Is Jesus a "Hard Man"?

 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered” Matthew  25:24

My computer dictionary defines “talent” in this way: “1. A natural aptitude, 2. a former weight and unit of currency, used esp. by the Romans and Greeks.” In Jesus’ story or parable, he wasn’t referring to #1 definition. He was talking about money. However, that is not relevant to this post.

Did you ever wonder why this third man thought that (1) Jesus was a “hard man”, and (2) wherever did he get the idea that Jesus could or would reap where He had not sown??? The concept of sowing in order to get a harvest is stated or implied throughout the scripture. Did Jesus ever sow any grain? Did He reap any harvest? Did He ever miraculously reap where no grain had been sown, or advise any one to attempt to do so? 

Everyone can see why this man did not get a return on his investment; he never invested the money. Duh! But why didn’t he invest? Through some difficult lessons I believe the Lord showed me the answer to that question.

A “hard man”? In his response to the Lord in the parable (actually Jesus) it is obvious that this man did not know His Lord--Jesus. If he had, he would not have pegged Him as a “hard man”.  He didn’t really know Him.

Reaping where He had not sown? As I mentioned, this is totally antithetical to scripture. So, not only did he not know what Jesus was like, he did not know nor understand God’s ways or the principles of the Kingdom of God. (Note: the Lord's response in v.26 is posed as a question, not a statement, in several translations. He was not agreeing with the man.)

Thus, he was afraid and did not invest his talent in faith.

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Colossians 1:9-11

Let’s strive to increase in knowing the Lord Jesus better and also in the understanding of the principles of His Kingdom so that we may be fruitful—not just for ourselves, but for Him.