Parable of the Talents
“For it is just like a man who was about to take a journey, and he called his servants together and entrusted them with his possessions.
To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and then he went on his journey.
The one who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made a profit and gained five more.
Likewise the one who had two made a profit and gained two more.
But the one who had received the one went and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
And the one who had received the five talents came and brought him five more, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted to me five talents.
See, I have made a profit and gained five more talents.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
“Also the one who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me.
See, I have made a profit and gained two more talents.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
“The one who had received one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a harsh and demanding man, reaping the harvest where you did not sew and gathering where you did not scatter seed.
So I was afraid to lose the talent, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is your own.’
“But his master answered him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant, you knew that I reap the harvest where I did not sew and gather where I did not scatter seed.
Then you ought to have put my money with the bankers, and at my return I would have received my money back with interest.
So take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
“For to everyone who has and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely, more will be given, and he will be richly supplied so that he will have an abundance;
but from the one who does not have because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God, even what he does have will be taken away.
And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness;
in that place of grief and torment there will be weeping over sorrow and pain and grinding of teeth over distress and anger."
The "Parable of the Talents" is the second teaching Parable of Jesus found in Matthew Chapter 25.
This parable seems to be about investing money, but is that what Jesus' parable is about?
Notice Jesus didn't use the word money.
What the Master entrusted the servants with were his possessions.
The Master gave his servants the responsibility to be good stewards of the Master's possessions.
The next thing the Master did was to delegate responsibility according to each servant's personal stewardship or management ability.
Our Heavenly Father entrusts us with His possessions to be good stewards by investing in the Kingdom of Heaven and serving others.
Matthew 25:15 A talent was a measurement of weight, usually 58-80 pounds. One talent of silver was worth more than 15 years’ wages. One talent of gold was worth even more.
ReplyDelete