Parable of Ten Talents
The Parable of the Ten Talents describes the obligations of a faithful servant, as described by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (25:14-30 KJV). The parable is similar to the Parable of Ten Minas described in Luke 19:11-27. In the Parable of the Ten Talents, a master places his servants in charge of his goods while he is away. When the master returns, he judges the servants based on their faithfulness to the obligations given to them. The master expected the servants to not only watch over the goods, but to invest make profit from the goods. Those servants who gained profit from the goods were rewarded for their faith and their work while those who did not were condemned.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is a symbolic explanation of what God expects from his servants and followers. We are given "goods" which are created by God and belong to God. However, we the faithful servants are given responsibility to not only watch over the "goods" but to grow and invest in them in order to advance the Faith and the Kingdom of Heaven. God gives us the spiritual tools to do the work that He expects of us to grow and advance the Faith of the Gospel message. God has given us the entire Earth that He created along with everything in it and expects us to grow the Kingdom of Heaven using the spiritual tools that He has given us. If we do not invest in the Faith, the Faith cannot grow and the Kingdom of Heaven will not grow. When God returns to Earth to judge His servants, He will reward his faithful servants and punish those who were unprofitable. The faithful servants will be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven, while the unprofitable will be separated from God. For the profitable servants, their reward will be multiplied while the unprofitable servant will lose even the small reward that he originally was given.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This parable is a symbolic explanation of what God expects from his servants and followers. We are given "goods" which are created by God and belong to God. However, we the faithful servants are given responsibility to not only watch over the "goods" but to grow and invest in them in order to advance the Faith and the Kingdom of Heaven. God gives us the spiritual tools to do the work that He expects of us to grow and advance the Faith of the Gospel message. God has given us the entire Earth that He created along with everything in it and expects us to grow the Kingdom of Heaven using the spiritual tools that He has given us. If we do not invest in the Faith, the Faith cannot grow and the Kingdom of Heaven will not grow. When God returns to Earth to judge His servants, He will reward his faithful servants and punish those who were unprofitable. The faithful servants will be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven, while the unprofitable will be separated from God. For the profitable servants, their reward will be multiplied while the unprofitable servant will lose even the small reward that he originally was given.
