Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Parable of the talents

I'm interested in people's interpretation of the talent parable in Matthew. There's another in Luke that's nearly identical, but it's pounds instead of talents. If you have a legit opinion on this I'd like to read it. I'd rather this not be a 35 page argument like most biblical threads.

The Master gave his men/slaves Talent(s) which was a quantity of Silver.........

He gave each based on their ABILITIES......... He did not give them ABILITIES! They already had that....

So, Talents in the parable do NOT equate to ones' (little t) talents and abilities........

The question that needs to be asked is: What have we been left with or provided, that we are to apply our ABILITIES to, that we are in some way accountable for?

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HINT: 2 Corinthians 4

We were always taught that a talent was a measure of money.

Use what you are given, don't put that light under a basket. We are to work, and we given things to be responsible for, no porch sitting and drinking 40s.

"This little light of mine; I'm going to let it shine..."

They were all given the same 'THING' but in different quantities???

I get a few things out of this. I believe the story is about faithfulness and obedience. If we are faithful and good stewards with a few things, we will receive more with possibly a double blessing as well.

The story seems to be suggesting to grow and improve the investment. No growth equals no return. Don’t waste money, time, abilities, and opportunities. Be a faithful steward of money, time, abilities, and opportunities. Grow His investments (our blessings) in this life for His glory.

I believe the Master in the parable represents Jesus, and He (like the master) will be back to see what we did with what He gave us. Be ready for the return of Jesus, as He is coming back again.

The Master is Christ, the servants or slaves are His people not the lost, talents are various gifts such as spiritual gifts found in 1 Cor 12, Eph 4 and Rom 12, when He returns His servants will give an account of what they have done with their gifts and they will be rewarded according to their faithfulness.

It's a parable about spiritual gifts each believer has been given and how he uses his gifts.

The man who was given one talent returned it unto the Lord with no gain, and he was called an unprofitable servant. He was cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Why? He knew his master reaped where he didn't sow, and was a harsh man. He returned what he was given. The best explanation I've heard is talents represent opportunities, the 1st one being accepting Jesus. After that the more you're given, the more shall be expected. I'm still not entirely sure I'm interpreting this correctly. I will consider everyone's opinion though. I might learn something

IMHO, the Talents represent the Gospel.....

The master, in the parable, did not give them abilities or opportunities, he gave them Silver, cash money, something of great value, a treasure.....

Our 'Talent' is, again, IMHO, the Gospel....

We all 'hold' it in varying degrees, we all have different abilities and opportunities........... and will in some way account for what we have done with the portion we held.....

2 Corinthians 4

I've thought this also, because the servant who returned it, or rejected it was punished in the worst way

To me, God’s given each of us unique opportunities and responsibilities. And He, and we, will be most gratified when we make good use of them.

He cares about what we do with what we have. It’s about embracing our response ability.

Jesus as a harsh man who reaps where he doesn't sow concerns me.

Nobody chooses their abilities. That is a matter of genes and environment, nature and nurture. A Forrest Gump can't choose to be an Einstein.....

To me the lesson is that we all start at different places with different abilities from talent to family financial status. The lesson to be learned is to take what you have and do the most that you can with it.

It’s not about comparing yourself to others. It’s about working hard and being fruitful given whatever parameters that you have or gifts that you’ve been blessed with.

Some are 'blessed' more than others in every respect, health, looks, intelligence, athleticism, wealth, status.....

I appreciate the interpretations and projections posted above and have no quibble with any of them

Early on I recognized the work ethic lessons and monetary significance. However, it seems that I chose to apply it all more literally - according to modern parlance – our own God given talents. So, have tried to emphasize – and have encouraged many other as well – that we are obligated and challenged to recognize the strong talents, abilities, insights and other gifts that God has given us, and that we are constantly to develop those as deeply and widely as we can. And, we are to use them for our own personal growth, in helping others, in setting examples, and especially to apply this growth in the worship of God.

This development of talents, abilities, insights is an every day quest and adventure. In it, we can learn so much about ourselves, others, and God.

"Blessed" may be interpreted many ways, and as individuals we often miss the mark when assuming how others may or may not be - more or less - blessed. Very subjective judgments in the eye of the beholder - and no two such assessments likely to be exactly the same.

To me, the point of the noted parable is not how much was "given", more or less, but how well the gifts were developed. With regard to your statement, do you not understand that persons who choose to do so can strive and succeed in growing their intelligence, wealth, status, etc.?