📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable in Matthew 25:14-30, paralleled by the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:12-27. A man traveling into a far country gives his servants resources according to their abilities — five talents, two talents, one talent. The first two double the investment; the third hides his single talent in the ground out of fear. The master commends the first two with the same words: well done, thou good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He condemns the third: thou wicked and slothful servant.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
PARABLE OF T, n.
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A scriptural parable of Christ; the talents entrusted to servants while the master is away.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 25:14 — "The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods."
Matthew 25:21 — "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."
Matthew 25:25 — "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that which is thine."
Matthew 25:30 — "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity confuses safety with faithfulness; the buried talent was the punished one.
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Matthew 25:24-30 is one of the most countercultural passages in Christ's ministry. The third servant's defense was that he was afraid and played it safe. The master called him wicked and slothful. Risk-aversion in the kingdom is not virtue; the buried talent is the punished one.
Modern Christianity often confuses safety with faithfulness. The pastor who never preaches a hard sermon to keep peace; the believer who never witnesses for fear of conflict; the leader who never starts the ministry the Spirit prompted because the funding is uncertain. The buried-talent strategy. The Master returns and asks for fruit, not for preserved capital. Invest. Risk. Trade. The good and faithful servant is also the one who multiplied.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek roots below.
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G5007 — talanton — talent (a large monetary unit)
Usage
"Modern Christianity confuses safety with faithfulness; the buried talent was punished."
"Risk-aversion in the kingdom is not virtue."
"The good and faithful servant is also the one who multiplied. Invest. Risk. Trade."