Parable of the Talents

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 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’”   [Matthew 25;20-25]

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Parable of the Talents

This parable also teaches that when the Lord returns, there will be true and false servants. It is not difficult to see that Christ is the master. After a long time the lord…came back and settled accounts with them.

This depicts the Second Advent. The first two received exactly the same commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant…” The test of their service was not how much they earned, but how hard they tried. Each used his ability fully and earned one hundred percent. These represent true believers whose rewards is to enjoy the blessings of the Messianic kingdom.

The third servant had nothing but insults and excuses for his master. He accused him of being hard and unreasonable, reaping where he had not sown, and gathering where he had not scattered seed. He excused himself on the basis that, paralyzed with fear, he buried his talent. This servant was doubtless an unbeliever; no genuine servant would entertain such thoughts of his master.

His lord rebuked him as wicked and lazy. The master is not agreeing with the charges against him. Rather he is saying, “If that’s the kind of master you thought I am, all the more reason to have put the talent to work. Your words condemn, not excuse you.”

The unprofitable servant was cast out—excluded from the kingdom. He shared the anguished fate of the wicked.

Dear friend, are you faithful in what the Lord has entrusted you with? 

 



"...cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.."

 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [Matthew 25:26:28]