Talents – Matthew 25:14-18
It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.
Matthew 25:14-18 (The Message)
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.
Matthew 25:14-18 (New International Version)
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
Matthew 25:14-18 (New Living Translation)
Those who have been blessed with many talents should not depreciate the value of the services of those who are less gifted then themselves. The smallest trust is a trust from God. The one talent with diligent effort can be double to two and than doubled again to four. That way the humblest instrument may grow in power and usefulness.
I’ve always wondered… is there a subtle implication that the one who has less will be more apt to do less with it and he who has more will be apt to do more with it? Or is that totally not part of the meaning of the parable?
Yes I was a little confused myself…as the men with more money used it such that they made it increase, while the last simply buried his money. Yet I guessed the parable was meant to talk up that last man.