Matthew 25:14-20

The Parable of the Bags of Gold

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.
17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.
18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

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Cross References 3

  • 1. Matthew 21:33; Luke 19:12
  • 2. Matthew 18:24,25
  • 3. Matthew 18:23

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Greek "five talents … two talents … one talent" ; also throughout this parable; a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wage.
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