The Talents is the parable of a master who entrusted his property to servants and went away.
To one he gave five talents,
to another two,
to another one,
each according to his ability.
The first two traded and doubled what they were given.
The third dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
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.
Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew places this story in the same night-watch as the virgins and the sheep and the goats.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a journey. He does not leave the house empty. He delivers his property.
A talent is a heavy sum, not a pocket coin. The amounts differ because ability differs. The charge is the same: put it to work.
Delay is assumed. Return is certain.
- The five and the two hear one sentence. Faithful over a little. Set over much. Joy of the master.
- The one-talent man offers theology as an excuse. I knew you to be a hard man. I was afraid. I hid it. The master judges him by his own words. You wicked and slothful servant. You could have put it with the bankers. Take the talent from him. Give it to the one who has ten.
To everyone who has, more will be given. From the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
The parable is not about recruiting more gifted people.
It is about what you do with what the Master actually placed in your hand while He is away.
- According to his ability means the Master is not random. It also means no one is empty-handed.
- Five and two receive the same Well done. The sentence is faithfulness, not volume.
- Little and much are His words. What feels large to us is still little to Him.
- Fear that buries the gift is not humility. It is sloth wearing a religious coat.
- The Master’s joy is the room the faithful enter.
- Outer darkness is the end of the servant who would not trade.
- This story and the minas preach one return. Different sums here; same mina there. Both demand work until He comes.
- The Journey – The Master goes; the house remains at work.
- According to Ability – Five, two, and one are assigned, not grabbed.
- Trading – Property put at risk in order to increase.
- Well Done – Good and faithful; the verdict that matters.
- Set over Much – Authority in the joy of the Master.
- Buried Gift – Fear, slander of the Master, no increase.
- Outer Darkness – Worthless servant; weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 25:14-18 – “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.”
- Matthew 25:19-23 – “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 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.’ 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.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward… 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.’”
- Matthew 25:24-30 – “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, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 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? 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. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
- Luke 19:12-27 – The minas: same gift to each; cities as reward; enemies who would not have Him reign.
- Matthew 24:45-47 – The faithful and wise servant found so doing; set over all his possessions.
- Matthew 25:1-13 – The ten virgins; the door shut; watch therefore.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – Stewards of the mysteries of God; it is required that they be found faithful.
- 1 Peter 4:10 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
- Romans 12:6-8 – Gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; use them.
- 2 Timothy 1:6-7 – Fan into flame the gift of God; God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
- Luke 12:48 – Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.
- 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 – Fire will test what sort of work each one has done; reward or loss.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 – We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
- John 15:8 – By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.
- Hebrews 6:12 – Do not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Proverbs 6:6-11 – Go to the ant, O sluggard; a little sleep, and poverty comes.
He entrusted to them his property, each according to his ability. Then he went away.
After a long time the master came and settled accounts.
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.
I was afraid. I hid your talent in the ground. You wicked and slothful servant.
Take it from him. Cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.
To everyone who has, more will be given. From the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Do not bury what He put in your hand. Ability differs. The Well done does not. Trade until He comes. The joy of the Master is the room you want.
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