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

BY ESAYAS EMENE ENICHA (REV.)

In terms of eschatological message, Jesus expects His disciples to spend the same effort in working for the kingdom.164 Even those who have lesser abilities in the church are still expected to use their talents for the glory of God and to expand the kingdom.165 Thus, urgency, exerting effort to the best use of our talent, and sacrificing our privilege to benefit others is gain in the use of talents.

3.3.3 BURYING THE TALENT (V. 18)

(18) But the one having received one went away, dug a hole in the ground and buried the money of his master.

The first two servants invested in their talents (vs. 16, 17). But verse 18 recounts that the third servant with one talent dug a hole in the ground and buried his talent.

In antiquity, burying of money happened for security reasons (see the historical context in chapter three). However, none of the reasons in the ancient world could justify the action of the third servant in this parable. What makes it difficult to find the cause behind the action of this servant is that Jesus says nothing about his reasoning at this point, but simply that he hid the money (ἔκρυψεν τὸ ἀργύριον, ekrypsen to argyrion). Anyway, he refrained from the labor of buying and selling, working, and making profit.166 Hence, it is important to note at this point the absence in v. 18 of ἐκέρδησεν (ekerdēsen), “he gained,” in contrast to vs. 16, 17.167 So, keeping the money in this way meant that there was no possibility of loss, but it also meant there was no possibility of gain.168 However, what is the motive of this servant in burying the talent entrusted to him, and why were his actions reckoned as negative?

The ancient law viewed merely wrapping money in a napkin, however, as disrespecting its safety altogether (Luke 19:20).169 Therefore, some argue that Matthew, in contrast to the Lukan parable, may have introduced burial in the ground because a napkin or a piece of cloth would be no hiding place for a talent, which weighed so much. So then, the action of the third servant was a neglect of responsibility.170 Similarly, Luz says that

164 Osborne, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Matthew vol.1, 924.

165 Ibid “The expansion of the kingdom here denotes the already realized, not the coming.” the readers already know from Jesus’ earlier instructions that for living with Him, it is important to bear fruits (7:15-20; 13:18-23). Hence, readers sense that the third servant in this story is going to play the negative role.171 Further, it has also been assumed that the reason for this servant to bury his talent was that he had been granted the smallest amount compared with the others.172

166 Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, 628.

167 Hagner, Matthew 14-28, 735.

168 Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, 628.

169 Keener, Matthew: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series, 601.

170 Davies and Allison, A critical And Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel According to Saint Matthew: commentary on Matthew XIX-XXVIII, vol. III, 407.

Of course, it is hard to find a real reason for the burying. But on the background of the performance of the two first servants, it seems realistic that this servant was not willing to take responsibility although he knew that the master demanded fruit from him. It is not certain that the reason the third servant buried his talent was because his talent was small compared to the first two servants; and as already noted in the exegesis of verse 15, one talent is substantial for doing business. Moreover, verse 24 implies that this servant had negative knowledge about his master which might have led him to bury his talent.

Spiritual Meaning of Burying

Spiritually, as Morris says, this servant was like one who had no gift at all, but it was he himself who operated as if he had not received anything. In this, he is a picture of all those in the church who for any reason refuse to use the gifts of Christ in His service.173 On the other hand, burying the talent can mean that although one does not commit sin, one also does not produce any righteous deeds and that one thinks only about one’s self and not about others.174 Perhaps, in this way the unproductive servant looks like the selfish ones as described in vs. 41-45 in the succeeding Parable about the Sheep and the Goats. Anyway, the next verses express the severe punishment for burying the talent (vs. 24-30).

3.4.

25:19-30)

3.4.1 INTRODUCTION

The exegesis of vs. 16-18 exhibits the two profitable servants and the one unproductive servant who carried out their business in the absence of their master with the talents that they had received from him.

171 Luz, Matthew 21-28, 256.

172 Ibid.

173 Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, 628.

174 Luz, Matthew 21-28, 260.