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Actually jokus that is a pretty fair analogy. To those who think that burying the talents has nothing to do with salvation, the end of the parable shows that the guy who buried his talent ended up in outer darkness.

Of all your arguments for free will, this one appears to be the best.

For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:29-30 KJV)

That certainly is something to think about. Knowing our Calvinist friends, I'm certain that they will provide their insights into this. But I must admit that you make a good point.

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Marlowe

That certainly is something to think about [sic Matt 25:29-30]. Knowing our Calvinist friends

I always like challenges. Please note all the scriptures.

Mat 25:14-30 "For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' "For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

I would simply note the underline part of the passage. This was someone who did not know the Master for He would never have said "I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed". Of all the impertience believing it is our work and not the work of God in which we sow and reap. The implication is God didn't do anything but these are the works of my hands.

If you and jokus would have looked at John Gill's commentary in eSword you would have seen that God gives special grace to unbelievers much like He endows and entrusted to Judas power to heal the sick and preach the word. It doesn't mean that Judas believed in Christ. In the above illustration this man didn't know what his Master was like at all just as Judas didn't know the Christ.

It is a fallacy to think God only uses Christians to bring us to Him. He'll use anyone He darn well pleases. But in the parables of the talents it is obvious the one who went and buried his talent had no concept of his master.

There will be some in those days who will say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?" but He will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you."

BTW-This kind of goes against the Catholic understanding of purgatory and hell. Some Catholics don't believe anyone winds up in hell which is not what the above scriptures (e.g. Lord, Lord...) would indicate. Did the person who buried his talent go to purgatory?

First, thanks again for the advice on commentaries from the Sword Project. I am downloading as I type. Now, if you could only arrange a few more hours in the day so that I can read them?!

To those who think that burying the talents has nothing to do with salvation, the end of the parable shows that the guy who buried his talent ended up in outer darkness.

Yes, and the beginning starts "and the kingdom of heaven is like..." This parable, along with the one about the "Laborers in the Vineyard" (Matt 20, where even the guy who comes in the last minute gets paid the same) is one of those difficult teachings. But you know what the Scripture says "God's ways are not our ways".

Regards

Not one soul feels he has anything but "free-will" when he chooses to believe God in a saving way. Later upon reading with understanding, he will soon realize that it was God all along. That when he reached out to accept salvation God behind the scenes had caused his hand to move. This is well illustrated by an arch over heaven. On the earthward side looking at the arch the sinner sees whosoever may; subsequently from the heavenward side looking back at the same arch one sees chosen from the foundation

This view of "free-will" versus election resolves the issue for me.

Who are the “Whosoever”?

They are those in time, i.e. from creation until the onset of eternity future, who were dead in trespasses and sin but whom God chose, before the foundation of the world, to be saved - as a consequence they have, or will, experience regeneration. Those chosen, the Bible often refers to as the elect. The Bible tells us that the elect are saved by grace, through faith (and that not of themselves but a gift from God, that none may boast) for good works that they might walk in them.

Being formerly spiritually dead they had no ability, by natural faith or otherwise, to believe. But they received, as a gift, saving faith when God regenerated them by what the Lord Jesus referred to as “re-birth”. That same power which God used to raise Christ Jesus from the dead was used by God to regenerate the elect from a state of being “dead in trespasses & sin” to a state of “being in Christ”.

When the Scripture refers to faith, saving faith, as a gift from God it must not be viewed as a gift which one can refuse, but similar to a gift such as athletic ability that one receives at natural birth through parentage.

Every mention in Scripture concerning “whosoever shall call …”, “whosoever will …”, “whosever believes …”, “come to me you who are …” etc. is underlined by the doctrine that God made that soul one of the elect; and that fact manifests itself at the appointed time as one of the “whosoever”. Whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD...