Two verses of chapter twenty-one suffice to record the manner in which
Jesus treated traders in the temple. 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 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.”