14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants1 and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,2 to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 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.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.3 You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 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.’ 24 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, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 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? 27 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. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Section Overview
Long before Mozart’s themes and variations or Miles Davis’s improvisations on a line of music, Jesus elaborates on a theological theme from Matthew 24:36 to 25:30. In Matthew 24:36, Jesus said that no one knows the “day and hour” when this age will end. Because the Son of Man might return at any time, disciples should always “stay awake” (24:37–42). Because Jesus will return unexpectedly, they should always be ready (24:43–44). Because he may come sooner than expected, they should prove themselves daily (24:45–51). Yet the Master may arrive later than expected, so wise disciples prepare to endure until he returns (25:1–13). Finally, while he delays, his servants labor faithfully at the tasks he entrusts to them (25:14–30).
The parable of the talents depicts God as a master who entrusts substantial resources to servants, expecting them to be good stewards of it. The master entrusts different amounts to his three servants (or slaves; 25:14–15). Two noble slaves multiply what they receive, return it to the master, and gain rewards and commendations. A third, wicked servant does nothing with his talent and blames his laziness on the master’s alleged harshness. The master chastises and punishes him, leading Jesus to comment on the punishment of the wicked.
Section Outline
VIII.H. Disciples Watch and Remain Prepared (24:42–25:46) . . .
4. Prepared by Faithful Use of Talents (25:14–30)
Blomberg calls the tale of the talents a complex three-character parable. The master is the God-like authority figure. The parable features two faithful subordinates who differ from each other only in the amounts entrusted to them, and an unfaithful subordinate whose failures prompt the master’s wrath. In detail, the master departs, entrusting substantial sums to his servants. Two double the master’s money; one does nothing (25:16–18). When the master returns to settle accounts, the faithful servants receive double commendation (vv. 19–23). The final servant blames the master for his performance. A long closing segment then accents the consequences of sin (vv. 24–30).
Response
The principal points of the parable are clear. God is like a master who entrust his resources to his servants and expects them to make good use of them. Second, the Lord will approve, praise, and reward his faithful servants. Third, the Lord will chastise, condemn, and punish unfaithful servants.
The parable suggests an array of subsidiary points. Clearly, one aspect of Jesus’ praise and reward is the privilege of gaining more talents and rendering additional service. Not everyone would call that a reward, especially given the ardors of leadership in a fallen world. But the faithful discharge of one task does empower workers to perform another, greater task, and it is right to see that more as privilege than burden.
Blomberg’s marvelous work Interpreting the Parables regularly warns readers not to overinterpret a story’s details. Donkeys are not the church, and oil is not the sacraments (cf. the introduction to his book). Even so, Jesus does choose to tell stories in ways that merit attention. Notice that the master bestows great resources on his servants. He does the same in the real world, investing his servants with the resources for grand tasks. Human work matters, and Jesus’ servants have the privilege of working for and answering to him, even if an all-too-human boss reads the interim reports.
It is heartwarming, further, to observe that the two faithful servants silently receive disparate talents but work with equal faithfulness, hear identical praise, and receive identical rewards from the master. The Lord does not assess his servants by the sheer quantity that we produce but by faithful use of whatever resources he grants us. Jesus said, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48). The Lord entrusts more or less according to his good pleasure. The parable may hint that he knows who should receive more, or less.
It is right for Jesus’ servants to appraise themselves, asking, “What talents has the Lord granted me? What training have I received? What mentors have invested in me? Am I a lazy steward or a diligent one? Do I multiply or bury my talents? Do I act in ways that lead my Lord to entrust me with more, or less? Does his pleasure and commendation move me as it should?”
The parable also reshapes Christian dispositions toward work. The parable assumes that it is good to work and bear responsibilities. It even views more work as a reward, although the story may assume that the work occurs in a renewed creation. Still, work is good, and labor will be transformed and blessed in the renewal of all things.
Finally, the parable fills out Matthew’s portrait of Jesus. He controls vast resources and delegates servants to use them well as his plenipotentiaries. He watches and appraises all things, judging who has and has not been faithful to him.