Lessons from the Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.

15 And to 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 dig in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and reckons with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are an hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strewed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: see, there you have that is yours.

26 His lord answered and said to him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed:

27 You should therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him which has ten talents.

29 For to every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.

30 And cast you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungered, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:

36 Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink?

38 When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you?

39 Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came to you?

40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.

41 Then shall he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungered, and you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you an hungered, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 provides a profound lesson on our individual accountability to God for the use of the various gifts He has entrusted to us.

The Nature of the Talents

The talents represent more than just the ability to preach; they include temporal means, intellectual powers, influence, and physical strengthGW92 168.3+2. These are not our absolute property but are capital lent by the Lord to be used for His glory and the benefit of others2SM 133.1+2. God bestows these gifts on every human being according to their individual ability, ensuring that no one is left without a work to doARSH March 5, 1901, page 152.11+2.

• Diverse Abilities: God gives to one five talents, to another two, and to another one, matching the gift to the person's capacity Matthew 25:153LtMs, Lt 5, 1877, par. 21.

• The Source of All Gifts: Every faculty of mind and body is a gift from the Father of lights, in whom we live and move James 1:17+1IOS 27.1+1.

The Expectation of Improvement

The Master expects a return on His investment, requiring us to trade wisely with what we have received to gain an increaseLDT 189.1+2. We are not rewarded based on the quantity of talents we possess, but rather on our faithfulness and the motives prompting our actions2SAT 202.3+1.

• Constant Exercise: By putting our abilities into constant use, they naturally strengthen and increase8LtMs, Lt 12, 1893, par. 9.

• Faithfulness in Little Things: Success in the Christian life is found by giving conscientious attention to small duties, as faithfulness in the least leads to faithfulness in much Luke 16:10COL 358.1+1.

• Avoiding Idleness: Spare moments should be used for study and meditation to close the door against temptation, as Satan finds employment for those who do not employ themselvesGW92 168.3.

The Tragedy of the Unfaithful Servant

The servant who received one talent failed because he misjudged the character of his Lord, viewing Him as a "hard man" who reaped where He had not sown Matthew 25:242SM 133.1+1. Out of fear and selfishness, he hid his talent in the earth, refusing to engage in the effort required to trade with his Lord’s goods2SM 133.1+2.

• Selfish Hoarding: Burying a talent in the world or using God's means for self-gratification is a betrayal of a sacred trust10MR 220.2+2.

• False Excuses: Complaining about God’s requirements shows a lack of true knowledge regarding Jesus Christ and the Father2SM 133.1+1.

• The Penalty of Sloth: The unprofitable servant is deprived of what he had and cast into outer darkness, a sentence that confirms the choice he made for eternity Matthew 25:302MCP 800.3+1.

The Reward of the Faithful

Those who are diligent in improving their talents—whether many or few—will receive the same precious commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant" Matthew 25:21+12LtMs, Lt 6, 1869, par. 14. The "joy of the Lord" into which they enter is the sublime joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom of glory through their instrumentality Hebrews 12:21TT 365.2+1.

• Abundance Given: To everyone who has improved upon what was entrusted to them, more shall be given, and they shall have abundance Matthew 25:29LDT 189.1.

• Future Responsibility: Faithfulness over a few things in this life leads to being made a ruler over many things in the life to come Matthew 25:219LtMs, Ms 24b, 1894, par. 5.

Practical Stewardship Today

We are living in a solemn time of investigative judgment where we must "watch" and wait for the Master's returnLDT 189.1+1. True stewardship involves using our means to advance the gospel, caring for the needy, and developing a character that reflects the selfless life of Christ10MR 220.2+2.

• Individual Responsibility: Stewardship cannot be transferred to a spouse, children, or a conference; each person is individually accountable to God for their own trustCS 333.1+2.

• Redeeming the Time: Because the days are evil and the end is near, we must work earnestly while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work2SAT 9.4+2.

• A Character Basis: The final sealing of God’s people is based on the development of a character that is willing to bear burdens for the cause of truthSSP 136.2.