The parable of the talents is included within the eschatological or Apocalyptic Sermon, which is formed by three parables: the Ten Virgins (Matt 25:1-13); Talents (25:14-30); and Judgment of the Nations (25:31-46). The parable of the talents begins in the same way like that of the parable of the Ten Virgins by declaring that the theme of the Kingdom of God (25: 1; 14). The pericope starts by Jesus Christ affirming that Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἀποδημῶν ἐκάλεσεν τοὺς ἰδίους δούλους καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ” (“it is like a man about to go abroad”). In this passage, it stands for the Kingdom of Heaven while the wealthy man, who is referred to as “lord” by his servants, does so for Jesus, “the Son of Man” (25: 13). Similarly, since it seems that the parable is a teaching to the Apostles, Jesus is paralleling the δούλους (doulous/servants) with the twelve Apostles, and therefore, represents all the disciples from that moment on.
“The Lord calls his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, [and] to a third one, each in proportion to his ability” (25: 14-15). Nowadays, when one hears the word talent, one tend to think of a special skill like a musical talent. However, the word used by Matthew in this parable is the Greek word τάλαντα (talanta), which refers to quantity. During the time …show more content…
Many sermons on this parable take verse twenty nine as the core of the story. However, doing this is to miss the risky decision of the other two servants, which represent most major themes of the Christian faith: to take care of one another, trust, being witness of the Gospel, hope, and giving the whole self to God; this cannot be understood or be lived without
“The Lord calls his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, [and] to a third one, each in proportion to his ability” (25: 14-15). Nowadays, when one hears the word talent, one tend to think of a special skill like a musical talent. However, the word used by Matthew in this parable is the Greek word τάλαντα (talanta), which refers to quantity. During the time …show more content…
Many sermons on this parable take verse twenty nine as the core of the story. However, doing this is to miss the risky decision of the other two servants, which represent most major themes of the Christian faith: to take care of one another, trust, being witness of the Gospel, hope, and giving the whole self to God; this cannot be understood or be lived without