"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. (16) Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. (17) And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. (18) But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. (19) After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. (20) And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: (25) And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. (26) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: (27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. (28) Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (29) For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (30) And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The Lord illustrates the same doctrine, as before, under another beautiful parable of a bountiful Lord, which is Jesus himself, committing different talents to his servants, and in the close, taking account of their improvement, or misimprovement, of the things committed to their charge. Two servants, to whom great charges were entrusted, are represented as making good use of their time and talents, and in the end receiving the approbation of their Lord. One, and to whom less was committed, is shewn to have proved unprofitable, and is condemned to utter darkness; and the talent entrusted, to this man is said to be taken from him, and given to the servant which had most improved in his Lord's stewardship.
The obvious sense of this, as well as the former parable, renders all observations upon them unnecessary. I would only, therefore, beg it may be properly understood, that the rewards given to the faithful servant, must not be considered in a light contrary to the whole tenor of the gospel, as if any man merited divine Favour. We must not strain the sense to this extent. When we have done all, we are still unprofitable servants. The grace of God cannot be made debtor, to the services of man. The Lord is not moved to bestow his blessings on account of any supposed good in his creatures, neither is he restrained by our ill. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. But the whole is with an eye to Christ. The talents here spoken of, given to the two former servants, were evidently the gifts of grace, and consequently the Lord's, and no merit in the receivers. Both the original stock and increase were the Lord's. Lord! (saith the Prophet), thou hast wrought all our works in us. Isaiah 26:12. But the One Talent the unprofitable servant received, could be only the gift of nature, for grace is that good part which cannot be taken away; whereas everything in nature may, and at death must, and will. And the taking this talent from the slothful and unworthy, and giving it to the diligent, means to say, that the souls of the redeemed, who, through grace, abound in spiritual things, shall also if needful, be blessed in the sanctified use of temporal things. All are yours, (saith the Apostle), whether the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23.