It will be like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off the first servant went to work and doubled his master’s investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master’s money.
After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him. ”Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.”
The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master’s investment. “Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.”
The servant given one thousand said ”Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is safe and sound down to the last cent.”
The master was furious. “That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do the least of the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of the play-it –safe who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.”
Matthew 25:14-30 The Message
This version of the story of the talents may seem a little different from what you are accustomed. It is from The Message, a more contemporary interpretation of the scripture. The main difference seems to be in the third servant’s explanation of why he did not increase the one thousand dollars. Is there a risk involved in Christianity?
When you first read this parable, were you surprised that the money entrusted to the third servant was given to the man who had five to begin with? What do you think Jesus was explaining about responsibility? Could the endowment from the Master represent anything besides wealth?
When asked why He taught in “stories,” Jesus explained that the purpose of parables was to “create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening” so that Isaiah’s prediction would not be repeated: eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.
We invite you to consider your own perspective of the parable of the talents, not for publication, but for self-edification. You become the fifth writer, in personal musing or in written form. Respond to the questions raised at the end of the scripture reference or follow your own path of inquiry. Perhaps compare it to a more familiar translation such as NIV or King James. Our prayer is that we may each realize that gift promised the disciples – God-based eyes that see and God-based ears that hear.
A special thanks to the women who shared their perspectives on the parables: Becky Chapman, Amy Jones, Tracy McCullough, Marilyn Fifield