On 15th March 2021, Cheonji Ilbo (Cheonji Daily) published an article, in Korean, entitled, “What is the True Meaning of the 'Talents' in the Parable of Matthew 25?” This is a translation of that report.

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📰The Bible is one of the best-selling and most widely distributed books in history, yet it is also considered to be among the least understood. The Bible, which is referred to as the New Covenant and Promise of God, in which 'the way to heaven and salvation' is presented, differs in theologians' interpretations that make it difficult to understand. These differing interpretations have been the cause of the rise of denominations with each one establishing their own doctrine. With the increase in online church services and gatherings resulting from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there has been growing interest in the comparison of various church doctrine. This paper, therefore, attempts to provide readers with the opportunity to compare differing Biblical teachings without interpretation. Among a host of online sermons and Bible-based teachings, the contrasting doctrine between the established Church and Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has drawn public interest throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, is hereby compared and summarised. Best efforts have been made to provide a summary of Shincheonji Church of Jesus' understanding of the Bible. Judgment as to what is right or wrong is left to the reader’s discernment.

"A 'talent' was a measurement of gold. People who have this gold possess the word of truth'"

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony

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Matthew 22 and Matthew 25 contain information about a wedding banquet in heaven. The purpose of our faith is to find this wedding banquet between God and Jesus, meaning to find heaven and greet the bridegroom there. Just as the protagonists of a literal wedding banquet prepare many things, those who participate in this spiritual wedding banquet need to be equipped. Matthew 25 emphasises the importance of preparing one's lamp and oil, knowing how to put one's talents to work and becoming a sheep-like believer. 

Among these parables, the Parable of the Talents (also known as the Parable of the Bags of Gold) records a person entrusting his possessions to his servants, going away to another country, and returning after a long time to settle accounts. Jesus is this person who goes to another country, and his servants are the chosen people who take their seats at the wedding banquet. It is a warning for believers who will be divided between those who enter heaven and those who enter hell.

Then, what is the 'gold' that Jesus gives here? If you look at the characteristics of gold, it is unchanging and precious. In Proverbs 16:16, the characteristics of gold are likened to God's word - wisdom and understanding. Moreover, in 1 Peter 2:4-5, Jesus was called a precious living stone, and is written that people, like living stones, will be built into a spiritual house, meaning that Jesus and his disciples were also treasure. Therefore, the true meaning of gold, silver, pearls and treasure is the word of truth and a person who possesses this word of truth.

What does it mean to trade with such gold? In Matthew 13:45-46, it is recorded that heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. A fine pearl is the word of truth. Business includes buying and selling precious commodities, which means teaching and listening to the word of truth. In other words, a person who finds a pearl of great value will enter heaven, meeting a pastor who preaches the word of truth, and engraves the word in his heart to become a person with treasure. To 'trade' is to receive the word through a pastor and evangelise others as a citizen of heaven.