Discovering a Hidden Message in Nacho Libre
Let’s kick off this blog with an unexpected favorite of mine: Nacho Libre. Yes, the goofy Jack Black film about a monastery monk who spends his days cooking for orphans but dreams of becoming a famous wrestler. At first glance, I thought it was just silly fun with no deeper meaning. That was until my buddy Jeff dropped a bombshell. “Have you ever noticed that Nacho is a terrible Christian?” he asked.
I blinked, confused. Jeff continued, “He doesn’t care about the orphans. He only wants glory for himself and is willing to do anything to achieve his wrestling dreams. But here’s the kicker: it’s not until Nacho leaves the monastery—a picture of him walking away from Christianity—that he actually starts caring for the orphans.” Jeff had opened my eyes. What I thought was just a film about Jack Black in tights was actually a critique of clergy who pursue their own glory instead of serving others.
Missing the Bigger Picture
What blew my mind was that I hadn’t noticed this until Jeff pointed it out. The clues were right there in the plot, staring me in the face. But without that context, I completely missed it. This got me thinking: how often do we miss the deeper meaning of things because we don’t have the right context?
People do the same thing with the Bible—particularly with the parables of Jesus. They approach the parables looking for deep meaning but often make the mistake of placing themselves at the center of the story. But just like Nacho Libre, parables have a larger narrative, and understanding the context is crucial to grasping their true meaning.
The Parable of the Talents: Fear or Faith?
Take the Parable of the Talents, for example. Many read this story in isolation and walk away thinking it’s all about working hard or facing judgment. But when you zoom out and consider the context, especially the surrounding parables in Matthew 24 and 25, a different picture emerges. Many Christians interpret the Parable of the Talents with dread, believing it warns believers to live in constant fear of God’s judgment if they don’t do enough. This misunderstanding leads to a life dominated by fear rather than eager anticipation of Christ’s return. However, when we read the parable within the broader context of Matthew 24 and 25, its true message comes into focus. It’s not a call to live in fear of judgment but an encouragement to be faithful with the Gospel, resting in Christ’s finished work and grace. This shift in understanding turns fear into faith and hope.
Understanding the Parable in Context
In this blog, we’ll explore how the Parable of the Talents is often misunderstood and misapplied to instill fear in believers. By examining the context of Matthew 24 and 25, we’ll see that this parable is not about works-based salvation but about responding faithfully to the Gospel. We’ll break down the elements of the parable, address the role of fear and judgment, and clarify how this teaching aligns with the grace of Christ. By the end, we’ll discover that the parable calls believers to live with confident expectation of Christ’s return—not in dread of judgment, but in joy for the work He has accomplished on our behalf.
How To Read Parables: What They Are, And Why Jesus Used Them
In Matthew 13, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus’ response is revealing. He quotes Isaiah, referencing a prophecy about people hearing but not understanding, seeing but not perceiving. This wasn’t a new concept in Scripture—it’s a recurring theme. Isaiah proclaimed God’s word to Israel, knowing full well that his message would harden the hearts of those who refused to repent. Jesus applied the same principle to His ministry. He spoke in parables not to clarify, but to conceal the truth from those who were spiritually blind, while revealing the secrets of the Kingdom to those who received His words with faith. His parables were both a source of life for the humble and a form of judgment for the proud.
The Purpose of Parables: Life or Judgment
Jesus explains, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13). He is referencing Isaiah’s prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10, where God commissions the prophet to speak to a rebellious nation, knowing their hearts will become even harder as a result of hearing the truth. It’s a sobering reality—hearing the Word of God can either soften your heart toward repentance or further harden you if you choose to reject it. This hardening, Jesus says, becomes the basis of judgment on the last day. In other words, those who don’t understand won’t just be left in ignorance; their lack of understanding will become a form of judgment against them.
Parables as a Spiritual Test
Jesus continues in Matthew 13: “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (v.12). This statement captures the essence of how parables function. They act as a spiritual litmus test. Those who approach Jesus in faith are given more understanding, while those who reject Him are plunged into even deeper darkness. The Word of God, intended to give life, ends up sealing their judgment instead.
Connecting Matthew 13 and the Parable of the Talents
This phrase, “to the one who has, more will be given,” is not just limited to Matthew 13. Jesus repeats it in Matthew 25 within the Parable of the Talents. In Matthew 25, the “one who has” refers to those who have received the revelation of the Kingdom with faith. The “one who has not” refers to those who reject the message of the Kingdom, and even the little understanding they had is taken away. This repetition isn’t a coincidence—it’s an interpretive key. Jesus has already given us the clue about what the talents represent: they symbolize the truth of the Gospel.
The talents in this parable are not just monetary gifts or natural abilities, as they are often interpreted. Instead, they represent the deposit of God’s truth. When Jesus entrusts His servants with talents, He is giving them the revelation of the Kingdom—the Gospel message. Some receive it with faith, and that faith leads to growth and multiplication. The servants who doubled their talents represent believers whose faith has resulted in spiritual fruit and maturity. They received the truth of the Gospel, stewarded it faithfully, and saw it increase in their lives.
The servant who buried his talent is like those in Matthew 13 who hear the word but do not receive it with faith. His hard heart leads him to fear judgment, and instead of acting in faith, he hides the talent. On judgment day, this very deposit—the truth he was entrusted with—becomes a testimony against him. He had access to the Gospel, but rather than responding with faith, he rejected it. As Jesus said, “Even what he has will be taken away.”
In both Matthew 13 and Matthew 25, the core message remains the same: how we respond to the truth of the Gospel determines whether we will be rewarded or judged. For those who receive the word with faith, their lives will bear fruit and their understanding of the Kingdom will multiply. But for those who reject the truth, it will be used as a witness against them on the day of judgment. The Parable of the Talents isn’t about working harder for God’s approval—it’s about responding to the revelation of Jesus with faith. Do we accept it and allow it to multiply in our lives, or do we bury it in fear and face judgment at His return?
The Context of Matthew 24 and 25
I am already getting ahead of myself! Before we dive into the Parable of the Talents, it’s essential to understand the surrounding context—specifically Matthew 24. Here, Jesus gives a crash course on the end times. He speaks about the destruction of the Temple, the signs of the end of the age, and His return. This sets the stage for three parables: the Parable of the Thief in the Night, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and finally, the Parable of the Talents.
Parable 1: The Thief in the Night (Matthew 24:43-51)
“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:43-51)
This parable illustrates the suddenness of the Messiah’s return. Just as a homeowner must always be on guard to prevent a thief from breaking in, we must be spiritually vigilant because no one knows the exact time of Christ’s return. The faithful servant remains diligent, carrying out his master’s will and caring for his household, while the wicked servant becomes complacent, abuses his authority, and indulges in sinful behavior.
But here’s the crucial question: Are Christians known as “wicked servants”? Are we characterized by behaviors like beating our fellow servants, indulging in drunkenness, or abusing the authority entrusted to us? Absolutely not. In fact, these behaviors call to mind the history of Israel, particularly Jerusalem, which Jesus rebukes for stoning the prophets (Matthew 23:37).
Could it be that this parable speaks to Israel’s role as the caretaker of God’s house, His covenant people, entrusted with the responsibility to care for His household? When the Master (Jesus) appears, those who have neglected or abused their calling will be judged severely. Just as Israel had mastery over God’s house, failing to heed the prophets and rejecting the Messiah, this wicked servant’s actions reflect that same disobedience and rejection, bringing upon themselves the judgment Jesus warns about.
Parable 2: The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)
This parable narrows the focus to those waiting for the Messiah’s arrival. All ten virgins are expecting the bridegroom, but only five are prepared for the wait. The wise ones bring extra oil, while the foolish ones neglect to bring enough. When the bridegroom finally arrives, only the prepared virgins are welcomed into the wedding banquet, while the others are shut out.
But who are these unwise virgins? Let’s ask some probing questions: What group of people is waiting for the Messiah but will not be ready when He returns? Is it Christians? No—believers in Jesus are declared righteous by faith (Romans 5:1) and are eagerly awaiting His return, not unprepared for it. What other group, then, could be waiting for the Messiah?
Could it be the Jews? Yes. This parable is a direct warning to the Jewish people. Just as the wicked servant in the previous parable was entrusted with stewardship over God’s household but acted wickedly, the Jewish people have been entrusted with the promise of the Messiah. They’ve been waiting for centuries, yet many have not accepted Jesus as that promised Messiah. When He returns, they will not be ready.
In this parable, the oil likely represents faith in Jesus as the Messiah. The wise virgins, representing those who have received Christ by faith, are prepared for His return. But the unwise virgins—those who are still waiting for a Messiah but reject Jesus—find themselves unprepared. When the bridegroom arrives (symbolizing Christ’s second coming), they’re shut out, hearing those chilling words: “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
The Urgency of Preparedness
Jesus is issuing a sober warning to the Jewish people: the time of His return is coming, and only those who have faith in Him will be ready to enter the wedding feast. Those who reject Him, even though they’ve long awaited the Messiah, will find the door shut. The lesson here is one of urgency and preparedness—salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone, and when He returns, only those who are ready will be welcomed into His kingdom.
The Parable of the Talents
“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:14-30)
The Meaning of the Parable
In this parable, a master entrusts his servants with “talents” (a large amount of money) before going on a journey. Two of the servants take what has been given to them, work with it, and double it. The master rewards them, saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” But the third servant takes his talent, buries it, and does nothing with it. The master condemns him, calling him “wicked and lazy,” and throws him into “the outer darkness,” where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Context of the Parable
Remember the context: chapter 24 is all about the end times. The Parable of the Thief in the Night describes a man entrusted with God’s house who is judged and cast into outer darkness for his wickedness. Likewise, the foolish virgins are those who are kept out of the kingdom, even though they are longing for a Messiah. These parables reflect the hard-heartedness of the Jewish people, as seen in Matthew 13.
Interpreting the Third Servant
Here’s where the interpretation gets tricky: Is this third servant a believer who simply didn’t do enough good works? Or is he someone who never knew the master in the first place? Let’s look at the evidence:
- He’s called wicked – Does Jesus call His children wicked? No.
- He lives in fear of judgment – 1 John 4:18 tells us that “perfect love casts out fear,” and believers are not supposed to fear judgment.
- He misunderstands the master – This servant describes the master as a “hard man,” but that’s not how the master is presented in the parable. The other servants rejoice in his kindness and generosity. Clearly, this third servant doesn’t really know the master. Like the foolish virgins who the bridegroom indigts with “I never knew you”.
The Connection to Other Parables
The first two servants, who receive talents and multiply them, correspond to the righteous steward in the Parable of the Thief in the Night and the wise virgins in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Meanwhile, the third servant aligns with the wicked servant and the foolish virgins. The flow of the text makes it clear: this parable is not solely about believers. It’s not as if you “get into the kingdom by faith but stay in by hard work and effort.” That would be a distortion of the Gospel! The Good News is that the work is done.
Avoiding a False Gospel
A message that demands effort and threatens eternal judgment for unfaithfulness is a false gospel. Consider the following examples:
- Mormonism teaches: “Believe in Christ, and be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).
- Roman Catholicism teaches: “If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works… let him be anathema” (Council of Trent, Session 6, Canon 24).
- Islam teaches: “Those whose scales (of good deeds) are heavy, they are the successful. But those whose scales (of good deeds) are light, they are the ones who have lost their souls; in Hell will they abide” (Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:102-103).
If our interpretation of this parable leads us to teach these false gospels, then our interpretation is wrong!
A Picture of Unbelief
The Parable of the Talents is not about believers being cast into hell for not doing enough good works. Rather, it’s about those who have been given the revelation of the Kingdom (the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day) and have rejected it. They are the ones who receive judgment, not faithful Christians.
The third servant represents those who have received the Word of God but have not accepted it with faith. They bury it, doing nothing with the treasure they’ve been given, and on the day of the Messiah’s return, that treasure will stand as a witness against them.
So, What’s the Point for Us?
Christians, we don’t have to fear judgment. We are not the wicked servant who lives in dread of the master’s return. Instead, we are the faithful ones who joyfully await His coming, eager to present what we’ve done with the talents He’s entrusted to us. The joy of our master is not reserved for the perfect; it’s for those who have faith in Him.
If you read this parable and think that the third servant is a picture of you, stop. You are not called wicked. You are not cast out into the darkness. That servant is a picture of those who reject the gospel, not those who belong to Christ. Our works are not what justify us—they are the fruit of our faith, and our faith rests securely in the finished work of Jesus.
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