The Parable of the Talents

[paradox3]

There are so many ways to look at this parable.

Is it important to consider its placement in Matthew with the other apocalyptic parables? We had one suggestion that the man going on a journey might represent Jesus himself.

In Matthew's gospel the Son of Man is going to arrive when we least expect it. And there will be a time of judgment with the unworthy cast into the outer darkness. The Parable of the talents seems to be very consistent with these themes.

 

[Luce NDs]

There are so many ways to look at this parable.

Is it important to consider its placement in Matthew with the other apocalyptic parables? We had one suggestion that the man going on a journey might represent Jesus himself.

In Matthew's gospel the Son of Man is going to arrive when we least expect it. And there will be a time of judgment with the unworthy cast into the outer darkness. The Parable of the talents seems to be very consistent with these themes.

Imagine that as an abstract; differing from the absolutes ...

Is an intense eternal mystery just unacceptable to mortal knowledge carriers that cannot bear no more without losing something of innate nature? Thus that emptying sensation as the swamp drains ... some leaders hate losing anything even if it goes into the common cistern ... paradigm? Especially if it goes into that bottom line defined as them from the us position ... maintaining the reality conflict! Outlandish is something alternate ... like the Ka Desh! Thus we despise ourselves ... regardless of claims ... thoughts depart the cares in the end time ... and you never know it even hit yah ...

 

[paradox3]

thoughts depart the cares in the end time ... and you never know it even hit yah ...

Pretty much I guess.

The more I study the Gospels the more I see Jesus as an apocalyptic preacher. He is many other things of course.

 

[jimkenney12]

He was also an anarchist focused on shalom.

 

[Mendalla]

He was also an anarchist focused on shalom.

I am a bit hesitant to use a modern political term for someone of that era. It's a bit like calling Julius Caesar or Octavian/Augustus a fascist. Some elements are there but it's a poor fit at best because the society and historical context were so different. Same with the people who try to claim Jesus as a Marxist. Given that capitalism as Marx (and we) knew it did not exist back then, it is really hard to see Jesus as a critic of capitalism even if his general tenor was towards communal living (which is not the same as communism). The whole "Jesus/God loves capitalism" we hear from the prosperity Gospel crowd gets the same criticism, really. We need to look at Jesus in context instead of projecting our philosophies back. That's not really a criticism of you specifically but of something I see in all strains of contemporary Christianity from progressive to fundamentalist.

 

[jimkenney12]

Anarchist means against rulers or centralized power.

 

[Mendalla]

Anarchist means against rulers or centralized power.

And I am not entirely sure that describes Jesus. He certainly never advocated for the overthrow of power as modern anarchists do and with "render unto Caesar that which is Caesars" seemed fine with living in some kind of balance with secular power. He seemed more concerned that people live in accordance with God's will than with political change. So I still remain dubious that a modern term like "anarchist" really fits.

 

[paradox3]

Some authors have speculated that Jesus was being highly subversive when he spoke about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God meant "not the kingdoms of this world" in other words.

These days many people (some of them on this site) like to talk about the "kin-dom" instead of the Kingdom. But was this what Jesus meant? Or did he mean God's imperial rule?

 

[Mendalla]

Some authors have speculated that Jesus was being highly subversive when he spoke about the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God meant "not the kingdoms of this world" in other words.

Oh, he was subversive for sure. Offering a spiritual path as the basis for living is subversive in almost any governing system and, yet, does not mean advocating there be no governing system.

These days many people (some of them on this site) like to talk about the "kin-dom" instead of the Kingdom. But was this what Jesus meant? Or did he mean God's imperial rule?

I think Jesus was very much talking about a world governed by God's will and way, with God as "King" even if God might be a rather different sort of King from the corrupt, power-focussed kings of the human world like Herod. God would be a King who actually focussed on caring for his people rather than on collecting more power and wealth. So still a "Kingdom" with a very clear, powerful King, but one without the problems of most human kingdoms.

 

[Luce NDs]

Some capitalists are really upset by how description of corruption varies over time creeping them out of the image! Incarnate items of questionable plasticity?

 

[jimkenney12]

I believe Jesus pointed to a governing system of leaders using power for people rather than power over people. Anarchism does not require no governance, just no rulers.

 

[Luce NDs]

I believe Jesus pointed to a governing system of leaders using power for people rather than power over people. Anarchism does not require no governance, just no rulers.

Would this suggest a decent committee decision ... or would there be a perspective emperor hidden in the committee? I've experienced that frequently ... so I just drift with the paradigm ... the island type will suffer a sinking eventually! I'm said to be chit in the system ... floaters ... they may be influenced by either side if they have some decent data to share as evidence! Knowing data from the lies id critical ... some are blind either way ...

Ultimately the other (them) will fall to the us's because of the I in the storm that is common ... aye? recall it is just a word and there is no common definition or understanding so as to support, you know what ... the mystery wished a time of irrational relief ... it was shared on both side of the deux! Belial, or Beliar? (those be two old words promoting a need for decision ... some take advantage of that hour to impose Phoebe ... one scary vessel ...

 

[Luce NDs]

Here's a talent that would be good to be cognizant of:

• Did Jesus go to confront Lazarus
• Or did Lazarus rise to the occasion?

It may be a life or death question about matters hidden in dis crypt! Mores to read into ... outside the confinement of whatever that might be ... imagined, or just absolutism about domains without ends ... generated without hynds? Some say Aye'ns that are distraught ... so don't look! Booty is shy and thus appears only in the abstract ... that's mystery right? Black Beauty! We bow tous ide ... in reverence of what we don't know ... mind blowing experience ... spectacularism? Lordy it is stressful keeping that up ...

 

[jimkenney12]

I just reread Matthew 24 and 25. The parables are not about the kingdom of heaven. They are about the coming of the kingdom of heaven, Their common theme is about not waiting by standing around but waiting through actions that contribute to readiness. They contribute to the belief that we need to be living as though the kingdom is here and now with all that means. If we do not live the kingdom life, we will not be ready to embrace it when the kingdom comes. It will just pass us by.

 

[Luce NDs]

I just reread Matthew 24 and 25. The parables are not about the kingdom of heaven. They are about the coming of the kingdom of heaven, Their common theme is about not waiting by standing around but waiting through actions that contribute to readiness. They contribute to the belief that we need to be living as though the kingdom is here and now with all that means. If we do not live the kingdom life, we will not be ready to embrace it when the kingdom comes. It will just pass us by.

Imagine if we are in it and are non cognizant because of unseen energies ... reminds me of Scott Pecks text: In Heaven as on Earth as a secular metaphor about the dirt of the story ... heaven being a state of mind!

But Peck was a psychiatrist ,,, so that would scare off a bunch of powers! Soul searching is just not up their alley ...