Parable Of The Talents

Jesus’ Life: Chapter 15 – Jesus’ Ministry Before His Passion

Have you ever tried to list your talents and then score them from 1-10?

It should be easy to do, don’t you think? Not for me, I have great difficulty judging myself! Yes, in broad terms, I could say I am a talented guitarist, average communicator but poor footballer. However, that doesn’t seem to fully answer the question!

Perhaps, a row of pegs upon which I could hang each of my talents and a ruler to measure their drop might help! Sounds a little crazy, but I need an answer!

Parable of the Talents:

There was a man who went on a distant journey. Before leaving, he summoned his slaves and gave one five talents, another two talents and a third one talent, each according to their ability.

On his return, he called the slaves to find out how much they had added to them.

• The one who received five talents brought five more to his master saying, “Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more”. The master replied, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master”.
• The one who received two talents brought two more to his master saying, “Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more”. The master replied, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master”.
• The one who received one talent came and said, “Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground”. The master answered, “Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return, I would have received my money back with interest! Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”.