THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS (Matthew 25:14-30)

(Or, The Story of the Three Servants)

14 Again, it [the kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents[1] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.  Then he went on his journey.
16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.
17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.
18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents.  See, I have gained five more.”
21 His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!” [2]
22 The man with the two talents also came. “Master”, he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.”
23 His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!”

24 Then the man who had received the one talent came.  “Master”, he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.  See, here is what belongs to you.”
26 His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant!  So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?
27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.
29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [3]

A STORY ABOUT FAITHFUL AND UNFAITHFUL SERVICE

Like the parable of the ten minas (or pounds), recorded by Luke (19:11-27), this story describes a wealthy man, about to travel, who “entrusted” or “put in charge of” (TEV) large amounts of money with his servants, and expected them to act responsibly with his money in his absence.  The servants did not become owners of the property, but it was their responsibility to take good care of it.

As in the previous parable of the ten girls, the main issue concerns the readiness of the servants.  On his return, the master called the three servants to account.  Two of the servants had increased their master’s wealth and both were commended and rewarded, but the third servant, who had made no profit and simply returned the same amount of money, was condemned for his laziness.  Jesus taught the principle that reliability and honesty in smaller affairs proved one’s integrity in larger affairs.  The grace of God in giving believers gifts requires a response of faithfulness and integrity on our part. 

Christians usually think of spiritual gifts when they hear the word “talents”, but a talent was originally a sum of money so this story talks about money and responsibility in general.  All that we have is a gift from God.  As stewards we should make responsible use of our God-given gifts and opportunities to prepare for his return.  Commentators are divided about the fate of the third servant.  Some argue for a loss of salvation (eternal punishment) while others argue for a less severe penalty, the loss of reward (temporal punishment).

This parable is usually compared with the parable of the pounds in Luke chapter 19.  In Luke’s story the master gave all his servants the same amount, or an equal trust, and the unequal returns of the servants were matched by different rewards.  In Matthew’s parable the talents are distributed unequally according to the master’s evaluation of his servants’ capability and the rewards of two servants are identical.  In Matthew’s story, therefore, there is an emphasis on the principle, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)  The more we have from God, the greater our accountability before God. 

INTERPRETATION

The context of this parable is the return of Christ.  The wealthy “master” is the Lord Jesus Christ whose “journey” refers to his departure to heaven after his resurrection.  The “servants” represent initially the 12 disciples and later all believers of every generation.  The “talents” symbolize all gifts, both natural and spiritual, which he “entrusts” or loans to his servants.  Different servants receive different gifts and different opportunities.  The master’s return “after a long time” refers to the end of this age of grace during which the servants should faithfully use their talents for Christ’s service.

The “settling of accounts” takes place at the “judgment seat of Christ” when the service of believers will be evaluated (Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 5:10).  The test is faithfulness or unfaithfulness, not popularity or apparent success.  Many will be commended but some will be condemned.  Degrees of punishment and reward are based upon privilege and opportunity, and our stewardship of them.

ABILITY (verses 14-15)

A talent represents any kind of resource (such as money) or ability (for example public speaking or any spiritual gift) or opportunity for service that we have.  God sovereignly distributes his gifts unequally according to his grace.  Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:4 –5, 11).  The Holy Spirit gives each Christian one or more gifts “as he wills.” (Verse 11 RSV)  Each believer has a different endowment of gifts.  The apostle Peter makes the same point: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  (1 Peter 4:10)  God’s gifts should be used for the welfare of the whole church and not used selfishly or for self-promotion.

The phrase “each according to his ability” indicates that the amounts given were in keeping with the abilities of the servants.  No matter how much or how little we have, we must always recognize that we are responsible to him for what he has given.  There is no ground for pride in those who have been given five talents and no cause for envy or discontent in those who have received one talent.  It is unwise to compare ourselves with others.  Possibly one-talent people, who use their talent, do most Christian work.

.RESPONSIBILITY (16-18)

“At once” indicates that the good servants promptly put the money to work.  The expected return was in proportion to the amount entrusted.  The response of the first two servants illustrates what Jesus required, an unhesitating and fruitful obedience from his disciples.  The two “trustworthy” (NEB) servants received the same commendation from the master, although their original responsibility was different, and their achievement was different.

But one servant, unwilling to work or take risks, simply dug a hole and buried the money.  This was safer than the deposit systems of the time. (In Luke’s parable, the money of the third servant is hidden in a piece of cloth.)  He decided to “play it safe” rather than serve the master.

ACCOUNTABILITY (verses 19-25)

The Day of Judgment is depicted as a master investigating his servants’ accounts (c.f. 18:23).  The accounting begins “after a long time” which implies that the fulfillment of the kingdom will be delayed.  “Settled accounts” (verse 19 NIV) is a commercial term.  The first servant, who doubled his five talents, is praised for his faithfulness and given two things: increased responsibility and a share in his master’s “joy”.  The second servant has also been faithful with what has been given him and hears the same words as his more able fellow servant.  The same commendation of “Well done” (verses 21 and 23) suggests that we will be rewarded by how well we have used our talents, rather than on the basis of how much service we have done.

The master rewards his slaves generously.  In heaven, God honours the earthly service of Christians by giving them more service.  The reward for good work is more work and increased responsibility.

THE EXCUSES OF THE THIRD SERVANT WERE NOT ACCEPTED

The emphasis in this story is on the third character that the master called “wicked, lazy and useless.”  He accused his master of being a “hard” man who exploited the labour of others (“harvesting where you have not sown”), and putting the servant in a difficult position.  Should he take the risk of trying to increase the one talent entrusted to him, he would see little of the profit.  If he failed and lost everything, he would experience the master’s wrath.  However, he misjudged his master’s character and distrusted himself; he did not understand his master’s generosity.  Perhaps he was annoyed at having been given much less than the other two.  In effect he did not care what happened to his master’s property.

CONDEMNATION (26-30)

The master condemned the servant as “wicked and lazy” on the basis of the servant’s own words.  If the master was so hard and grasping, should not the servant have put the money where it would have been relatively safe, earned interest, and required no work?  There is a definite contrast between the third servant and the first two servants whose loyalty and works indicate their relationship of trust with their master.  The third slave had no works, which in the NT is the same as having no saving faith.  James says, “Faith without deeds is dead.” (2:26)

The talent entrusted to this wicked servant was taken from him and given to the servant with ten talents.  The wicked servant was considered “worthless” (NIV) or “useless” (NEB) or “unprofitable” (KJV) for to fail to use what God has entrusted to us is a serious sin.  Having neglected opportunity, he was deprived of further opportunity (c.f. Matthew 13:12).  God is not a kindly father figure who tolerates laziness and disobedience; Jesus said that the servant’s laziness was wickedness.  God is not a hard taskmaster but his grace does not tolerate irresponsibility.

NATIONAL APPLICATION: A WARNING TO ISRAEL’S LEADERS

Whom does the “wicked and lazy servant” represent?  Jesus told the religious leaders of Israel that they would be held accountable to God for their careless stewardship of his revelation.  The self-righteous Pharisees hoarded the revelation of God that was intended for all mankind.  He warned the scribes and Pharisees that God’s judgment was at hand.  God had entrusted Israel with his revelation: “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)  But Israel failed to fulfill its divine mission and, in effect, kept God’s truth for itself.  Regrettably, the Pharisees “set aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions.” (Mark 7:9)

SOME PERSONAL APPLICATIONS

1. To each individual person God has given gifts and talents.  Whether these gifts are few or many, we are expected to use them in the service of Christ.  The issue is not how much we have but what we do with what we have.  The one talent servant is just as important as the more gifted.  If it were not for the one-talent people in the Church, probably very little would be accomplished.
2. The key is faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2) for God measures us against ourselves and not against other servants.  God rewards faithfulness but what we do not use for the Lord we are in danger of losing.  The law of rewards is that trust comes to the trustworthy.

3.      The parable discourages passivity and encourages the doing of one’s duty, and the development of the resources God entrusts to us.

4. The fact that Jesus will reward his servants is wholly a matter of his grace.  We do not deserve anything just because we have obeyed and served him (See the parable of the farmer and his servant in Luke 17:7-10).  Serving him should be a delight, not just a duty, and we obey him because we love him (Ephesians 6:6; John 14:15; Psalm 40:8).
5. This parable does not teach salvation by good works, as salvation is not based on human merit.

 

FOR REFLECTION

·        How do you see yourself?  Are you a five-talent person, a two-talent person or a one-talent person?

·        How might jealousy or resentment of the abilities of other Christians discourage or hinder our service for God?

• What opportunities for service have you been given?  What will you say to Christ when he returns?  Or at your death?  What will he say to you? 

·        The reality of a future judgment should encourage a faithful effort in the present.

• “A servant is known by his master’s absence.”  Am I so preoccupied with the uncertainties of the future that I am doing nothing in the present?

• It is a privilege to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  All of us need encouragement to use what we have in God’s service. 

• The psalmist said, “The world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; the earth and all who live in it are his.” (24:1 TEV).  We are stewards of whatever God has given us.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the abilities and gifts that you have graciously invested in my life.   In view of your incomparable salvation give me grace, I pray, to work diligently with the responsibilities entrusted to me so that I may faithfully and lovingly serve according to your will.  Amen.

Jim Peacock MA (Hons), Diploma of Teaching.