Arulvakku

28.08.10 TALENTS

  "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. Immediately  the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money…

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)

 

 

Any reader of the parable will turn his attention to the third servant who buried his talent. In fact the story seems to revolve around him. The other two servants are almost forgotten. Almost all the parables of Jesus seem to have the same trend. He gives importance to the lost sheep, prodigal son etc.

 

The parables are addressed to the Jews. In this parable, it looks as though, he is addressing them straightaway. They are the ones who have buried the talent. They have just preserved the talent that was given to them without making anything worthwhile out of it.

 

And the cryptic saying at the end of the parable should be understood rightly otherwise it will lead to misinterpretation. The saying should have been: ‘For to everyone who has made more out of what is given to him, more will be with him and he will grow rich, but anyone who has not made anything out of what was given to him even what he has will be taken away.