Parable of Investing

After Jesus discussed the future with the quartet on the Mount of Olives, he spent a time of stressing that they are to remain alert while waiting for his return. This parable stresses what we are to be doing while waiting. We are to invest our talents—time, money, abilities—profitably for the kingdom.

In the parable, those that used that with which they were entrusted are praised and given expanded responsibilities. Those that risked nothing for their lord, lost what they were originally given. Basically, it’s “use it or lose it.” Not only should they been willing to risk for their master, but later Jesus gives what they should have invested their talents in. It is the care of those who needed their intervention.

Jesus then turns to what he will do upon his return. The implication of the parable is that there will be rewards for any investment for our Lord. He goes ahead, however, and adds that there will be an eternal judgment, not based on our performance, but who we are, his sheep or the goats that are not his.

Isolated from other scripture, this seems to imply that we enter heaven based on what we do by helping others. Parables have a teaching, but shouldn’t be used to develop our theology. Yes, the righteous do enter heaven, but scripture says, “None are righteous, no not one.” When we trust the Messiah as our Savior, we’re given his righteousness by grace and are changed from “a goat” to “a sheep.”

Notably, in the parable, the separation comes before they are judged and then the general qualities of each group are judged. Goats and sheep are judged as a group. This does not speak to our individual judgment.