Holy Bible Online 
The Parable of the Talents, or the Parable of the Minas, reminds us that everyone receives gifts or abilities to contribute in this life, serving God and others. What we do with the talent we receive will have future consequences when what has been entrusted to us by God will be required of us.
In this story told by Jesus, a wealthy man gave his three servants different amounts of talents, according to their abilities. The first two servants invested the amount and doubled their profits, while the third servant simply buried the talent to protect it.
When the wealthy man returned, he was pleased with the first two servants but condemned the third, who wasted his opportunity by burying the talent he received. The central message of the parable is that God gives us unique gifts and talents, and He expects us to use them for His glory, according to His will and purpose.
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
- Matthew 25:14-30
Explanation of the Parable of the Talents
In this parable told by Jesus, a wealthy man entrusted his money to three of his servants. To one, he gave five talents, to another two, and to the third, one talent. It’s important to note that the master gave "to each according to his ability" (Matthew 25:15).
How much is a talent worth?
The first servant received 5 talents, approximately 175 kilograms of gold. The second received 2 talents, about 70 kilograms, and the third received 1 talent, around 35 kilograms of gold. Given that a kilogram of gold is worth roughly $87,485, you can imagine that this master was incredibly wealthy!
After some time, the master returned home and asked his servants to give an account of their stewardship. The first servant showed how he had invested his 5 talents and gained 5 more. The second servant also invested and doubled his 2 talents. As a result, both were praised and rewarded by their master. But the third servant still had only the one talent. Why?
Out of fear of his master, he buried the money. He believed the safest option was to leave it untouched. The master was very angry and told him that it would have been better to at least put the money in a bank to earn interest. The servant was cast into the outer darkness, and his talent was given to the one who now had 10 talents.
This parable illustrates the difference between serving with love and serving out of fear. When we serve motivated by fear, we hide the gifts we've been given and miss the opportunity to please the Lord. He has entrusted us with gifts and talents according to our ability. Our God is love, and we should serve Him by giving back with what we've already received.
Meaning of the Parable of the Talents
The Parable of the Talents teaches us that we must work diligently and responsibly, making the most of the life and gifts that God has given us. One day, we will all give an account to Jesus when He returns. Christ assigns each of us a mission, a talent according to our ability. To fulfill that mission, He provides us with resources, such as gifts, material possessions, or knowledge. Investing the talents means that we should develop these abilities for the sake of God's Kingdom.
There is a variety of talents. Those with greater ability carry more responsibility because God Himself has entrusted them with those gifts. Those with less still have the competence to develop what they’ve been given. Everyone can and should grow!
What It Means to Bury the Talent
Hiding the gift or talent received is considered neglectful of something so valuable that we have been given by the Lord. It is essentially disregarding and misusing what God has entrusted to us.
You have unique abilities, skills, and competencies of various kinds. Additionally, there are material, financial, intellectual resources, and the precious time that God gives each of us. In all of this, we must be intentional, doing everything to glorify the One who gives life, health, resources, intelligence, abilities, wisdom, and more.
There is no excuse for failing to use our personal gifts and talents in this life to exalt God and bless others. If we are falling short in this, we cannot claim innocence, knowing our responsibility.
The first two servants accepted the challenge, and their efforts were rewarded. When we trust in God and aim to do His will, He helps us fulfill our mission. And one day, in the resurrection, we will receive our reward.
The third servant was afraid. He did not truly love his master and wasted the opportunity to multiply his talent. Many people waste their resources and gifts, ignoring God’s call. This shows that their hearts are not aligned with God. Unfortunately, neglect brings negative consequences.
The size of the success is not what matters most to God, but rather how we care for what we have received from Him. Both, the servant with 10 talents and the servant with 4 received the same reward. If the servant who received one talent had shown the same diligence as the other two, he would have also received a double portion, for the master had plenty of resources.
The Parable of the Talents in Luke 19
The parable of the talents is found in both Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27, where it is also known as the Parable of the Minas, with distinct details in each version.
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
- Luke 19:11-27
All gold, silver, and gifts come from God. Do not waste the gifts that God has entrusted to you!
Read the 15 best known parables of Jesus.
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