"It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one– to each according to his ability. Then he went away…The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'…For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' (Mt 25:14-30 )
This parable has got only one message and that is the reason why the whole story is centred on the one servant (useless servant). This parable is also narrated towards the end of the story of the Gospel. Right through the Gospel we see Jesus criticising and condemning the Pharisees and the Scribes. The whole of chapter 23 of Matthew’s Gospel speaks about them.
The Pharisees and the Scribes have been given the Law of Moses and the have been given the Temple, the sign of God’s presence among them. The have been given wonderful promises about how God would bless them and through them how God would bless the other nations. They have buried these things in the ground. They did not use it for themselves and neither did they use it for others.
The master was coming back and he was to come back at the end of times (this is the story of the Israel and God and it is about Jesus and Jews). The other two servants are those who hear the call of Jesus and on that basis live their life accordingly. They are the ones who make the right use of the money.
