Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that the point that Jesus was making was that, if the servant was unwilling or unable through his own individual actions or dealings to make productive or profitable use of the resources that had been entrusted to him, then he should have, in turn, made those resources available, or passed them on, to others (such as charitable groups, for example, or even his own congregation) who would be able to do so, rather than just letting them remain idle. (This would apply not only to tangible wealth, but also to the use of the person's time, or the person's God-given individual abilities and strengths, in helping those groups to minister to those in need, or to bring the unsaved to faith in Christ.)

October 09 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Christ on the Mount of Olives taught His disciples about His second coming. He had specified certain signs that were to show when His coming was near and told the disciples to watch and be ready (Matt 25:13). In this context, He told them the parable of the talents.

The man going on journey is Christ (soon after that He departed from this earth). The servants represent Christ’ followers. We all belong to Him - we have been bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20). We are all Lord's property called to do service for Him, and the manner in which we behave we will give an account in the judgment day.

The talents entrusted to His servants are the spiritual gifts and blessings given by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-11). Not all servants received the same gifts, but all received something to be used in Christ's service. 

When the master returned, he did not condemn the man who had only two talents for having fewer talents than the servant who started out with five. Instead, he congratulated them both for being faithful – also, both of them receive the same reward regardless of the rate of return on the initial investment (Matt. 25:21, 23). 

God does not view us merely in light of what we can do, but whether or not we do what we can. The servant with one talent viewed his master as a "hard man" not because the master was a severe man, but because the servant did not truly know or love the master. Because of fear of failure he didn’t even try to do something - and he did nothing.

October 13 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report