The Parable of the Talents

Icebreaker

What talents do you think you have?

What talents do other members of the group think you have?

Remember in the story, everyone was given at least one talent to use.

Study

Our chapter is bang in the middle of the “judgement discourse” section of Matthew’s gospel . which places the life called for in the earlier Sermon on the Mount, in a specific eschatological (end-times) context of universal judgement and the triumph of God’s kingdom. This parable is in the midst of a section of 3 parables, the first being the 10 bridesmaids (keep awake for you know neither the day or the hour) and the sheep and the goats parable (judgement of the nations)

So why did Jesus tell this parable?

See Matthew 13:10-16 where Jesus explains why he talks in parables. And note that Matthew 13:12 uses the exact same words as here in Matthew 25:29

Read Matthew 25: 14-30

1. What is your reaction to the parable ?

2. Why did the master give his slaves different amounts?

3. What do you make of the seemingly rather problematic statement in verse 29 “For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away”

In my preparation for these notes, I came across two completely different readings and interpretations of this parable – which I will detail below. I am reminded that Jesus told parables to shock people and make them think, rather than to give easy answers. Please do not worry to decide which is the “right” interpretation – I wonder if they are both “right” in different ways.

Perhaps we should ask how does each interpretation challenge me?

If parables are about the secrets of the kingdom or spiritual knowledge, perhaps we can be in danger of reading them too superficially.

Interpretation 1 – The Traditional View

I am calling this the traditional view because it is what I suspect most of us have grown up with. This is one of those well-known parables that we think we already understand – but perhaps we need to dig deeper.

V14 “for it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them” – this was not unusual in ancient times. The NIV translates this word as “servants” but apparently the Greek word used actually was the word for slave.

Does this make a difference to our understanding?

V15 The 3 slaves are given differing amounts – 5, 3, and 1 talent.

Does this seem fair?

Or is it simply describing what we all know to be true – some people seem to have been given an easier lot in life than others. Most of us reading this would be the 5-talent receiving group – however well off or otherwise you feel, you are likely in the top 10% of the world’s income. And the richest 450 individuals in the world today own more than the poorest 50% combined.

V16-18. 2 of the slaves used the talents to make more, the slave with just one talent hid it.

Is this parable encouraging business and enterprise? Or encouraging us to use our time and abilities and gifts to serve God, without reservation or fear of risk?

What do you think?

V 19-23. The 2 good and trustworthy slaves come forward with their talents and are rewarded with promotion and also with “entering into the joy of your master” ( sharing in the master’s happiness)

These verses can also be seen as valuing all people, even those with less ability, as they ar both rewarded the same by their master, for making a big contribution with what they had.

The focus on sharing in their master’s happiness is important – we can be so focussed on judgement that we forget the Old Testament prophecies of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Jesus is looking for those whom he can invite into his joy, as in the parable of the banquet. Matthew 22:1-10

V 24 - 25 The lazy slave describes the Master as a harsh man, reaping where he did not sow and gathering where he did not scatter seed. His view of the Master lead him to make poor choices.

Perhaps our view of God determines the choices we make?

Do we think that God has unfair or unrealistic expectations of us? But Jesus says Come! Share in my happiness!

V 26 – 30 The Master condemns the lazy slave, takes his money from him and throws him into the outer darkness.

What do you think of these last verses?

See Matthew 13:12 again…

The traditional view is that we must use our gifts and talents for God , not hide them under a bushel, and some would argue that the talents/bag of gold is Jesus himself – and should be shared and multiplied , not hidden.

Jesus has made Christians participants in his ministry and stewards of the things he cares about most. We should be intentional with our time and talents, to answer when the master returns, for what he has given us. We should not bury them and waste them.

Perhaps Jesus was criticising the Jewish leaders, who having been entrusted with the gift of the Torah and other Hebrew scriptures, were called to represent God to all nations of the world. They hid that knowledge among themselves and failed to live up to their responsibilities.

To whom much is given, much will be required

With great power, comes great responsibility ( Spiderman)

Interpretation 2 Liberation Theology

I was interested in my readings to see how completely upside down other theologians, especially those who have written about seeing the bible through ancient eyes, or from the perspective of the poor, have interpreted this passage.

Many of these writers have suggested that far from being a parable about proper investment, Jesus is telling this parable about exploitation.

A modern Western audience applauds the first 2 slaves for trading and investing well, but an ancient audience would have condemned them for profiting at the expense of others. In ancient Mediterranean culture, seeking “more” was considered morally wrong, because in a situation where the pie was limited, getting more always meant that someone else got less. This is why rich people at that time were often considered to be thieves and corrupt because they would likely only have got rich through the exploitation of others.

The scenario of the master leaving his property in control of his slaves was often used in the ancient world for business-minded masters to delegate potentially shady business dealings to slaves who were held to a different standard. In the parable, the first 2 slaves do just that and increase their master’s riches. The third does not and is reprimanded. This is despite the ancient Jewish custom forbidding usury ( charging of interest) as in Deuteronomy 23:19-20 and Jesus would be well aware of this. In fact, in Luke 6:35, Jesus says that we should lend expecting nothing in return. Nehemiah 5:10-11 explicitly forbids even 1% interest.

Why do we equate the rich master with God? Could it be that Jesus intended the third servant to be the hero of the story, speaking truth to power when he accuses the master of being harsh and exploitative? Jesus constantly sided with the poor and marginalised extending his love to all and making clear that repentance for the rich meant a change in the way they used their money.

Liberation theology sees Jesus as the hero of the oppressed, with the third servant being a brave whistleblower who has unmasked the master as an exploiter and is punished for speaking the truth. As the following parable is about the sheep and the goats, highlighting how Jesus wants his followers to act, some writers believe that this parable is indeed a critique of the system where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and that the 3rd servant refusing to take part in exploitation represents the prophetic voice of the gospel and is therefore the role model for Christians.

What do you think?

Have you ever considered this before?

Summary

We all come with our own assumptions and attitudes and certainly some Christian investment bankers have used this parable to argue that profit is a biblical principle.

Do we expect God to identify with the powerful or the powerless?

We know Jesus identified with the poor, the broken hearted, the side-lined and those on the margins. The Sheep and the Goats parable that follows implies that giving shelter and comfort to the least in society is the equivalent of giving service to God.

I have been challenged by such a different interpretation to this parable. It has made me think.

I still struggle with understanding how verse 29 fits in.

However rather than decide which one is “right” – I suspect God can use all discussions of scripture to shine a light on our own lives. As I said at the beginning, perhaps both are right and we need to consider and learn from both.

For me I think I need to use my gifts, my talents, my time and my money in a way that is honouring to God, and not just bury them in the ground. But I also want to speak truth to power, and stand up for those least able to stand up for themselves.

What do YOU think?

Prayer

Spend some time in silence, listening for what God may be trying to say to you through this parable.

Pray for each other, that we may use our gifts and talents wisely in the service of God

Pray for the poor and marginalised, and that God would show us if we need to make any changes ourselves in our approach to money and to standing up against injustice.