Matthew 25:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

NIV: So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.

NASB: In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more.

CSB: In the same way the man with two earned two more.

NLT: The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more.

KJV: And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

NKJV: And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

This passage of Scripture uses the Greek root word doulos, which can be rendered as "servant, bondservant, or slave." The scenario here helps explain the nuanced biblical meaning of the term, in comparison to the narrow sense of the modern English term "slave." The master in this story is going on a journey, leaving enormous personal wealth in the hands of three highly trusted servants. Clearly, these are not animals seen as property, but workers worthy of considerable trust. He intends them to use the money to make more money for him (Matthew 25:14–16).

The first and second servants doubled the money their master left with them. The context suggests they did this through their own personal effort. Rather than simply putting the money with some trading house, they stewarded the funds themselves. They made purchases and sold up, increasing the amount of their earnings. In short, they did business and made profits for their master, as he expected.

Jesus' parable is about how His followers should live while He is gone. This raises the question of what this money symbolizes in the lives of God's people. The answer, of course, comes in the way this very principle has influenced the English use of the term "talent." In Jesus' era, it referred to an extremely large sum of money. In this parable, "talents" represent assets given by a master to his servants to be used at their discretion. In modern use, a "talent" is most often thought of as a God-given natural ability. What is given to us, Christ's servants, are abilities, faith, spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, or even maybe money and material resources.

The question Jesus raises is this: how we are investing what we've been given by God to earn returns for God?

Matthew 25:14–30 compares the kingdom of heaven to three servants of a wealthy master. Each was given resources—the master's assets—and commanded to do business with them while he is away. Two of the servants apply the supplied funds and double the sums of money the master leaves with them. They are richly rewarded when he comes back. The third servant buries the money and does nothing with it out of supposed fear of the master. The master condemns his laziness and evil, casting him out. Jesus' servants must work diligently for Him while waiting for His return, not wasting the talents and resources which they have been given.

Jesus uses two additional parables to illustrate a state of constant readiness for His return after He has gone. His followers should be working for Him while they wait. They must not be like the foolish young women who missed a wedding feast because they forgot oil for their lamps. They must be like the servants who doubled their harsh master's investments while He was away. Jesus concludes with a third descriptive passage, showing how He will judge between the righteous and evil when He returns as King.

Matthew 25 concludes the "Olivet Discourse:" Jesus' teaching to the disciples about future things as they sit on the Mount of Olives. This follows His dire predictions about the Temple and Jerusalem in chapter 24. He gives two more parables to emphasize that they must be prepared for His return. Finally, Jesus describes the moment of His return, after a time of tribulation, when He will judge all who live on earth at the beginning of His kingdom. This leads into Matthew's account of Jesus' Last Supper, betrayal, and arrest in chapter 26.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.