Matthew 25:14-30

 

talents - Just how much is "a talent"? A lot. NIB has it roughly equivalent "to the wages of a day laborer for fifteen years." [1] Just what is a talent? Not gifts and graces-that’s a later development. Initially, talent was exactly what it originally meant in the text-monetary exchange. But by the Middle Ages, it came to refer to personal qualities and resources that were usually squandered rather than invested in the Church’s mission.

what is the point of the story? - Theories of what this story means abound-it could have an allegorical/apocalyptic bent or speak more to the use of one’s resources. Eugene Peterson connects the parable to risk or lack of risk:

. . . Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won’t go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness. [2]

gregory the great [590]- The five talents may be viewed as the gift of the five senses, that is, knowledge of externals by means of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch . . . Many in the church resemble the man given one talent, who hides it in the earth, employing abilities in earthly affairs but failing to seek spiritual profit. [3]

 

[4]

 

• Who was one of the most talented people you’ve ever known? What happened to that person?
• What skills or gifts were you known for in school?
• How would you feel about being given more responsibility as the reward for a job well cone?
• How does the master’s treatment of the one-talent servant seem to you: fair? Harsh? Lenient? Why?

 

block #1 - Begin with a conversation like this:

"What are you going to plant this spring, Jake? Corn?

"Nope. I’m scared of the corn borer."

"Oh . . . Will you plant potatoes then?"

"Nope, too much danger of potato bugs."

"Well then, what are you going to plant?"

"Nothing. I’m going to play it safe." [5]

block #2 - Go on to enter the parable from the perspective that Eugene Peterson takes-the third guy’s mistake as one who played it safe rather than daring to take risk, or go for broke.

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[1] New Interpreter’s Bible VIIII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page 453.
[2] Eugene Peterson, The Message Bible (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2002), page 1796.
[3]Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Ib (InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 221.
[4] Serendipity Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1998), page 354.
[5] From J. Ellsworth Kalas in Parables from the Backside.