THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS IN MATTHEW 25:14–30

BY ESAYAS EMENE ENICHA (REV.)

ness, but he will overburden no one, for his “burden is light” (Matt. 11:30).144 Finally, the master went away, (καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν, kai apedēmēsen), which stands for post-Ester period: the Lord is gone but will come again (Matt. 23:37). The next section will deal with what the servants did after the departure of the master.

3.3. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVANTS DURING THE ABSENCE OF THEIR MASTER

(MATT. 25:16-18)

3.3.1 INTRODUCTION

The exegesis of vs. 14-15 has explained and clarified the characters of the parable (the master and the servants), the meaning of the property (talents), and the manner of the talents given to each servant according to his ability.

The exegesis of verses (vs. 16-18) addresses how the servants carry out their business. Since the servants have been made responsible by their master for taking care of a specific task, they need to do the business that has been entrusted to them. Thus, this part calculates the outcome of the three servants. Practically, the two servants made a trade and gained a double profit. On the contrary, the third servant kept his gift as it was by burying it in the earth and remained without any profit (v. 18).

The text on Matthew 25:16-18

(16) Having gone immediately, the one who received five talents worked on them and gained another five. (17) Likewise, the one with two gained another two. (18) But the one having received one went away, dug a hole in the ground and buried the money of his master.

3.3.2 TRADING AND GAINING PROFIT (VV. 16-17)

(16) Having gone immediately, the one who received five talents worked on them and gained another five. (17) Likewise, the one with two gained another two.

Verses 16 and 17 disclose the business carried out by the first two servants. The point of departure here is to examine what work is carried out and to investigate what the acquired gain signifies.

144 Luz, Mathew 21-28, 256.

A. HAVING GONE IMMEDIATELY

As noted in the textual criticism, the adverb “immediately” (εὐθέως, eutheōs) is to be linked to the succeeding verb (πορευθεὶς, poreutheis), not to the preceding (ἀπεδήμησεν, apedēmēsen), and for this reason we include it in the translation of v. 16. Consequently, it indicates the proper urgency with which the first disciple goes about his business.145 As Luz suggests, it is an indication of obedience: always, from the very beginning, it is important to be ready for the master.146 The conjunction “likewise” (ὡσαύτως, ōsautōs) in the beginning of verse 17 elucidates that the second servant acted immediately to do his business as the first servant did. Therefore, both the two servants began their business as soon as the master entrusted the talents to them.

Getting immediately in to the work (urgency) is one of the important characteristics of obedient servants in anticipating the Parousia. The reason is that nobody knows the day or the time in which the Lord comes (Matt.24:42-44). Therefore, to take a long time for doing something is the characteristics of an evil servant, who according to Matt. 24:48 says to himself: “master is delayed” (NRSV). Hence, watchfulness to do the business in time is the theme of eschatological speeches and sayings (Matt. 24:44, 25:13). In His earthly ministry, Jesus was conscious of time in accomplishing His mission (John 9:4). In his letters to the churches, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians to be diligent in fulfilling God’s will timely (Rom. 13:11-14).

B. MAKING TRADE

The phrase “he worked on them” (ἠργάσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς, ērgasato en autois) implies that it is the slaves and not the talents that do the “work”. In contrast, in Luke 19:16, 18, it is the minas.147 This means that the slaves, not just the money, are on job. In this way, Matthew marks the personal investment of effort involved in the effective use of the money.148 Here, working with the talent is not like buying a bank share. If anyone buys a bank share, it is the money that involves in the business in the absence of the one who bought the share. The buyer simply collects the profit. But in this phrase, the subject for the work is the servant; he/she should work with the talent. Perhaps we might ask: What is the work performed by the servant to contribute for the increase of the talent?

145 Hagner, Matthew 14-28.734.

146 Ibid.

147 Luz, Matthew 21-28, 256.

148 Nolland, The Gospel of Matthew: The New International Greek Testament Commentary, 1015.