The talent
(Latin:
talentum, from Ancient
Greek: τάλαντον, talanton 'scale, balance, sum') was one of several
ancient units of mass,
a commercial weight, as well as corresponding units of value equivalent to
these masses of a precious metal. The talent of gold was known to Homer, who described
how Achilles
gave a half-talent of gold to Antilochus as a prize.[1] It was
approximately the mass of water required to fill an amphora.[2]
Talent can refer to:
- Talent (measurement)
- Aptitude,
a talent is a group of aptitudes useful for some activity, talents may refer
to aptitudes themselves
Jesus told a story about buried
treasure in Matt 25:14-30 and some Bible versions call it as talents. A man decided to take a trip
abroad. Before leaving, he called three
of his slaves and gave them his goods in varied amounts to use while he was
gone. He gave some more and
to others less and to every one according to his ability. From the story it is
obvious that he had given one talent at least and that is not a despicable
stock to the poor servant. In financial terms a talent worth approximately 6000 denarii which in today’s currency
would be around $300,000. (Carson, Matthew, p.516)
When he returned, he found that two of the slaves used the money in
the pursuit of profit and they returned the master’s money along with the excess. The first two servants felt secure enough in
their relationship with their master and were very conscientious in executing
their responsibilities. They were commended for their efforts and their
willingness to risk their portions in some business enterprise. But the third slave took a different approach,
reveal a very different attitude and relationship. He buried the money, believing that
protecting the assets was more important than risking it for gain. He proudly presented the original amount to
the master, claiming that he knew the master’s character and he had taken
measures to not lose any of the treasure.
In the King James Bible, the Greek word huparchonta is
translated “talent” – an old expression for a sum of money. Unfortunately, our modern word “talent” has
nothing to do with money, so away we go with everything but the intention of
Jesus’ parable. Huparchonta
means “things which someone possesses, goods”.
In this story, it clearly means physical assets.
What is a parable? A parable is a succinct, didactic
story, in prose or
verse,
which illustrates one or more instructive lessons or principles. It differs
from a fable in
that fables employ animals, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature as
characters, whereas parables have human characters. A parable is a type of analogy.[3]
The word parable comes from the Greek
παραβολή (parabolē), meaning "comparison, illustration,
analogy."[4]
It was the name given by Greek rhetoricians
to an illustration in the form of a brief fictional narrative.
The Parable of the Talents.
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides 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 into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘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. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This parable about a man going to a far
away country, is definitely pointing us heavenward. When
Christ went to heaven, He was like a man traveling to a far country and He went
with a purpose to be away for a while. In the mean time He has provided the
necessary gifts to furnish His Church with all things necessary for it during
His personal absence. He sends His Spirit to enable His servants to teach,
preach, admonish, counsel and build His Kingdom. God has entrusted each one of
us with resources to be used to further His Kingdom, and in that we do our part
in fulfilling the Great Commission.
God does not want us to be idle, but wants us to invest our resources and grow and multiply. We are not to set our hearts on money but is useful for many good things and including the extension of God’s Kingdom and it should multiply if we invest it correctly. 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
I believe that from those the good Lord has
given more talents, He expects the improvement of five more, and to reap
plentifully. Also, to whom only two talents were given, He expects the
improvement of at least two more and this is a huge encouragement for those who
are placed in a lower level and in a lesser sphere of influence. The important point is the smallness of our
receiving will not excuse us from reckoning.
What about the third servant who hid his
goods? This servant is lazy, did not take any risk, and blamed his master and
sat around doing nothing! It is important to note that this servant did not
misspend, misemploy or squander it away but hid it till his master comes back
and ask an account. Probably if it is his own he would have used it as he
likes, or invested it, and he knows this money does not belong to him. This
again points us heavenward, that the abilities, and opportunities and the
advantages we have are not our own, and we are the stewards and we have to give
an account to the Lord because it belongs to Him.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Here again we notice that the master does not neglect his affairs, and it is not till after a long time that they are reckoned with. It is worth noting that our comfort in the day we had to give account will be according to our faithfulness and probably not according to our usefulness, sincerity or success.
Carnal hearts are very easy to conceive false and wicked opinions against God and the sayings of the third servant speaks of the common reproach which wicked hearts cast upon God. He is wicked, and slothful (v: 26-27) careless in God’s work and so he is busy in the devils’ work and surely the devil has exploited his mind. This points us to the tremendous heart and mind connection in Prov: 23:7; 7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. It is definitely to do with the uprightness of our hearts, and our attitude with which we labour and invest for His Kingdom and not according to the opportunities coming our way!
Christ keeps no servants to be
idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call
their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for
him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good
we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we
have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle
a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be
employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his
people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to
Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please
God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They
complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes
them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they
dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced
to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this
life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of their
visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their
eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of
expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the
faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended
by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet
any of their perishing possessions5. Mathew
Henry.
21 ‘His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ The master commends them and the faithful servants of Christ will
receive their reward and joy from the Lord who Himself has purchased and
provided for them; the joy of the redeemed, bought with the sorrow of the Redeemer.
End Notes:
2. ^ Talent
(Biblical Hebrew), unit of measure, unitconversion.org.
3. ^ David B. Gowler (2000). "What
are they saying about the parables". What are they saying about the parables.
pp. 99,137,63,132,133,.
Christ Notes
> Bible Commentary > Matthew Henry’s
Commentary > Matthew > Matthew 25.
... Commentary on Matthew 25:14-30
(Read Matthew 25:14-30)
Website References:
A libra is exactly three quarters of a Greek mina, so a Roman talent
is 1.25 Greek talents. An Egyptian talent was
80 libra.
Talent can refer
to: Talent (measurement) Aptitude, a talent
is a group of aptitudes useful for some activity, talents may
refer to aptitudes themselves Entertainment ...
Christ Notes
> Bible Commentary > Matthew Henry’s
Commentary > Matthew > Matthew 25.
... Commentary on Matthew 25:14-30
(Read Matthew 25:14-30)
Recovering the intent of God's Scriptures, one Hebrew or
Greek word at a time.
The title is influenced by a verse in the Bible from the Book of Proverbs,
chapter 23, verse 7: “As a man thinketh in
his heart, so is he.”
Labor not to be rich—As a man thinks in his
heart, so is he—Withhold not
correction from a child—Be not ... 7 For as he a thinketh
in his b heart, so is
he: ...
Bibliography:
1.
Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids
2.
R.T. Kendall. Understanding Theology, Developing a
Healthy Church in the 21st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.
3. Jay
E. Adams. A Theology of Christian Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand Rapids
4. Louis
Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand
Rapids
5. Robert
P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and
Contemporary Survey and Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986,
p.527-544.
6. Charles
Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago
7.
A. H. Strong. Systematic Theology. New Jersey
8.
Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to
Biblical Doctrine. Grand
Rapids
9.
Steven W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An Outlined Guide To
Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007, p.188-191.
10.
John Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian
Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and
Laymen. St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House,
1934, p.384-386.
11. ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version.
Crossway Bibles, Wheaton , Illinois
12. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James
Version. Iowa falls: World Bible Publishers, Inc.
