NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST
MASTER
MATTHEW 25:14-30
DR. JIM DIXON
MAY 4, 1997
In the Bible there are many different words for master. There is the word “didaskalos” which refers to a master teacher. There are the words “Rabbi” and “Rabboni” which have similar meanings, master teacher. There is the word “despotes” which refers to a political ruler, a governmental master but by far the most common word for master in the Bible is the word “kurios.” This word is used again and again as a title for Jesus Christ. This is one of the most common titles for Christ in the Bible, “kurios.” This word means “Lord” or “Master.” It is the word used in our passage of scripture for today in Matthew 25. Jesus Christ is the Kurios. He is the Lord. He is the Master.
This word was used to describe a person who has authority based on ownership. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the owner of all things. Jesus said “All that the Father has is mine. All that the Father has belongs to Me. He is the heir of the Father and owner of all things.” One day He will come again to claim what is His.
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth and it is the authority of ownership. Now, in the biblical world, a slave referred to his or her master with this title, kurios. Using this title, the slave was saying “You are my owner. I live to serve you. I live to please you.” If you’re a Christian, you refer to Jesus Christ with this title, “Kurios.” You are saying “You are my owner. I live to serve you. I live to please you.” You are acknowledging the fact that you are merely a steward. What you have is not yours. It has been entrusted to you. Your stewardship will one day be evaluated by the Master.
Now, as we look at stewardship this morning, and as we look at this title Master, we understand that the Master is looking for two qualities in us. He is looking for goodness and He is looking for faithfulness. Someday Jesus Christ wants to be able to say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done, good and faithful steward.”
We look first at goodness. What does it mean to be a good steward? I think many of you have heard of a man whose name was Lord Gore. Lord Gore was perhaps the most infamous visitor the state of Colorado has ever seen. He came from Ireland in the 1850s. He came with wealth, and he came with power. He came leading a royal hunting party in a massive onslaught of the American west. He came to butcher Colorado’s wildlife.
He left Southampton, England in January of 1854 and he crossed the Atlantic, bringing 50 of his best hunting hounds, his best hunting dogs. He came with his royal bathtub and his brass bed with his down comforters. He came with scores of servants to attend to his every need. He came with trunks filled with fine clothing and barrels filled with delicacies to eat. He came with plenty of wine and liqueurs to prepare his palate.
He arrived in St. Louis in March of that year, March of 1854. He hired Jim Bridger, the famous frontier scout to guide his hunting party. He hired 43 additional men because this was going to be a massive hunt. He purchased 250 gallons of 180 proof alcohol, and he made that into a poisonous brew that they called “trade whiskey.” He would use the trade whiskey and beads and trinkets to make bargains with the Indians. He bought 100 horses and 20 oxen. He purchased 27 vehicles including his own royal carriage, 2 large freight wagons, 4 Conestoga wagons and 17 Red River carts.
He headed west on the Oregon Trail and he came through the dusty plains of Nebraska and Kansas. Lord Gore ultimately came here to the state of Colorado and he began to kill. He slept in a silk tent by night but by day he led devastating raids on Colorado’s wildlife. He did not kill for food. He did not kill even for sport. He killed to satisfy some twisted need in his soul, a demonic bloodthirst deep in his soul. In a short. of time, he had killed 2,000 buffalo and 1600 deer, countless elk and bear and innumerable smaller animals. Word began to spread eastward across this nation of this animal carnage that was taking place. It came to Washington, D.C. and the President called a special meeting. What could they do to get rid of this Irish Lord who was violating not the laws of men but violating the laws of God.
Well, Lord Gore took his hunting party north up into the Dakotas, into the Black Hills. He planned to just strip the Black Hills of life. He made a mistake. He desecrated the sacred burial grounds of the Sioux Indian Nation and he found himself face-to-face with the Sioux Indian Chief whose name was Bear’s Rib. Bear’s Rib didn’t much like this Irish Lord. He didn’t much like his desecrations. He didn’t like his wholesale slaughter of animal life and so Bear’s Rib said to Lord Gore, “You’ve got two choices. You can either leave everything you have here, all of your wagons, all of your possessions, all of your wealth. You can leave all of your clothing here including the clothes on your back and you can run naked from the Dakota Territory, or you can stay and fight to the death with the Sioux Indian Nation.”
Lord Gore thought for a second and he decided to become America’s first streaker. He took his hunting party, and they began to move south naked, eating berries and roots and toads and lizards. It took them five weeks to move 300 miles and they were almost dead when they reached the headwaters of the Little Missouri. There they were rescued by the peaceful Hidatsa Indians who fed them and restored them to health. Lord Gore returned to Ireland, never to come to America again.
Today, you can travel up to Vail, as I’m sure most of you have, and you can see the beautiful Gore Range with those majestic mountain peaks, one of the most beautiful ranges of mountains in Colorado. Whenever you see the Gore Range, it reminds you—it should remind you of an evil man, an evil man who was perhaps one of the worst stewards this earth has ever seen. He butchered the creation. This nominal Christian, who was an Irish Catholic, is surely in a whole lot of trouble with the Master. The Bible says, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” God owns the cattle. Lord Gore considered animals his to use and abuse, his for the thrill of the kill.
Jesus said, “Not a sparrow falls without My Father’s notice.” Surely Lord Gore is in great trouble with the Master. But, you know, I think this world and particularly the non-Christian world, those who don’t really believe in Christ but they have some concept of God, some concept of a higher power, some concept of a supreme being, their idea of stewardship is simply to not abuse the creation. Is that not true? I think for most of the masses out there, they feel that before God, they’re a good steward as long as they’re not like Lord Gore, as long as they treat nature properly.
Most people, therefore, feel like they are good stewards. I mean they don’t abuse animals. They don’t even kick the dog. Perhaps they’re environmentally conscious. But, you see, if you’re a Christian, if you believe in Jesus Christ, surely you know stewardship requires much more than this, much more than this. If you would be called “good steward,” then you must do more than treat nature well.
We come to the Parable of the Talents. Jesus tells us that the Master, which represented Him, he was about to go on the journey with the promise that one day He’ll come back—Jesus tells us that the master entrusted to his servant’s money, varying amounts of money, depending on their varying abilities. It was not their money. It was the master’s money because the master owns everything. When the master comes back, he settles account. One servant, one steward is found to be wicked. Isn’t that strange? I mean why was that steward wicked? There is no indication that he was cruel. There is no indication that he was morally depraved. I mean all he did was take his master’s money, dig a hole in the ground, bury it and return it. How was he wicked?
Well, to understand this, we need to understand the word good that is used in the passage. You see, in the Greek language, there are many words for good. There is the word “chrestos” which refers to the goodness of kindness. That is not the word used here. There is the word “kalos” which refers to intrinsic goodness and moral righteousness. That is not the word used here. Certainly, the Master cares that we be kind and that we be morally righteous but that’s not the word for good that’s used in this passage if we would understand what He means by good. The word is “agathos.” This word agathos refers to “that which is beneficial in its effects.” You see, the Master looks to the servants, to the stewards, to see whether they have accomplished that which is beneficial in its effects. This servant was called wicked because what he did did not benefit the master. He just took the master’s money and gave it back but there was no benefit. He did not prosper the master.
If you look at the passage, it’s all in the context of the kingdom of heaven. It’s all in the context of the kingdom of Christ. In fact, the whole of the 25th chapter of Matthew begins with “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to…” This is the same as the case with the whole of the chapter of Matthew 13. All of the parables there are kingdom parables.
What Jesus is telling us in this kingdom parable is that as the Master, He is looking at us to see whether or not we are benefiting his kingdom through time, talent and treasure, through that which He owns but that which has been entrusted to us. Are we using the things entrusted to us to prosper His kingdom the kingdom of heaven? That’s really what’s important. You want to know what’s important when you stand before Christ as a believer in Christ? What is He looking for? He’s looking to see whether or not you have benefited His kingdom. Have you used your money, your time and your abilities to serve His kingdom? That’s what He’s looking for.
Some of you have been to Egypt. You’ve seen Cairo, you’ve seen the Nile. You’ve gone to Giza or El Giza and you’ve seen the pyramids and you’ve seen the Great Pyramid rising almost 500 feet into the sky, like a 50-story building, 4500 years old. That Great Pyramid contains 2,300,000 stones, each stone weighing an average of 2-1/2 tons. Have you ever wondered, “How did they do that? How did they build that 4500 years ago?”
Historians and archeologists now understand that they used primitive tools to carve these limestone blocks. Part of the blocks came from a quarry close by, but other limestone rocks came from distant quarries and the stones were brought on barges down the Nile. These great stones, many tons in weight, were dragged on sledges, pulled on sledges across the desert sand and then pulled up ramps, from ramp-to-ramp until some of the stones reached 50 stories high. It took hundreds of thousands of workers many, many years.
For a long time, for a long-time historians believed that all of these workers were slaves. They believed that all of these workers were slaves. Maybe they were foreigners captured by the Egyptians and forced to work in hard labor for the cruel Pharaoh. Hollywood movies have always portrayed the building of the pyramids in that way but now, now historians and archeologists understand that’s not true. The pyramids were not built by slaves. Now, they understand the pyramids were built by free men. They were built by free men. They were built by farmers who volunteered their time. These Egyptian farmers gave willingly four months out of every twelve, four months out of every year, because they wanted to serve the kingdom of the Sun God. They wanted to serve the kingdom of the Pharaoh. They wanted to serve the kingdom of Egypt, an earthly kingdom which endured almost 3,000 years on the earth.
Here we are today, Christians. I mean we take the name of Christ, and we believe He is the Son of God and we call Him Master. Do we live to serve His kingdom? A kingdom, by the way, which is eternal. Do we live to serve His kingdom? Do we give Him four out of twelve? Do we give Him every day of our life? Do we give Him our time? Do we give Him our talent? Do we give Him our treasure knowing that He is the Master? Truly it’s all His. It’s all His. We’re just stewards and one day our stewardship is going to be evaluated.
You know, in 1954, the Canadian government printed paper dollars and to their embarrassment they found out later that there was a picture of the devil on every paper bill. The devil was etched into the curls of Queen Elizabeth ll’s hair. The government hadn’t done it but they found that an Irish Nationalist who hated the Canadian government but worked in the currency department had done this. They had to take all of the dollars back and reprint them.
There are people in the world today who think it would be appropriate for the devil to be on every piece of currency, every denomination from every nation. I mean there are people who feel like money is evil and you might as well just put the picture of the devil on it. Some people actually believe that the Bible says money is evil. But the Bible does not say money is evil. The Bible says the love of money is the root of all evil. Jesus said “You cannot serve both God and money.” Money makes a very poor master. You’ve got one Master, Jesus Christ. But, you see, money is just a tool. You can use it for goodness. You can use it for evil. You use it for goodness when you use it to benefit the kingdom of heaven. Do you understand? You use it for goodness when you use it to bless the church of Jesus Christ.
There are so many Christian ministries in this nation that need your blessing. This church, parachurch ministries, so many Christian causes that represent the kingdom of Jesus Christ and desperately need your commitment if you call Him Master and you would understand what it means to be a good steward. Well, we’re also called to be a faithful steward. He wants to say to you, “Well done good and faithful steward.” What does that mean? How can we be faithful?
I want to tell you a little story. It took place in 1884. True story. Took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a little church called Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Their church was growing, and they needed a new Sunday School building. They needed to build a new Christian Education wing. They conducted a capital stewardship campaign, and they asked the congregation to give that they might have more space to minister to children. The congregation didn’t respond.
They didn’t give and they were not able to build the building until this little girl who was a member of Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia. She had had cancer. She was 11 years old and she died. Under her pillow they found an envelope. In the envelope they found 57 pennies and a little note. The note said, “I want this money to go for the new Christian Education building so that other kids might learn to love Jesus as much as I love Jesus.” That note was printed and somehow it was picked up by the newspapers and it was printed in newspapers all over the Philadelphia area and it touched hearts. The power of the Holy Spirit was released, and people began to give and they began to give like never before, members of the church and Christians even from other churches. They all began to give.
Millions of dollars began to come in and they built that Sunday School at the Temple Baptist Church, but they had so much money that they went ahead and built a new sanctuary. They built a 3,300-seat sanctuary but they still had so much money because people were still giving and so they built a college. They built the Temple College, and they built a seminary, and they built a hospital. All of these Christian ministries. That college, Temple College, today is called Temple University. It has more than 30,000 students but this story doesn’t have a happy ending because Temple University today is no longer Christian. It’s no longer Baptist and it’s no longer Christian. It has become totally secular, and the Temple Seminary has also shut down. Some of the professors were hired by Gordon Conwell Seminary north of Boston. But in Philadelphia no more seminary and the Temple College or the Temple University have become wholly secular. Christ is no longer honored there. In fact, He is sometimes under attack.
It’s an old story. It happened at Princeton University. It happened at Harvard University. It happened at Yale and Dartmouth. It happened at institutions of higher learning established by the Methodists from USC in southern California to the University of Denver right here in metropolitan Denver. DU once was evangelical Christian. Now, it is wholly secular. You know why. Simply because Christians were not faithful. Those in leadership were not faithful. There came a point in time when those in leadership acquiesced to the world. Perhaps they wanted their institution of higher learning to have academic prestige in the eyes of the secular world and they began to give way. Just incrementally they moved from evangelical Christian to liberal Christian to secular. We’ve all seen that process. A lack of faithfulness.
We’ve seen it in the churches. You know there are thousands and thousands of churches across this land that no longer preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and why is that? Because there came a point in time where those churches were not faithful. The pastors were not faithful. The elders were not faithful. The congregations were not faithful because they allowed it to happen.
So, see here’s a call to faithfulness. Would you be good and faithful stewards, benefit His church, benefit His kingdom and do it over the long haul. Do it over the long haul. Do it all the days of your life. You might be faithful. This church has a future, but the future of this church is very much tied to your faithfulness. You know that. Christ knows that and we’ll be judged for our faithfulness in this hour.
Kevin was up here earlier talking about the youth program and challenging us to give time, talent and treasure to bless the youth ministries. How important that is but, you see, it requires that we be good and faithful stewards doesn’t it? That’s true of all the ministries of this church and all the ministries of the kingdom of heaven. Good and faithful stewards.
I want to tell you a little joke. Maybe you’ve heard it. Maybe not. It’s the story of a barber. This barber had a United States Congressman come into his barber shop one day. The barber cut his hair. He, of course, recognized the congressman and when the congressman went to pay, the barber said “You don’t need to pay, Sir. I want to take care of this.” The congressman said “Well, I’m willing to pay.” The barber said, “No, I love my country. I love those who serve my country. I want to do this for you.”
The congressman said, “Well, alright.” The next day when the barber returned to his barber shop, there was a box of candies there. Just a little box with twelve chocolates inside. A little gift from the congressman, an expression of appreciation.
Well, a federal judge came into the barber shop and the barber recognized him and he cut his hair. When the federal judge went to pay, the barber said, “You don’t need to pay, Sir.” The federal judge said, “I’m willing to pay.” The barber said “Yes, but you know I love justice. I love those who serve justice. I want to do this for you.” The federal judge said “Okay.” The next day when the barber came back to his barber shop, there was a dozen roses there. A little expression of appreciation from this federal judge.
A local clergyman came into the barber shop, a minister, and the barber recognized him and cut his hair. When he was done, the minister went to pay and the barber said “You don’t need to pay, Sir.” The minister said “Well, I’m willing to pay.” The barber said “Yes, but you know I love the Lord. I love the Lord. I love those who serve the Lord and I want to do this for you.” The minister said “Okay.” The next morning the barber returned to his barber shop, and he found twelve ministers. A dozen clergymen! Doesn’t that fit the stereotype? Doesn’t that fit the stereotype of pastors who are always looking for a freebie. Doesn’t it? Unfortunately, the stereotype is sometimes true, but I want to tell you something. It’s not just pastors who are looking for freebies. There are a lot of people out there looking for freebies, a lot of people in the pew, a lot of parishioners wanting a free ride.
Everything we have is from God. Every blessing from Christ. Every good and perfect endowment is from above, the Bible says. Every breath we breathe is a gift and are you grateful? Do you realize He is the Master, and you are the steward. Perhaps you come to this church, and you receive some blessing, some service from this church. Do you just want a freebie? Do you know that 40% of the members, 40% of the members of this church give nothing, nothing to this church—40% of the members. The needs are great for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. As we approach the end of our fiscal year at the end of June, the needs are great.
The word for wicked with regard to the wicked servant is the word “poneros.” This word poneros is not the normal word for wicked. When Jesus said, “You wicked servant…” He used this word poneros. The normal word for wicked is the word “kakos” which refers to that which is “intrinsically evil.” Jesus doesn’t use that word. This servant is not intrinsically evil. He uses the word poneros which refers to that which is evil in its effect. In fact this word poneros is related to the Greek word “ponos” which means “pain.” You see, Christ wants you to understand that when you’re not faithful, you cause pain. Did you know that? That’s what’s evil. When you’re not faithful, you cause pain. If you’re not faithful to the kingdom of heaven, if you’re not faithful to this church, if you’re not faithful to the youth department, you cause pain, you hurt ministry and you cause others to have to go deeper and do more even beyond what they’re able because you’re not doing your part. You’re not being faithful.
This is the call of Christ upon His people today. Let’s be good and faithful servants in the service of the Master, benefiting the kingdom of heaven, being faithful over time that His kingdom might go forth in power. What are we living for? Are we living for self or are we living for Him? That’s what’s going to be evaluated when we stand before Christ. That’s what’s going to be evaluated.
I want to tell you one more story as we close. It’s the story about a corporate executive, a CEO of a large corporation. He was at a United Fund meeting. He made a commitment to the United Fund that every single employee of his corporation would make a gift to the United Fund that year. He just felt led to do that. He went back to his company, went back to his corporation, and told his manager. He said “Listen, I want you to solicit a contribution from every single employee in this company for the United Fund.” The manager said “Okay.” This was done but there was one employee who refused to give. Only one, so this CEO who had made this commitment, called this employee into his office. It was a man named Paul Jones.
The CEO said “Mr. Jones, I see here that you have not given to the United Fund. You’re the only employee of the company who has not done this.” Mr. Jones said “That’s right, Sir. I have not given to the United Fund, and I never will give to the United Fund.” The CEO said “Well, I have made a commitment to the United Fund that every single employee of my company will give so you either give to the United Fund or you are no longer employed by this company.” Mr. Jones reached into his pocket, took out a checkbook, wrote a check for $200 and gave it to the CEO. He said “I’m sorry, Sir. I would have given long ago but nobody explained it to me just like you did.
Well, you see, we’re never going to do that as a church. We can’t do that. I mean if you don’t give, we’re not going to call you in. We’re not going to remove your membership. We’re not going to fire you from membership in this church because you don’t give. The church doesn’t work like that but I promise you this and God wants you to know this today. Someday you’re going to give an account. Someday you’re going to stand before the Master. “Before Him no creature is hidden but all are open and laid bare.” Someday you’re going to stand before the Master. Do you want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over little. I’ll set you over much. Enter into the joy of your Master.” Let’s close with a word of prayer.