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Wise Servants Will Put Their Talents To Work For The Master While He Is Gone

14 “For it [a] is just like a man going-on-a-journey— he called his own slaves and handed over his possessions to them. 15 And he gave five talents[b] to one, and two to another, and one to another— to each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. 16 Immediately[c] having gone, the one having received the five talents worked with them and gained another five. 17 Similarly, the one having received the two talents gained another two. 18 But the one having received the one talent, having gone, dug [a hole in] the ground and hid his master’s silver talent. 19 Now after much time, the master of those slaves comes and settles the account with them. 20 And having come to him, the one having received the five talents brought another five talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed-over five talents to me. Look, I gained another five talents’. 21 His master said to him, ‘Well[d] done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master’. 22 And also having come to him, the one having received the two talents said, ‘Master, you handed over two talents to me. Look, I gained another two talents’. 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master’. 24 And also having come to him, the one having received[e] the one talent said, ‘Master, I knew you— that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter[f] [threshings]. 25 And having become afraid, having gone, I hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours’. 26 But having responded, his master said to him, ‘Evil and lazy slave! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather from where I did not scatter[g]! 27 Therefore you should-have put my money with the bankers. And having come, I would have received-back what was mine with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent away from him, and give it to the one having the ten talents. 29 For to everyone having, it will be given, and he will be caused-to-abound. But from the one not having, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 And throw-out the unprofitable[h] slave into the outer darkness’. In that place, there will be the weeping and the grinding of teeth.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 25:14 That is, the kingdom of the heavens, v 1. Or, For He, the Son of Man.
  2. Matthew 25:15 One silver talent was equivalent to 6000 denarii, 6000 days wages for a laborer. This large sum of money represents our individual gifts and abilities, spiritual and natural.
  3. Matthew 25:16 journey. Immediately having gone. Or, journey immediately. Having gone.
  4. Matthew 25:21 Or, It is good; or, Excellent!
  5. Matthew 25:24 This is a different tense of this word, implying here ‘having received and still having’.
  6. Matthew 25:24 Or, winnow. Or, scatter [seed], repeating the previous statement. This one did nothing with what he was given, and seeks to excuse himself by blaming it on the master— Because you are the way you are, I did not invest what you gave me.
  7. Matthew 25:26 scatter! Therefore. Or, scatter? Then.
  8. Matthew 25:30 Or, worthless, useless, good-for-nothing. He brought no gain to the master.

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