Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30

(Additional Reading - Luke 19:12-27)

Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV) (KJV)

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag 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 five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. 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!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; 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 one bag of gold 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 gold 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 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

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My Notes:

This passage has always challenged me. Not the story, but the part at the end:

whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

It seems to run counter to Jesus' teaching "The last will be first, and the first, last".

I think our human understandingputs these two together because culturally we put "haves" before "have-nots".

Jesus clearly makes a distinction between being first and last and whether or not you "have".

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Upon further reflection, this parable far more likely refers tohow we use our gifts and callings, not how we use our "stuff".

Even with this understanding, the last part of the passage is still chilling.

To the final judge, our stewardship of what he gave us is deadly serious.

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This reminds me of the pseudo-biblical oft repeated cliche, "God never gives you more than you can handle". Apparently, God gives us what he expects us to use well, with severe consequences if we do not.

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This parable, along with the one before and after remind us that yes, Jesus is returning. He is the final judge. We must live in a state of constant readiness.