The Parable of the Talents

["Click here for Matthew's account"]
["Click here for Luke's account"]

Jesus was perhaps, leaving Jericho and on his way to Bethany, when he spoke this parable. The crowd believed that because he was near Jerusalem that his Kingdom would immediately appear. Even the Pharisees expected it about this time and His Disciples believed it also. The Pharisees expected some kind of king to suddenly appear and the Disciples thought that Jesus would be that King. Jesus knew their thoughts and immediately sought to change their mistaken opinions about three things.

1. They expected that He would set up His Kingdom very shortly. He told them that it would not be for quite a while yet. He attempts to explain this by using a parable.

   A certain man of high birth went into a far country to receive for himself, a kingdom. He would then return. Before he left, he called in 10 of his servants and gave each of them a sum of money which he expected them to invest. When he returned from getting his Kingdom, he called in the 10 servants and inquired what they had done with the money. One had invested his money and increased it 10 times. Because this servant had been faithful, he put him in charge of 10 cities. Another servant was called in and he had invested his money and it had grown 5 times it's original value. To this servant, he gave authority over 5 cities. Another servant came in and reported that he feared that if he invested the money and lost it he would surly be condemned, for he knew his Master picked up what he had not laid down and harvested what he had not planted, so he hid the money in a napkin. The master called this servant a "wicked servant" for he could have at least put the money in a bank where it would have drawn interest. He took the money from this servant and gave it to the servant that had the most money which didn't seem right in the eyes of the other servants but to them he said, "to those who have, it shall be given, and to those who have not, even what they have will be taken away."

   What is the explanation of this parable? Christ must return to the Father and there receive His Kingdom. Before He leaves, He would entrust the Gospel to the 12 Disciples. Each was expected to witness and spread it around that it might multiply. Invest it in the lives of people, as they had been given talents to do. Some had been given 10 talents, others 5 and some only one. To those who had been given much, much was expected.

2. They expected as His Disciples to have some place of dignity and honor in this world. But here Jesus explains that they must be responsible for the truths that they have learned and invest them in the lives of people just like a businessman. They were instructed to trade until he returned. They would have to eventually give an account of what they had done with their talents.
3. They expected that Christ's Kingdom, when it did come into being, would be accepted immediately by the Jewish nation. In the parable, we see that this is not so. The citizens hated the nobleman and when he went to claim his kingdom, they informed the servants that they would not have the nobleman ruling over them. This was fulfilled by the conditions that prevailed in Judah after the ascension of Jesus.

Jesus ends the parable with the assurance that His enemies that would not have Him rule over them, would be done away with. Those who will not have Christ to rule over them will be dealt with as enemies.

We do not know if the Disciples or anyone else hearing this parable understood any more clearly the nature of His Kingdom or when it would be set up. We are nearing Palm Sunday and the account of His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Certainly that must have given the Disciples false hopes concerning what they envisioned to be His Kingdom.

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