The Parable of the Talents is perhaps one of the teachings of Jesus that most shows the severity and character of God, as the one who has to receive retribution in some way for everything he has given. We often tend to think that God because he is “Almighty”, “Eternal” and limited only by his own integrity and fidelity to his word, is a God who does not need anything. However, this teaching of Jesus highlights the diligent and productive character that the Almighty wants his children to have.
Jesus very often taught through parables about the kingdom of God. When his disciples asked him why he was clear in explaining it (Matthew 13: 10-13). “To those who have revelation, it will be given, and they will have more; but to those who do not have, even the little they have will be taken away. With this sentence, Jesus made something clear; not all his followers were equal, therefore he would not treat them Same.
Not everyone really valued his words. Therefore, since there were differences between their levels of attention, interest and commitment; he also discriminated between them through the very nature of his teachings.
The parable is a literary form that consists of telling a figurative story from which, by analogy or similarity, a teaching related to a subject that is not explicit in it is derived. It is essentially a symbolic story or a comparison based on a genuine observation of reality.
The parable of the talents is therefore a story that deeply explores the reason for the evident partiality that Jesus had towards his followers; that on many occasions surely could have been uncomfortable for many.
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who, going far away, called his servants and delivered his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his ability; and then he went away. The one who received five talents went and traded with them, and gained another five talents. Likewise, the one who received two, also won another two. But he who received one made a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents approached and brought another five talents, saying: “Lord, you gave me five talents; here you go, I have gained another five talents on them.” His master said to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant; You have been faithful over a little, I will put you over much. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
The one who had received two talents also approached and said: “Lord, you gave me two talents; here you go, I have gained another two talents over them.” His master said to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant; You have been faithful over a little, I will put you over much. Enter into the joy of your lord.”
The words of a negligent servant…
But the one who had received one talent also approached and said: “Lord, I knew you are a hard man, that you reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter; for which I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground; here is what is yours.” Responding to his master, he said to him: “You wicked and negligent servant, did you know that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? Therefore, you should have given my money to the bankers and, when I came, I would have received what is mine with interest.
So take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents, for to the one who has, more will be given and he will have more; and from those who do not have, even what they have will be taken away. And cast the useless servant into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25:14-30 KJV Version 1995
Delving into the parable.
What was it really for him? Mister was in play at the time? How much money did a talent represent?
A talent a measure of weight that was equivalent to about 60 minas, 3000 shekels or 34 Kg of silver or gold.. An average worker earned 2 obolos for 1 day’s work. A talent in the case of being made of silver represented 36,000 obols, which is equal to 18,000 days of work… About 50 years working approximately, all this was entrusted to that man in a single delivery!… “1 Talent” 34 Kg of silver, a whole fortune in his hands, with which the useless servant did nothing.
If we see it from this perspective; perhaps we are a little more aware of the reason for the wise decision of the master to take away the talent from that servant who had hidden it. he had completely wasted the opportunity to do anything with all that effort represented in the talent.
Another interesting point to highlight. It is that, according to verse 5, that man gave his servants an amount according to his ability, and when judging by the results, he was not mistaken… They were all in condition of generate income with what had been delivered to them; they were given neither more nor less than they were capable of administering. Now that man was going away, his duty was to do something so that the goods would not be devalued in his hands…
The knowledge that condemns…
The last point that we will analyze is the fact that the servant knew what to expect from his master. Verse 24 shows it where he says, “I knew you are a severe man” … “you reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter”. This servant really knew what to expect if the use of his talent did not produce profit; but far from that knowledge it will encourage you to produce or to invest with that money “you were afraid”.
Well says the scripture:
The fear of man sets traps for him; he who trusts in Jehovah is safe.
Proverbs 29:25
Now this parable has first of all a future application. God as lord has given us of his goods, represented in his salvation and in the knowledge of his grace, in gifts, abilities and talents… it is necessary to remember that this parable begins with the expression “Because the kingdom of heaven is like a man who, going far away (…)” that point of comparison it links us to the kingdom of heaven, and leads us to ask ourselves, will we be good servants?
Learning to value your talent
At the time the talent, was a certain amount of money in silver. But today, it is necessary to analyze and reconsider what God has given us to manage and care for, so that when he asks us to account we are not found “negligent” or useless. no matter how much you think you have nothing, maybe you are not looking carefully within yourself… God has given you something, abilities, gifts and talents, a “something” that he can bless others. That is part of what the parable of the talents teaches.
Read Also: The Genuine Believer: An Agent of Heaven on Earth
This parable also has an application in the present. “Whom he has and does something good with what he has, God he will add to it and have more. (To be more productive and efficient) But those who do not produce with what they have, even the little they have will be taken away. The main teaching of this parable is that it depends on you; that in the future increase the Blessings of God over your life or decrease. It depends on what you do with what God has entrusted to you.
For every obstacle in your life God has a way out and the perfect love of God makes fear out (1 John 4:18) Be fruitful, do not fear, do not hide, or give up… put to produce all the good that God has put in you.
Today more than ever those words that Juan wrote in his first letter have resounding validity.
In love there is no fear, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear carries within itself punishment. From where the one who fears, has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18