Matthew 25:14-23

The Parable of the Talents

14 ¹“For ²it will be like a man ³going on a journey, who called his servants^[a] and entrusted to them his property.

15 To one he gave five ⁴talents, ^[b] to another two, to another one, ⁵to each according to his ability. Then he ⁶went away.

16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.

18 But he who had received the one talent went and ⁷dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 Now ⁸after a long time the master of those servants came and ⁹settled accounts with them.

20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. ’

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and ¹⁰faithful servant. ^{[c] 11}You have been faithful over a little; ¹²I will set you over much. Enter into ¹³the joy of your master. ’

22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more. ’

23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. ’

Cross References

• 1. 25:14 For ver. 14-30, [Luke 19:12-27]
• 2. 25:14 [Mark 13:34]
• 3. 25:14 ch. 21:33
• 4. 25:15 ch. 18:24
• 5. 25:15 [Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 4:7; 1 Pet. 4:10]
• 6. 25:15 [See ver. 14 above]
• 7. 25:18 [ch. 13:44]
• 8. 25:19 [ver. 5]
• 9. 25:19 ch. 18:23; Rom. 14:12; [Luke 16:2]
• 10. 25:21 ver. 23; ch. 24:45
• 11. 25:21 Luke 16:10; 1 Cor. 4:2; [1 Tim. 3:13]
• 12. 25:21 ch. 24:47
• 13. 25:21 Heb. 12:2; [John 15:11]

Footnotes

• [a] 25:14 Greek 'bondservants'; also verse 19
• [b] 25:15 A 'talent' was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer
• [c] 25:21 Greek 'bondservant'; also verses 23, 26, 30