Parable of Talents

[Flavius_Aetius]

It just always seemed like a bad parable to me…

Matthew 25: 14 - 30
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15 to one he gave five talents, 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; 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 did not winnow; 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 sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed?
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 every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

As a parable itself, what right does the Master have to be so cruel? (Other than being a greedy tyrant) When you leave your servants money it’d would be expected you’d get back exactly what you gave them; it should not be an obligation that the Master expected them to double his funds when he returned; just to keep his money safe. Not only this but the servant says he did this out of fear, if he was actually slothful and simply did not want to work the money it would of mention it (as it was mentioned that Judas only wanted to sell the perfumes for his own gain).

Then as a meaning I have looked it up and it seems to mean people should give out the most of our ability in faith. But what if we only have one talent?! What if we’re barely dangling to our faith; having to keep it sheltered out of fear that we’ll fall in our attempts to reach out to others.

It all seems selfish of the Master and completely unfair…I suppose that would describe God well enough though…

 

[Texas_Roofer]

Jesus went on a journey to heaven before he left he called on his chosen people, to some he gave great talent, to another he gave good talent, and the last little talent was given. When he returned he came to visit these people. The first said I have used all the talent you gave me and thus many more people want to follow you. The man of good talent said lord I used the talent you gave me and a couple of people now wish to join us. And the last said Lord I did not want to embarrass myself so I did not use the talent and wish to return it unused to you. Jesus says to the last, your desire is to have your salvation, yet leave your neighbor ignorant of the way! Your decision to save ONLY YOURSELF has now doomed you.

Does that help?

 

[Barbkw]

"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 did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 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.""

The servant was being caught in his own lie. He hated his position as a servant and hated his Master. He lived off his Master’s gifts to him, but he wouldn’t reciprocate the blessing.
His hatred toward his Master stopped all motivation to convert one “coin” into more “coins.”

He became lazy and sloathful (as teenagers do toward their parents) when he gathered hatred in his heart.

When people begin maturing, they realize that they are personally responsible for their thoughts, words, actions, reactions and works. This holds true, both with God and with our neighbors (family, friends, neighbors, etc.)

 

[Big_Ro]

Actually this is one of my favorite parables. It’s about stewardship. You could take it as instructive of how we are to handle material wealth. It is telling us that any material wealth we come in to possesion of should be seen as on loan sort of speak from the Lord. It is partially for our own sustenence but also is to be used to do God’s work in the world. Now, I don’t think that material wealth is limited to money, but it lends itself to an accessible explanation. Money should certainly be used to our own good, but some or perhaps all of the surplus must be used to advance God’s work in the world. This wouldn’t preclude savings because that would be part of a prudent strategy. So, that aside, we are to seek out ways to use our surplus to do the work that God has for us. This could include charitable works, investing in endevors that we feel advance his purpose. How are we to know what those might be? We would pray and ask for guidance and discernement form the Holy Spirit. And, yes, this could include investing in a business venture. business’ afterall hire, pay and therefore help to nourish and sustain other people. You could give to the Church.

It could also have nothing to do with money. Let’s say you were a farmer and grew more than enough food to feed your family. You should then turn and supply your surplus to the needy. So, the parable is telling the farmer he should plant well so that he can harvest well and therefore have plenty that might be used to sustain the poor.

It is also telling us that our material wealth is not really ours. We should treat it as God’s possesions to which we are entrusted. As good stewards, we must increase it and prodcue more than we are given so that his work is mulitplied. It means we should not be worldly. Constantly worried and working to aggrandize our wealth on this earth. We should be far more concerned with non-worldly matters. Spiritual matters.

It is also instructive in terms of faith and spreading the Gospel. As Mark tells us, to whom much is given much is expected and to they who have little even that will be taken away. If we are in receipt of God’s grace by hearing the word, we are to spread that word. Thereby increasing the Kingdom of God. If you receive the spirit and then hide it in the ground for safekeeping you are inhibiting the spread of the Gospel and thus the work of God is impeded. He seeks to reconcile all to him. We are reconciled by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He is found in the Gospel. So, we magnify the personal gift ten times by spreading, or investing, that grace in the world.

I think you’re right. God is a difficult master. He asked his own son to die on the cross so that a stiff necked people mired in sin could be reconciled to him. Jesus did so willingly. This gift is available to sinners almost exclusively. Free of charge. The pathway to him may be narrow and difficult to traverse but the reward is eternal life. I know your not Catholic. I don’t know a thing about the faith that you list on your profile, but please accept this offer. God Bless.

 

[mark_avery]

It just always seemed like a bad parable to me…

As a parable itself, what right does the Master have to be so cruel? (Other than being a greedy tyrant) When you leave your servants money it’d would be expected you’d get back exactly what you gave them; it should not be an obligation that the Master expected them to double his funds when he returned; just to keep his money safe. Not only this but the servant says he did this out of fear, if he was actually slothful and simply did not want to work the money it would of mention it (as it was mentioned that Judas only wanted to sell the perfumes for his own gain).

Then as a meaning I have looked it up and it seems to mean people should give out the most of our ability in faith. But what if we only have one talent?! What if we’re barely dangling to our faith; having to keep it sheltered out of fear that we’ll fall in our attempts to reach out to others.

It all seems selfish of the Master and completely unfair…I suppose that would describe God well enough though…

WELL i suppose if like the old lady in the gospel giving her last penny he had given it to the church,would his master not of praised him for his alternative approach amounting to such a possible future reward either financial or better.

 

[James224]

It just always seemed like a bad parable to me…

As a parable itself, what right does the Master have to be so cruel? (Other than being a greedy tyrant) When you leave your servants money it’d would be expected you’d get back exactly what you gave them; it should not be an obligation that the Master expected them to double his funds when he returned; just to keep his money safe. Not only this but the servant says he did this out of fear, if he was actually slothful and simply did not want to work the money it would of mention it (as it was mentioned that Judas only wanted to sell the perfumes for his own gain).

Then as a meaning I have looked it up and it seems to mean people should give out the most of our ability in faith. But what if we only have one talent?! What if we’re barely dangling to our faith; having to keep it sheltered out of fear that we’ll fall in our attempts to reach out to others.

It all seems selfish of the Master and completely unfair…I suppose that would describe God well enough though…

It means that we are to use the gifts God gives us. I’ve heard some who use this parable to show that Capitalism is good.

 

[Sherry_G]

God gives us gifts, and then He gives us free will. He loves each one of us. In our faithfulness to Him, we are required to do as He asks. Its a pretty clear parable. Not easy, but perfectly clear. Ask Him for the faith that you are seeking, meanwhile live as if you already possess it.

 

[puzzleannie]

It just always seemed like a bad parable to me…

As a parable itself, what right does the Master have to be so cruel? (Other than being a greedy tyrant) When you leave your servants money it’d would be expected you’d get back exactly what you gave them; it should not be an obligation that the Master expected them to double his funds when he returned; just to keep his money safe. .

the Master was not a cruel bloodthirsty tyrant, he fit the profile of a master with servants in that society. Had he been a tyrant he would not have trusted them at all with his property. Moreover he gave them explicit instructions to use the property for increase in value, not merely to keep it safe. That is why he had servants. The context of the larger chapter makes it clear Christ is talking about the servant’s duty to the Master of making his affairs prosper, that is what they were hired to do. He was a hard-taskmaster, but that no where implies he was unjust. Have you ever worked at a job for pay? That is what justice in the workplace is, the employee does his very best job for the employer, using all the means at his disposal, and the employer pays the agreed wage and fires an employee who does not perform.

You are falling into an error to which you are prone, citing a scripture, putting your own interpretation on in which does not even agree with the words of the passage, let alone the Church’s interpretation and teaching on it, then arguing your own interpretation. It would by far more helpful to you if you asked, “What does the Church teach about the meaning of this passage?” and then debate that interpretation, bringing in informed sources beyond personal opinion colored by unhappy life experiences.