Mt 25:14-30
[Jesus told his disciples this parable,] 14“It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately 16the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. 17Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 18But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money… 20The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’
21His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’… 24Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ ”
Talents: A talent is a unit of value equal to seventy-five pounds (or thirty-four kilos) of precious metal, usually gold or silver. In the pericope, the word “money” (v 18) translates the Greek argurion, silver. But whether the amount handed over is five or two or only one talent, the master’s action indicates great generosity. A talent represents a laborer’s wages for fifteen years!
Matthew underlines the giving that God has done for us: talents may delineate the time, skills, and creative resources given to us by God. In return, what is important is not quantitative results. The rewards handed over to the first and second servants are the same. Regardless of the amount earned, they both are praised as good and faithful servants and are invited to share their master’s joy. Before God our master, what is important is our faithfulness in using the varied talents given to us.