable in light of that.

[8:53] He's told His disciples this parable in light of that. Sorry? There you go. So, He's... Sorry. Yeah. Sorry. He's only telling this parable to His disciples.

[9:04] Oh. So, He's contrary. He's just telling this parable So, this is actually a specific lesson for Jesus' followers. So, this is actually a specific lesson for Jesus' followers.

[9:16] Now, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the end times. So this is the time between when Jesus goes to heaven, and when He returns to judge everyone.

[9:38] Now this period is actually where we are now. This period is our time. Now He tells them that the hour that this happens is unexpected. He says this time no one knows.

[9:52] And from verse 25, sorry, 25 verse 13, they need to be ready. From the 25th chapter 13, he tells us that we are ready. Otherwise, they'll be caught out.

[10:02] If we don't prepare, we will be taken out. So this is what Jesus is telling His disciples, they need to make sure they remember. So this is what Jesus is telling His disciples, and it's the parable of the talents.

[10:17] This is the parable of the talents. So to understand the parable, we need to know who the main characters are. To understand the parable, we need to know who the main characters are.

[10:27] So the first section is verses 14 to 19. Now obviously that's Jesus. In verse 14, he's telling his disciples that he'll be going away.

[10:48] And verse 15, he's going to entrust them with his property, his money. And if you're reading in your Bible, you can see in verse 19, that he's telling them that he might be gone a very long time.

[11:11] But he will return. And when he returns, he'll see what they've done with all of that money. He'll see what he's going to use.

[11:25] Now, we have the slaves. Now, we have the slaves. The slaves get the money or the talents. The slaves get the money or the talents. Now, the slaves are Jesus' followers.

[11:39] Another translation for slave is servant. Now, in Jesus' time, there were people who were going to use.

[11:50] There weren't any credit cards or credit card debt or things like that. In Jesus' time, there were people who were going to use. Now, we don't have our信用卡. So, if you had a debt, you would pay that person back by becoming their servant.

[12:04] If you had a debt, you would pay that person back by becoming their servant. To become that person. It might be a little bit different from our understanding of servant. It might be a little bit different from our understanding of servant.

[12:17] Not all of the servants were treated poorly. Not all of the servants were treated poorly. Not all of the servants were treated poorly. Some of the servants actually went back to serve their master after they paid him back.

[12:30] There were some people who were told. Some of the servants were treated poorly. They would still be the ones who were treated poorly. So, the servants could be doctors, accountants.

[12:41] So, the servants could be doctors, accountants. As well as laborers or cooks.當然也有可能是一些廚師或者是一些比較重的活。所以像今天這些奴隸就可能用我們現在詞來說就比較像是一個員工。但是有一個很重要,有一個很大的區別就是,他們的主人擁有他們。仆人擁有的東西也都是主人所擁有的。他們自己本身就屬於這個主人。我們都知道,我們就看到這個仆人拿到了這些台幹。對不起,這邊的 talent是他們當時的貨幣。一個貨幣銀子是等於六千個羅馬當時的貨幣。一個羅馬的貨幣就等於當天一天的工資。所以六千個羅馬的貨幣其實就等於二十年的薪水。現在的平均收入是一年大概有五萬塊。所以我不要覺得他們只拿了一塊錢很少。其實他等於手上有一百萬。而手上有兩個貨幣其實是兩百萬。所以最多的那個有五百萬。所以他們拿到的其實是很多的錢。足夠讓他們這一生不用再辛苦。但他們知道他們的主人會再回來。所以他們要確定自己有好好的使用這筆錢。第二段呢,就是從二十節到二十三節。講有關於好的仆人。所以當他們主人回來之後。所以這兩、前面的兩個仆人呢,他們有好的這個報告可以呈現。他們都已經加倍地能夠賺回他們所收到的錢。而且我們都可以看到主人對他們評價在哪裡?

[15:40] 第二十一節跟二十三節都說到。你們這又良善又忠心的仆人。你們在不多的事上有忠心。我把許多事派給你管理。我覺得這是很特別的事情。他給了他們幾百萬的錢。而他就說,其實這叫我將要給你的不算什麼。這是真的。神很有錢。最重要的,他說到你們可以進來享受主人的快樂。所以這些當時的仆人可以繼續跟他們,陪在他們主人旁邊。我們不會覺得很驚訝他們拿到同樣的獎勵。因為第十五節裡面說到,他們都是照著他們的才感所得到了這一些錢。這不是有關於他們擁有多少。而是他們只如何使用。所以他們是好的奴隸。而二十四節到三十節是屬於第三部分。那就是懶惰的。那這個仆人他自己覺得他有很好的理由不用再去賺更多的錢。他害怕他會失去。所以他就乾脆把它埋了。但是我們看到耶穌說這個仆人他完全沒有嘗試。第二十七節就說到,他甚至連去把錢放在銀行的機會都放棄了。所以這個仆人他甚至沒有為了他的主人的利益著想。他只是為自己著想。他只是為他自己的安全著想。所以我們看到他的主人給他評語是什麼。他拿回他的一百萬,他把他踢出去。這個比喻對門徒來說什麼意思呢?

[18:29] 我會離開,但我還會再回來。當我回來,若是你們有在為了我而做工的話,我會給你更多。而你就可以進來與我享受。若是你們把我所賜給你們的才幹所藏起來的話,你們是不好的。你們是懶惰的。你們就不能夠與我進入天國。所以這個比喻是在講述末日的時候。我們就在這個末日的日子裡。所以這個比喻是對我們而講的。所以我要問你們一個問題。我想要你們在你們腦袋裡面想著你們的答案。只能夠有要跟不要。所以你們大概能夠想嗎?

[19:40] 要或不要。第一個問題是。你有沒有在追隨著耶穌?

[19:52] 所以,想像在我們頭腦裡面的答案。有跟沒有。確實它是硬的。我們要很確定。如果你的答案是沒有。你只要了解一件事情。耶穌想要給我們所有我們所需要的事情。不是你所有想要的,但是是所有你需要的。如果你們想要知道什麼的話。問問你們的朋友。可以問問我們的講員。或者是等Ben和Ivy回來的時候問他們。我們讀這個經文的時候,可能有兩個錯誤會容易讀出。第一錯誤是,如果我們認為跟隨基督就會有成功的話。或者是舒服的生活。或者是我們可以得到我們想要的,因為我們禱告得很努力。那我們就失去了這個意義。是神要把祂的豐富賞賜給我們。祂是要讓我們在天國上面有舒服。不是地上。如果你的答案是是的。耶穌是我的主。你們就是耶穌的仆人。你是祂的仆人。祂釋放我們,所以讓我們可以服侍祂。如果我們真正相信耶穌基督是主的話,祂已經把所有你需要的都賜給你們了。而且你知道祂會再回來。當祂回來的時候,祂大概會這樣跟你說。我愛著你。我給你所有你需要的。一生的祝福。你為了這些事情做了什麼?

[22:23] 我對這件事做了什麼?我對這件事做了什麼?我對這件事做了什麼?我對這件事做了什麼?當我讀這個的時候,我覺得我很害怕,因為有拿到一個金幣的仆人,我想著他的後果。因為我想著,如果是我每個禮拜就在教會,住在這裡。跟別的弟兄姐妹說話。享受我的基督自由。能夠享受當基督徒所能夠享受的。如果這就是我能夠對耶穌說的話,那這就是表示我們放蕩。我們是一個懶惰的。不管我們擁有多少,我們不應該在留在這世界上的時候,感覺到舒適。你擁有越多,你就應該為神工作越多。因為好的仆人會為了他的主人努力工作。對每一個人,當然會有一點不一樣。我不會用真正的名字,但是我用一些人,是我所熟悉的人。所以有一個女生,

[23:45] Emily,她現在十二年級。她為了她的未來著想,因為她想要有一個好的成績。她知道她需要花很多時間來讀書。她知道她需要花很多時間來讀書。但是她知道耶穌給她有更多機會讓她好好地讀書。她知道她需要花很多時間來讀書。但是她知道耶穌給她有更多機會讓她好好地讀書。她很多的朋友不知道耶穌。她可能是唯一一個人能夠告訴他們有關於基督的事情。她想要告訴她朋友,告訴她耶穌怎麼樣幫助她,不會為這些事情擔憂。所以她想辦法讓她的朋友能夠看到。她以前是一個很懶惰的人。她慢慢地越來越懂得來去使用她的時間。所以今年她完全地沒有一天沒有來過教會或者是讀查經班。雖然說她知道好好地讀書可以讓她對她以後的工作更加了解。但是她知道查經班可以讓她了解她生命所需要的。永恆的生命。有一個朋友,大偉。他是一個牙醫。他告訴他的朋友,他的工作的同伴有關於耶穌的事情。他也是一個好父親,他也經常在教會裡面幫忙。他也賺了蠻多的錢。足夠去養他的家裡。他有一個很大的誘惑就是當他看到他朋友的時候。他們有更好的車子,更大的房子。但是大偉他很會存錢。他有好好地計算過他家人所需要的錢是多少。但其他的他就會把這些錢捐出去去幫助宣教。去年他就已經將近捐出了將近十萬塊。他在做這裏,因為他知道這些人是為主的工作。然後有一個女生。她是一個全職的母親,她也有兩個孩子。她把她所有的愛跟關護都在她的先生跟她的孩子身上。她還在身上。她自己給自己很少的時間。但是她很會安排。所以她會抓好任何的機會去學校跟別的孩子的母親。她會邀請他們能夠來到她家。因為耶穌基督改變了她生命。所以別人可以看得到。他們想要知道為什麼跟別人有什麼不一樣。她是非常會懂得鼓勵人的人。

[27:49] 她知道什麼時候該說什麼話。她有很多時候都會用一些很小的話就能夠激勵我。所以,有Emily,有大衛,有珍。他們做這些事情是花了很多的功夫的。他們使用了他們所賜的一切。所以當耶穌回來的時候,他可以看到他們是一些又忠心又能幹的仆人。這不是單單的因為他們想要努力地進入天國。所以這可能就是我們第二個容易讀錯的地方。我們現在要看白板。所以我們知道信心是我們救助的。所以這是信心。我們可以看到這個圈圈裡面的就是講的是信心。現在,信心是我們知道我們是救助的。所以這是救助的。所以我們因為有信心,我們知道我們是罪人有救贖。現在,同時,信心也會使我們有功效。現在,你們可以看到他們之間的互動連貫是甚麼。但是這兩個下面沒有連貫。信心使我們有救贖。它使我們有功效。但是我們努力的功效,既不會讓我們有救贖。然後,所有的呢?

[29:44] 是在神的恩典之下。這都是神的恩典之下。就是因為我們都活在神的恩典之下,所以這些事情才會發生。所以,他們努力的工作是因為他們對神有很多的信心。我相信當耶穌回來的時候,我相信他會對Emily,對大衛跟詹這樣說,你們這些又中心又善良的仆人,你們做得很好。你們對我所賜給你們的忠心。我要賜給你們更多的。一起進來享受天國的喜樂。當耶穌回來的時候,他會怎麼跟你說呢?

[30:42] 我今天有兩個想要給你們的意見。第一個是看我們所擁有的。每次當我覺得說我所擁有的不夠多的時候,我就會去想像我當年小的時候看到那兩個兄弟。然後我就會記得神所賜給我的有多少。是不可思議的。I remember all of those things belong to God.

[31:22] 而且我記得我會紀念這些事情都屬於神的。不是因為我們擁有多少,而是我們如何使用它們。我們嘗試在這個禮拜好好地看神所賜給我們多少東西。所有的。你的能力,你的遊戲,你的朋友。食物,衣服,工作,還有我們的聰明智慧。錢,你的家人,你的電腦。還有最重要的時間。我們要好好地來看看這些東西,分析來想想我們可以如何地好好地使用它們。我們想辦法做這些事情讓神的名能夠得榮耀。而且我們不要停止,只等到我們發現我們要如何做它們。所以不要懶惰。第二,看著我們要去的方向。我一開始就說到我們有很多的選擇要選。所以,VCE, uni courses, jobs, work, etc.

[32:50] 高考,大學的學科,工作,之類的。如果我們有一個遠跟高的看法。也看到神所賜給我們的能力還有機會的話。而且我們為這些事情好好來祷告。而且你也去徵詢別人的意見。下一步對你來講就應該非常地清晰。下一步有的時候會蠻可怕的。甚至不是超乎我們的想像。我曾經有想過我要放棄我的工作然後完全服侍神。對我的家庭來講有很多的犧牲。但是我看到神所賜給我所有的一切。若是我沒有給祂嘗試的話。那我覺得我對神就沒有足夠信心。只要記得我們要運用好所有神所賜給我們一切。所以當耶穌回來的時候我們就會有從神那邊得來的獎賞。你們就會聽到這些字了。你們這些又良善又忠心的仆人,你們做得很好。進來享受我的快樂。讓我們一起祷告。神我們感謝祢的話語。我們也感謝祢耶穌基督為我們而死。也給予我們很多的獎勵。我也知道祢賜給我們一切。主要求祢讓我們不要懶惰。但是主要讓我們能夠為祢而熱心。讓我們能夠努力來去尋找什麼方式,能夠來去讓我們做好。主要求祢賜給我們,讓我們有人能夠帶領我們,讓我們能夠尋找。主要讓我們把我們交道在祢手上。阿們。