The two servants who did nothing with their talent/mina represent believers instructed in the Word of the Kingdom

These two servants appear to apportion blame squarely on the man/certain nobleman−Matt. 25:24; Lk. 19:21. They had an incorrect view of the man/certain nobleman and represent believers instructed in the Word of the Kingdom whose lenses of God's command and character have been altered because of swallowing the deception pill.

When Man failed the test of obedience, he not only suffered the consequence disobedience but so did the material creation which became in a state of ruin-Gen. 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

The servant who received one talent hid it in the ground-Matt. 25:18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.

Likewise the third servant who received a mina-Lk. 19:20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

a. What does hiding the talent in the ground mean?

b. What does keeping the mina put away in a handkerchief mean?

The nation of Israel rejected both the offer and re-offer of the kingdom of the heavens resulting in the setting aside of the nation and the offer being made to the Church which comprises largely of Gentiles.

The 21 epistles that are found between the Acts and Revelation are written to saved individuals instructing them on what TO DO so that they may realize an inheritance in the heavenly realm of the kingdom.

The Lord has therefore supplied talents/minas through the epistles and it is up to us as believers to make the choice whether to TRADE/DO BUSINESS or NOT!

Matt. 25:16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

A parable is one truth cast alongside another to explain previous truth.

Jesus gave the Parable of the Talents to explain the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

In this lesson, we draw a comparison between the two servants who traded with their talents thus gaining with the five wise virgins, the faithful and wise servant and the one taken in the previous three parables in the Christian Section of the Olivet Discourse.

Daniel was faithful like the two servants who traded with their talents−Dan. 6:4.

In response to the decree, Daniel went to his upper room and prayed as was his practice-Dan. 6:10.

He survived the lions’ den because he believed in his God−Dan. 6:21-23.

Believers pursuing the kingdom are in Satan's domain and like with the woman in Genesis, he will challenge what God has said with respect to the purpose for our creation. To overcome him, we must therefore be sober and vigilant.

The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit which we are to wield in the spiritual warfare that we are involved in. If we do so, we are trading and thereby faithful (and the inverse is also true)

The disciples, including Peter, were neither sober nor vigilant and were consequently overcame. At one point, Peter wielded a physical sword (the sword of the flesh) and it brought disastrous outcome but the Lord restored him and he exhorts us to be sober and vigilant because the devil, our adversary, walks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour-1 Pet. 5:8-9.

The sword of the Spirit, the last piece of the armor of God,

is the only piece of the armor which is specifically identified and also the one and only weapon that we are given-Eph. 6:17b.

a. Since the sword of the Spirit is expressly identified as the Word of God, does having it, studying it, and/or possessing knowledge of it automatically mean we are trading and thereby making gain?

When going to the battlefront, it is imperative for any soldier to understand their weapons if at all they expect to be victorious! If not, a soldier will easily be overcome!

A believer MUST therefore be correctly instructed in the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, the Word of the Kingdom–Matt. 13:19.

Among the good works believers are to perform is

The salvation that we presently possess (salvation of the spirit) does NOT pose a threat whatsoever to the enemies of our faith!

To put on the whole armor of God is to put on Christ–Rom. 13:12, 14. Doing so will cause us to triumph over the enemies of our faith like He did.

Matt. 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Jesus Christ is presently building His Church.

When Israel rejected the offer and reoffer of the Kingdom of the Heavens, this message would be given to the saved Gentiles from whom God is taking out a people for His Name-Ac 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

Once Israel (the invitees) rejected the invitation to attend the marriage of Christ (the son), God the Father (the king) sent 'other servants' to invite them a second time. This pictures the reoffer of the kingdom to Israel by the Church in the Book of Acts-Matt. 22:4.

However, Israel also rejected the reoffer of the kingdom seen in their making light of the invitation-Matt. 4:5. Israel made excuses when invited to attend a great supper-Lk. 14:18-21.

Now that Israel has rejected both the offer and reoffer of the kingdom of the heavens, the king sent his servants to the highways and hedges (Gentiles)-Lk. 14:23; Matt. 22:9.

It is from the Gentiles that Christ is building His Church-Matt. 16:18.