Parable of the talents or minas
Matthew 25:14-30
King James Version (KJV)
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.
Luke 19:12-27
King James Version (KJV)
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servantsto be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
The parable teaches us very important lessons in life:
- It makes us understand the problem of unequal distribution of wealth, talents, skills...etc.
- Optimum utilization of resources.
- Misunderstanding about Judgement.
- Wrong decisions of Future, or fear of Future or its consequences.
- Little Faith.
It makes us understand the problem of unequal distribution of wealth, talents, skills etc, because in the parable the talents were not equally distributed. It is because, each and everyone was capable of handling what was given to them, God knows better than what we know about ourselves. Our needs our wants, our desires. He not only knows what we need but also what is best for us. Just before teaching the Lord's Prayer - Jesus said how not to pray in Matthew 6:7-8,
…7"And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Optimum utilization of resources - Means each one of us has to work harder to fulfill the will of the Father by using all the available resources. Discernment of time, Spiritual Gifts, Material possessions, etc., Sometimes it feels like God is not answering the prayer, or he is not just. But the truth is that he is always Good and Just, he always listens to the prayers and answers it. We may not understand because, he does not do it our way, but does it his way. Our duty is always is to do as according to his will, giving our best - That is why the first and the most important commandment is to love him wholly not partially - Matthew 22:37 NIV
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
Misunderstanding about Judgement - Many a time we misunderstand our gifts, this happens because when we start comparing ourselves with others. Even in the parable the problem would not have been arrived, if the least provided did not know how much was offered to others or if he did not compare what his worth is with others. When he compared, he felt he was not worth enough to handle other's gifts and also thought negative about his master's decision. Instead he should have thought good, Positive - Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
In fact Jesus did not see what the rich has to offer, but he saw a poor widow's offering:
Luke 21:1-4
NIV
The Widow’s Offering
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Wrong decisions of Future, or fear of Future or its consequences - In the garden of Eden, when man fall in sin, he was afraid of God, he hid in the bushes. In the parable also the man with one mina hid it in the soil. He not only decided to do nothing with his talent, but also took a wrong decision about the master who provided him that -Matthew 25: 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.
But God is not like the one whom this one talent man said or taught about, he is compassionate, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He said not to worry about tomorrow - Matthew 6:25-34,
He said to ask, Seek and knock - Matthew 7:7
Matthew 7:7 NIV
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
If this one talent man's worry is about tomorrow, he should have just taught about the loving God, who also said in Matthew 7:9-11 NIV
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
This one talent man also said that he was afraid, might have taught he is worthless, This is what Jesus says in Matthew 10:29-31 NIV
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Have A Blessed Day Ahead
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