What does Matthew 25:29 mean?

Some have called the principle detailed by Jesus in this verse the "kingdom rule." He has described it once before in Matthew when the disciples asked Jesus why He was teaching the crowds in parables instead of explaining the truth in detail, as He did with them. That is found in Matthew 13:11–12, where it reads very much like this verse:

"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

Within the context of this parable, the principle makes even more sense. The one with ten talents has been the most productive with what he has been given by the master (Matthew 25:16). The one with one talent did absolutely nothing with it. If the master wants the most gain from his investment, he should take that one talent and give it to the one who has the most.

The principle illustrates an important truth for followers of Jesus: It matters that we make much of what He gives to us for His good. It matters both for us and to Him. Those who trust in Jesus, work for Jesus (John 14:15). Those who work for Jesus are rewarded with more opportunities to serve Him and make good use of what they have been given. Those who refuse to work for Him, on the other hand, are just pretending to be His servants (Matthew 25:30).