To one he gave five talents
In the context of the parable, a "talent" was a significant sum of money, often understood as a weight of silver or gold. Historically, a single talent was worth about 6,000 denarii, with a denarius being a day's wage for a laborer. This indicates the master's trust and the value of what he entrusted to his servants. Theologically, the talents can symbolize the gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities God gives to individuals. The number five suggests a substantial trust, indicating the servant's capability and the master's confidence in him.

to another two talents
The distribution of two talents to the second servant reflects the master's discernment in giving according to each servant's capacity. This allocation underscores the principle of stewardship, where each person is given resources in line with their ability to manage them. Biblically, this can be seen as a call to faithfulness, regardless of the amount entrusted. The number two, while less than five, still represents a significant trust and opportunity for service and growth.

and to another one talent
The servant receiving one talent still holds a considerable amount, emphasizing that even the least amount given is valuable. This highlights the idea that no gift or responsibility from God is insignificant. Theologically, it challenges believers to recognize and utilize whatever they have been given, no matter how small it may seem. The single talent serves as a test of faithfulness and initiative.

each according to his own ability
This phrase indicates the master's wisdom and fairness in distributing resources. It reflects the biblical principle that God knows each person's strengths and limitations and assigns responsibilities accordingly. This aligns with passages like Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, which speak of diverse gifts given by the Spirit for the common good. It emphasizes personal accountability and the expectation that one should work within their God-given capacity.

And he went on his journey
The master's departure signifies a period of testing and opportunity for the servants. It parallels the ascension of Christ and the current age where believers are entrusted with the gospel and the kingdom's work until His return. This time of absence is a test of faithfulness and diligence, as seen in other parables like the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). It underscores the importance of being prepared and active in service, anticipating the master's return.

1. Master
Represents God or Christ, who entrusts His servants with resources and responsibilities.

2. Servants
Symbolize believers or followers of Christ, each given different amounts of resources or responsibilities.

3. Talents
A large sum of money in biblical times, symbolizing the gifts, abilities, and opportunities God gives to each person.

4. Journey
The master's departure represents Christ's ascension and the period before His return, during which believers are to be faithful stewards.

5. Distribution of Talents
The act of giving talents according to each servant's ability highlights God's wisdom and fairness in distributing gifts and responsibilities.Stewardship and Responsibility
God entrusts each believer with specific gifts and responsibilities. We are called to be faithful stewards of what we have been given.

Diversity of Gifts
The distribution of talents according to ability shows that God knows us intimately and gives us what we can handle. We should not compare ourselves to others but focus on our unique calling.

Accountability
Just as the master returned to settle accounts, we will one day give an account to God for how we have used our gifts and opportunities.

Faithfulness Over Quantity
The emphasis is on faithfulness, not the amount of talents. Whether given much or little, our responsibility is to use it wisely for God's glory.

Preparation for Christ's Return
The master's journey signifies the time we have to prepare for Christ's return. We should live with an eternal perspective, investing in what truly matters.(15) Unto one he gave five talents.--On the value of the talent see the Note on Matthew 18:24. The languages of modern Europe bear witness, in their use of the word, to the impression which the parable has made. A man's energies, gifts, capacities, are the "talents," for the use of which he will have to render an account. We speak, though in this case the word is hardly more than an ill-coined vulgarism, of him who possesses them as "talented." Common, however, as this use of the word is, it tends to obscure the true meaning of the parable. Here there is an "ability" presupposed in each case, prior to the distribution of the talents, and we are led accordingly to the conclusion that the latter stand here less for natural gifts than for external opportunities--for possessions, offices, what we call "spheres of duty." These, we are told, are, in the wisdom of God, given to men, in the long run, "according to their several ability." So taken, the parable does not repeat the lesson of that which precedes it, but is addressed, not as that is to all Christians, but specifically to those who hold any vocation or ministry in the Church of Christ, or have in their hands outward resources for working in it. It is, perhaps, not altogether fanciful to trace, as a first application, in the three-fold scale of distribution, a correspondence with the three groups, four in each, into which the twelve Apostles were divided. The sons of Jona and of Zebedee were as those who had received five talents; the less conspicuous middle group answered to those who received but two; while the "wicked and slothful servant" finds his representative in the only disciple in the third, or last group, who is at all conspicuous.

Verse 15. - Unto one he gave five talents. The talent of silver (taking silver as worth a little over 5s. an ounce) was nearly equivalent to £400 of our money. It is from the use of the word "talents" in this parable that we moderns have derived its common meaning of natural gifts and endowments. The three principal slaves receive a certain amount of property to use for their master's profit. To every man. To all is given some grace or faculty which they have to employ to the glory of God. "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ "(Ephesians 4:7). No one can justly say he is neglected in this distribution. Whatever natural powers, etc., we possess, and the opportunities of exercising and improving them, are the gift of God, and are delivered to us to be put out to interest. According to his several ability (κατὰ τὴν ἰδίαν δύναμιν). The master apportioned his gifts in accordance with his knowledge of the slaves' capacity for business, and the probability of their rightly employing much or little capital. So God distributes his endowments, not to all alike, but in such proportions as men are able to bear and to profit by. The infinite variety in men's dispositions, intellects, will. opportunities, position, and so on, are all taken into account, and modify and condition their responsibility. Straightway took his journey (ἀπεδήμησεν εὐθέως). Immediately after the distribution he departed, leaving each slave, uncontrolled and undirected, to use the property assigned to him. So God gives us free will at the same time that he sets before us opportunities of showing our faithfulness. The Lord may be referring primarily to the apostles whom he left immediately after he had bestowed upon them authority and commission. The Revised Version, Westcott and Hort, Nosgen, and others transfer the adverb "straightway" to the beginning of the next verse (omitting δὲ in that verse). It is supposed to be superfluous here. The Vulgate accords with the Received Text; and there seems to be no sufficient reason for accentuating the first slave's activity above that of the second, who was equally faithful.

Parallel Commentaries ...


To one
ᾧ (hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

he gave
ἔδωκεν (edōken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

five
πέντε (pente)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4002: Five. A primary number; 'five'.

talents,
τάλαντα (talanta)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5007: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao; a balance, i.e. a certain weight or 'talent'.

to [another]
ᾧ (hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

two [talents],
δύο (dyo)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1417: Two. A primary numeral; 'two'.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

to [another]
ᾧ (hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

one [talent]—
ἕν (hen)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

each
ἑκάστῳ (hekastō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1538: Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.

according to
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

his own
ἰδίαν (idian)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2398: Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.

ability.
δύναμιν (dynamin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

he promptly went on his journey.
ἀπεδήμησεν (apedēmēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 589: To be away from home, go into another country, be away, be abroad. From apodemos; to go abroad, i.e. Visit a foreign land.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 25:15 To one he gave five talents (Matt. Mat Mt)