The Parable of the Talents was addressed to the Twelve Apostles, but it also applies to all Christians. It is similar to the Parable of the Ten Minas (Pounds), and is found only in Matthew 25:14-30. It is sometimes called the Parable of the Three Servants. (Earle, BEACON BIBLE COMMENTARY, MATTHEW, pp. 226 ff.).
The Story
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 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.' "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!' "The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' "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!' "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, So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "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? 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. "`Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 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. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' (Matthew 25:14-30, New International Version).
Jesus again told a story about a man who entrusted money to his three servants (Greek, DOULOS, "slaves") before he
went on a journey. He gave one five talents, one two talents and one one talent, each according to his ability. A talent
was not a coin, but a weight of money sometimes measured in coins or bars of gold or bullion. (TASKER, TYNDALE NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES, MATTHEW, pp. 234 ff.). The man left home and immediately the servant with
five talents put his master's money to work and gained five more talents. Likewise, the servant with two talents gained
two more. However, the servant with one talent dug a hole and buried his talent. After a long period of time, the master returned home and began to settle accounts with his servants. The servant who gained the five talents was commended by his master and given more responsibility. The servant who gained two talents was treated the same. The man who received one talent and had not gained any for his master tried to excuse himself by blaming his master: "You are a hard man and I was afraid to fail, so I hid your talent--here it is." (Paraphrased). His master reprimanded him, "Then, you should have
deposited my money in a secure bank to earn interest. Take his talent and give it to my faithful servant with the ten
talents. Put him out of my house!" (Paraphrased).
The Interpretation
Jesus told this parable to "the innermost circle of his most trusted disciples." (Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF
OUR LORD, p. 91). However, this parable is to all believers, as well as to the Twelve Apostles. The symbols and the realities to which they refer are:
1. The master Jesus
2. The servants Christians
3. The journey Period of time between the First and Second Coming of Christ
4. The Talents Gifts that Jesus gives Christians
While Jesus is away, he has entrusted the Gospel to us. He has also given us different gifts and he expects us to
exercise our gifts in proclaiming the Gospel to needy humans. In the parable, Jesus uses the words, "good and
faithful" in describing the two faithful servants. Earle comments:
All can have these qualities regardless wheher poor or rich, uneducated or brilliantly intellectual. God requires this in everyone: GOOD in character, FAITHFUL in service. (Earle, BEACON BIBLE COMMENTARY, pp. 226 ff.).
Concerning the one-talent servant, Jesus calls him "wicked and lazy." The one-talent servant projects his own
internal state on his master and calls him "a hard man." (People who have a particular moral failure tend to see that
particular moral failure in others). He rationalized his failure. Earle quotes the French proverb,
QUI S'EXCUSE S'ACCUSE. (HE WHO EXCUSES HIMSELF ACCUSES HIMSELF).
(Earle, BEACON BIBLE COMMENTARY, pp. 226 ff.).
There is also a natural principle that parallels the lesson of the one-talent servant:
USE IT OR LOSE IT!
Our muscles will atrophy if we do not use them. If we fail to use any mental or motor skill over a period of time, then
it will become harder and harder to use that skill. The more we use our brains, the less chance we have of getting
Alzheimer's's Disease at midlife or later years. Barclay sees four lessons in this parable:
1. God gives people different gifts.
2. The reward of work well done is still more work to do [and more responsibility!].
3. The person who is punished is the person who will not try.
4. More shall be given to the one who has and to the one who has little, even that shall be
taken away. (Barclay, DAILY BIBLE STUDY SERIES, MATTHEW, p. 356).
Central Truth
GOD REQUIRES US TO BE FAITHFUL IN SERVICE AND GOOD IN CHARACTER.
Conclusion
Life is short. It is of utmost importance to ask God to examine our hearts. He alone can see us objectively--as we
really are. If we are not using our gifts for his glory, then let us ask him to help us begin immediately to use those
gifts for his glory and to help people.
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