Nov. 16, 2008
MLC Dennis Township NJ. Hartmut Fege, D .Min.
Mtt. 25: 14-30 Lk. 19.12-27
It seems that Matthew, as Jesus’ speechwriter never could
quite get the “tax collector” out of his telling of the Story.
The Gospels, as you know, where not dictated by Jesus but
written several decades after the fact.
Bob Jones University and the Moody Bible Institute, not
withstanding.
If last Sunday’s parable about the five wise and the five
foolish maidens was a downer,
This week’s story of the One Talent man challenges on our
Lutheran penchant for Justification by Grace…
The irony is that the one talent fellow actually did, what
according to 1st Century Rabbinic custom was the prudent thing to
do..
Burying a deposit left in one’s care, is not a only
sensible to protect it from possible theft, but it also insured the trustee from
a possible lawsuit.
The possible mistake the recipient made was assuming the
talent entrusted to him was a deposit rather than an investment…
But then it seems that this trustee had a proclivity to
make assumptions that ultimately became his downfall.
First, this lesson is not a story about an experiment in
first century Capitalism.
And neither is the “talent” to be equated with what we
today consider an innate ability in something that we are especially good at.
How can I be sure? I am an INTP for those who you came to
yesterday’s workshop.
I can be sure because there are other places in the Gospels
where we hear abut some poor soul being thrown into the outer darkness where
there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. “For those who have more will be
given, and they will have in abundance but from those who have who have nothing,
even what they have will be taken way”
The first time that Matthew mentions “taking away from he
who has nothing” comes at the conclusion of the parable of the Shower and the
Seed. Where some seed falls on good ground, some
on the path, some in the
bushes… and at the conclusion of that parable
the disciples come to Jesus and say:
We don’t have a clue what that that one is all
about.. So, Jesus explains and concludes with:
“For those who have more will be given… but for those
who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason that I speak to them in parables is that
“seeing they do not perceive and hearing they do not listen nor do they
understand”.
And then Jesus quotes from the Prophet Is.
See Matthew13: 14b.-15
I could give you additional references in Luke as well as
Mark’s where Jesus makes a similar observation.
In other words, what is at stake is more than a story about
an unequal distribution of talent…
In the hands of the Joel Olsten’s of the world this parable
is a justification for the accumulation of wealth..
“ to all who have more will be given”.
The gospel of prosperity has a long history, from the
Puritans who regarded material goods as a sign of election, to the
aforementioned televangelists who promise blessings for those who contribute to
their cause.
We don’t need the Bible to support our habits of rapacious
consumption.
Golden Parachutes aren’t just for Wall Street CEO’s!
I think Jesus in the telling of this parable was getting at
something else.. something much deeper, much more profound.
In an the obscure non canonical gospel of Hebrews,
this same parable is recorded with a slight twist…
One of the three takes the money and like in the story of
the prodigal, squanders the money
“ living riotously, and wasting his masters abundance
with harlots and female flute players..”
As I said before – the one talent man did what was
required by first century Rabbinic law..
So what gives?
The answer comes not so much in the actual written word as
in the inflection of the words.
Also in the Gk. The word translated “ Lazy” is more often
used to refer to a “Timid” Person..
“You timid, cautious slave” You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and
gather where I did not scatter?
Then you ought t have invested my money..
The difference in the three trustees, are the assumptions
about the master’s intent.
Jesus confronts the last trustee,
not so much on the lack of his
business sense as on his timidity, and his assumptions about the masters
values.
Maybe we can imagine the one talent man strutting around
like Tevye in Fiddler on the roof.. as he sings “If
I were a rich man..
Imagining what it would be like to be wealthy.. thinking
how he might invest what was entrusted to him..
Then he gets scared.. he falls victim to a paralyzing
fear.. The joyful dance turns into something like Much’s Painting “the Scream.”
The “what If’s set it.
What if..
What if some steals what I have
What if the stock market crashes?
What if .. my 40k is worthless.
What if I lose my insurance?
If I cant’s find a wife or a husband
I am reminded of the 19th century hymn “Before
the Cross of Jesus” The fears that hold us back. The hopes that lead us onward Our will to dare great things for God..the courage that we lack.
I think that this lesson is about
taking risks for he Kingdom.
I think the talents entrusted to the tree are nothing less
than the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
There is an old saying “use it or loose it”
When the master came back the first two disciples jumped
for joy…
They could hardly contain themselves. Look Lord, let us introduce you to the others who joined
our fellowship - the Handles both old middle and young..
We even had a few baptisms: Kayla, Madison and Nathan. Look at how we share what we have with those in our
community not so fortunate.
You get the drift?
Now for the one who hid the good
news – because he was timid or for what ever reason and because he
believed the master was a harsh man.
One who did not take foolish risks but was one to keep
alive the traditions of yester year.
When the master came the timid one quickly went to where
communion wine and the bread had been kept in the cupboards and handed them to
Jesus. Look!
we have kept it all going…
The hymns right out of the old SBH, and look at the Bibles
are the one you wrote in the KJ version, we wouldn’t have it any other way….
just the way it was when grandmother came worshiped here.
We even have a service in German on Christmas Eve.
It would have made Luther’s heart glad.
And if that was not enough, we have yard sales, bazaars and
the like, to supplement the pastor’s salary…
But Jesus answered, “you timid and evil trustee..”
“So you knew, did you, that I reap where I do not sow and
gather were I do not scatter?
Well, if you are so sure” (where did you get that anyway?)
“You should have at least taken the bread of life and the
cup of salvation and given it to those who had even less than you have… so throw
him into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then bring him back next Sunday and we will start over
again. The Word of the Lord. amen.
