Matthew 25:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

NIV: For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

NASB: For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

CSB: For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

NLT: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

KJV: For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

NKJV: ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

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).

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.