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The Talents

A master entrusts his money to three servants and goes away. Two put it to work; one buries it out of fear. The parable asks what we do with what God has given us.

Read Matthew 25:14–30 in the reader

Awaiting theological review

Before you read

Who Jesus was speaking to

Scripture

The second of the three parables at the end of Jesus' discourse on the end of time, told to the disciples. After watchfulness comes faithfulness: how to live while waiting.

Matthew 25:14–30

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain

Five, two and one14For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods; 15And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. 16And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five. 17And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two. 18But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time19But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. 20And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above. 21His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two. 23His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Being afraid, I hid thy talent24But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed. 25And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine. 26And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury. 28Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents. 29For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away. 30And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What did you do with what you received?

The master and his three servants

Enter thou into the joy of thy lord

The master

He trusts his servants with his goods, each according to his ability, and rewards faithfulness with more.

  1. 25:15 — To every one according to his proper ability
  2. 25:21 — Well done, good and faithful servant

Interpretation

The two faithful servants receive exactly the same praise, though one gained five and the other two. What counts is faithfulness, not the amount.

Think about it

What has God entrusted to you?

Traded with the same

The two faithful servants

They went at once and put the money to work.

  1. 25:16 — Went his way, and traded with the same

Interpretation

They take risks with what is not theirs, because they trust the master. Faith grows when it is used.

Think about it

Which gift of yours could you put to work for others this week?

Being afraid

The servant who hid the talent

He sees his master as a hard man, and fear paralyses him.

  1. 25:24 — I know that thou art a hard man
  2. 25:25 — Being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth

Interpretation

His real problem is his image of the master. If we think of God as a hard judge, we bury our gifts; if we know he is good, we dare.

Think about it

Does fear of failing keep you from doing good?

What first hearers would have noticed

Context

How much is a talent?

History & scholarship

A talent was a very large sum, worth about six thousand denarii — roughly twenty years of a labourer's wages. Even the servant with one talent received a fortune.

History & scholarship

Our word talent, meaning a gift or ability, comes from this parable.

Burying money

History & scholarship

Burying money was considered a safe way to protect a deposit from thieves. The third servant does nothing illegal; he simply refuses to take any risk.

Look closer

Symbols

The joy of thy lordMatthew 25:21

Interpretation

The reward is not only more responsibility but sharing in the master's own joy.
The exterior darknessMatthew 25:30

Interpretation

A stark warning: doing nothing with God's gifts is not neutral.

Remember

Quiz me

Question 1 of 4beginner

How many talents did the first servant receive?

The next question

The last judgement: the next passageLuke's version: the poundsAfraid of failing?Paul on gifts