Matthew 25:14-30, The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Comments

The period of waiting for the return of Jesus is not to be an empty waiting period of meaningless delay but an opportunity for the followers of Jesus to put to use the “talents”—the specific privileges and opportunities of the kingdom of heaven—entrusted by the Master to his servants. A “talent” was a specific sum of money in Greek—about 6,000 denarii—and should not to be confused with what a “talent” means in English, although that works too!

The master gave the servants money for trading and investing. Two of the three put their money to use. The master rewarded the faithful servants not with large 401Ks but with additional responsibility. The wicked and slothful servant mistakenly practiced a safe discipleship, achieving nothing because he did not want to do anything wrong. The parable’s ultimate concern, however, turned to salvation and condemnation. A true servant works tirelessly for Jesus, not thinking he has a “ticket to heaven” and can live life anyway he or she wants.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, with what you have gifted me I am thankful. Through your Spirit, encourage me to put to good and healthy use my gifts to reflect your love and mercy into the world.