Parable of the Talents
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.”
Matthew 25:14-15 (NRSVUE)
This parable challenges believers to emulate their Master by using all that God has given them for the sake of the kingdom. The parable of the talents is among the most abused texts in the New Testament, and so when reading it (and indeed, when reading all parables) it is important to remember the rules of interpretation given by missiologist, Hans Finzel:
- Study the story as a story until you get the full impact of its meaning in that day.
- Study the story with strict regard to the author’s interpretation and application. (He will tell you what it means.)
- Study with strict regard to the setting of the context and the theme of the passage.
- List the points of comparison between the truth and the story.
- Some points have no meaning. Don’t try to tack a meaning onto every element.
- Find the one central teaching of the parable. Don’t get sidetracked in the fine details. 1
The parable of the Talents does not justify a gospel of economic prosperity. Instead, it challenges believers to emulate their Master by using all that God has given them for the sake of the kingdom. It tells of a master who was leaving his house to travel, and, before leaving, entrusted his property to his servants. According to the abilities of each man, one servant received five talents, the second had received two, and the third received only one. It is located in Jesus’ eschatological discourse (Matthew 24:1 – 25:46) where he instructs his disciples to endure through difficult times and to live in anticipation of the Lord’s return.
Like all the parables in this section, it exemplifies the certainty of the Lord’s coming and how the disciples are to live in the meantime. The talents in this parable are not just monetary gifts or natural abilities, as they are often interpreted. Instead, they represent the deposit of God’s truth. When Jesus entrusts his servants with talents, he is giving them the revelation of the kingdom — the gospel message.
This slightly amended study was first published in the 2 December 2025 edition of the Equipper publication, and was written shortly before Santiago’s death.
1 Hans Finzel, Opening the Book, p. 336
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Study by: Santiago Lange About the author: |
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