Matthew 25:25

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast what is thine.'

Matthew 25:25 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 25:25

And I was afraid
The Persic version adds, "to negotiate with thy money": he was afraid, lest by trading he should not gain what his Lord expected; and most of all, lest he should lose the talent itself; and dreaded his Lord's austerity, should that be the case, fearing that he would have no mercy on him. This was his pretence; but the true causes were sloth and earthly mindedness:

and went and hid thy talent in the earth;
that it might not be lost, though it lay useless, and turned to no account. The Arabic version renders it, "and buried thy goods in the earth": he owned the money to be his Lord's, and thought he did very well, and enough, that he preserved it, though he had not improved it; and this he hoped would be a sufficient excuse, and on which he laid the greatest stress:

lo! there thou hast that is thine:
he again acknowledges, that the gifts he had were not his own, but his master's; and whereas he had kept them entire, as he had received them, and there was the full sum he was intrusted with, he hoped no more would be required: but it is not sufficient to retain what is given, it must be made use of and improved; for every spiritual gift is given to profit with: and besides, there seems to be a degree of rudeness in these words; he does not bring the talent with him, and return it, but only signifies that he had hid it in the earth, in such a place, and "there" it was, where his Lord might take it, and have it again, if he pleased.

Matthew 25:25 In-Context

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 that had received the one talent came and said, `Lord, I knew thee, that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed.

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth. Lo, there thou hast what 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 strewed.

27 Thou ought therefore to have placed my money with the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with interest.