Parable of the Talents

St. John Chrysostom, Homily LXXVIII on Matthew

Part of: The Parables of Jesus — Lectio 1

Lectio

Matthew 25:14–30

For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods;

And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.

And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five.

And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two.

But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them.

And he that had received the five talents, coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou deliveredst to me five talents; behold I have gained other five over and above.

His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two.

His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed.

And being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine.

And his lord answering, said to him: Wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sow not, and gather where I have not strewed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have committed my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with usury.

Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that hath ten talents.

For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have shall be taken away.

And the unprofitable servant cast ye out into the exterior darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Meditatio

He shows that the Lord does not require the same measure from all, but to every man according to his several ability. For He gave to one five talents, to another two, to another one, not arbitrarily, but in proportion to what each could bear.

And after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. By this He makes known His long-suffering, and that the present life is a season for labor.

They that gained returned and confessed what was their own and what was their Master’s. Thou deliveredst unto me, they say. They ascribe the source of their gain to Him.

Well done, good and faithful servant. For this is goodness, to look to one’s neighbor. And faithfulness is shown in small things, that it may be entrusted with greater. Thou wast faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

But the other saith, I knew that thou art a hard man. He lays the blame on his Lord, yet condemns himself. For if he knew this, he ought the more to have been diligent. Thou oughtest to have put my money to the exchangers. That is, thou oughtest to have spoken, to have admonished, to have advised. If others were disobedient, that is not thine excuse. Thou wast bound at least to commit it to others.

He did not say, Why didst thou not gain as much as the others? but only, Why didst thou not use what was given? The punishment is not because he gained little, but because he did nothing.

He that hath a gift of word and teaching to profit thereby, and useth it not, will lose the gift also. He that giveth diligence will gain to himself the gift in more abundance.

The talents here are each person’s ability, whether in protection, or in money, or in teaching, or in what thing soever of the kind. Let no man say, I have but one talent. Even by one thou mayest approve thyself.

Nothing is so pleasing to God as to live for the common advantage.

Not only is he deprived of the talent, but he is cast into outer darkness. Seest thou how not only the spoiler and the doer of evil, but also he that doeth not good, is punished?

Source: St. John Chrysostom, Homily LXXVIII on Matthew.

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My Notes

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