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Parable of the Talents
“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.’” — Matthew 25:14-30, ESV
Recorded in Matthew within the Olivet Discourse, the parable of the talents teaches the importance of spiritual stewardship. While very similar and usually compared with the parable of the minas, it was told separately by Jesus and has a different emphasis.
The parable follows and is connected to the parable of the ten virgins. It further expands on the theme of constant readiness for Christ’s return, but also provides a practical application of James 2:26 in emphasizing the Christian’s active responsibilities in the interim.
The master leaving on a journey symbolizes Christ departing to heaven after His earthly ministry. A talent, in this case a significant quantity of money, signifies spiritual gifts from God. The servants who receive five and two talents from their master represent faithful, true believers. The servant receiving one talent represents an unsaved, false believer. In assigning sums of money for his servants to manage, the master provides an opportunity for them to demonstrate their faithfulness and earn greater responsibility.
Beyond the Great Commission, Christians are charged with being a light to the world, to live a life that reflects their faith in and obedience to the only true God. In the same way the servants of the parable were granted resources and a responsibility of stewardship, so have believers in Christ. In both instances, a return is expected.
While all people have been entrusted with certain gifts from God, believers specifically have been given salvation by way of grace, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and
protection in the hope that is in Jesus. Because of these blessings, the believer’s duty is to fully give himself to the work of the Lord while awaiting His return.
What does ‘the work of the Lord’ mean? It means to reflect God’s holiness in our lives that He might be glorified, to serve others, and to spread the message of the gospel that others may be saved. Anything undertaken should in some way contribute to His kingdom, with the understanding that the power to do so is not of us, but of God, just as the talents are the property of the master. Exercising good spiritual stewardship is to channel those resources for His glory.
It is notable that the master gives different amounts to his servants. All people have different God-given abilities, opportunities, and spiritual gifts, and are given responsibilities according to their potential. Just as the good soil yields “a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty,” those who actively do the work of God will produce a variety of positive outcomes.
That it was a long time before the master returned is a key point. It suggests ample opportunity to use one’s abilities to advance His kingdom. There is plenty of work to be done on His behalf before He returns. It was also a message to the disciples that Jesus’s return, while imminent, was not necessarily going to be soon, continuing the example from the parable of the virgins in which the bridegroom tarries.
The servants in the parable who received five and two talents each immediately went to work. Respectful of their master and gratified in the responsibility they were given, they were intent on being effective stewards of his money. Such faithfulness by the Christian demonstrates that he is truly saved.
Knowing that the third servant is less capable than the other two, the master gives him one talent to manage. He puts it to no use, simply burying it and dismissing the opportunity because he sees no gain in it for himself. He does not respect the master and will not work on his behalf. That he didn’t even deposit the money to earn interest shows the slight regard he has for the master’s authority. By doing nothing with what he was entrusted, the third servant seals his fate.
The settling of accounts represents final judgment. The faithful servants who doubled their master’s principal are praised and rewarded generously. They receive a promise from the master that their faithfulness over a little will allow them to be “set over much.” Likewise, true believers demonstrating saving faith will enter and have position in heaven. The rewards of stewardship in the kingdom of God are expounded on in the companion parable of the minas.
The third servant at first tries to rationalize doing nothing, saying that he was afraid of the master because he is a hard man who takes what is not his. But this is untrue, because if the servant truly feared the master then he would have done at least something to avoid his ire. He can make no excuse for abandoning his responsibility and resorts to insults and lies. With his contempt for the master and his unworthiness revealed, he is cast out, just as false believers will be expelled from God's favor and condemned to eternal torment. There are those who profess themselves to be Christians but serve Him conditionally or not at all, ignoring the fact that to follow Christ is also to submit to His lordship.
The master gives the unfaithful servant’s talent to the servant who has the ten. It is the master’s money, and he will want it invested wisely. Likewise, God will give more responsibility in His kingdom to those who prove themselves to be more responsible.
As Christians, we are to be effective stewards; to maximize the opportunities we have to serve God, using the resources He has given us for that purpose. When He returns, the Lord will review our stewardship of what we have been given and repay each one for what he has done. Managing God’s gifts is a large responsibility, but we should be strengthened by knowing that the work done in His name and through His power will most certainly achieve what He wishes.
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Most scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB)
