THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

Some have a musical talent. Others may have the talent to speak before crowds. Still others may have the talent to build things. Though God gives these talents and many more, that’s not exactly what Jesus was talking about when He presented the Parable of the Talents.

A talent was a measure of weight. Therefore, a talent of gold was a measure of great wealth.

One talent was equal to approximately seventy-five pounds. Today’s price for gold is above five thousand dollars per ounce, so a pound of gold would cost eighty-thousand dollars, and a talent of gold would be valued at six million.

Jesus told the story of a wealthy man who went on a journey. Before he departed, he gave three of his trusted servants differing amounts of gold. “To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent” (Matthew 25:15). Obviously, he expected that these faithful employees would invest his wealth wisely, so when he returned he fully expected his capital to increase.

Upon his return, the master went to settle his accounts. “ ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ ” (Matthew 25:20-21). Likewise, the man who had received two talents reported his hard would and wise investing. He too had doubled his money. “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23).

But the man who had been given one talent reported, “Master, I know you. You’re a harsh man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground”(Matthew 25:24-25).

The master had the lazy “good-for-nothing servant (cast) into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

This parable doesn’t teach us that we must earn our way into Heaven. Rather, we see that Heaven will be a place where faithfulness will be greatly rewarded.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).