Two verses of chapter twenty-one suffice to record the manner in which Jesus treated traders in the temple. 14 They were out of place. With no appreciation of the temple as a place of worship they naturally used it for their own ends and Jesus as naturally came in conflict with these mercenary men. After he cast them out he told them what the temple is for, “My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.” Such perversion is not permitted and their misused opportunity is suddenly forfeited.
Men who misuse God’s house invite their own overthrow. They are driven out by the very One who invites sincere souls to enter. Their punishment fits their sin. They have no place in the house of God, no part in his salvation, no share in his service.
The use and misuse of opportunity are set forth in comparison and in contrast in chapter twenty-five. Two of the servants in the parable of the talents proved worthy of their trust while one failed to appreciate his opportunity. Did the unequal division anger the man who received the one talent? The opportunity of the three servants is essentially the same, which appears plainly when their lord reckons with them. In identical terms he commends the two who so used their talents as to increase their holdings. How could he commend the servant who brought back his 15 lord’s money without increase and in addition lodged a complaint against him?
“The servant with the one talent considered himself a brilliant example of a harmless man,” says Dr. Deems. His talent is returned unused and without loss or increase. He is condemned on two counts, inactivity and insincerity. If he really thought his master was exceedingly strict why did he not act accordingly? His conduct belied his profession.
Our thoughts are usually called to the man with the one talent but the man with the two and the man with the five deserve our attention quite as much. The men with the most do the best. They are trustworthy. They are faithful servants and are left in possession of what they were given and what they gained. The man who had most of all received the unused one talent as an additional trust and as a mark of his lord’s complete confidence.
Equality of possessions is not the purpose of God toward men but equal opportunity to use well what they have. Talents are a test of character. A servant of God can safely become a custodian of wealth. He must enter into partnership with God before he can expect to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of thy Lord.”