The Parable of the Talents.

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. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several abilities; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them another five talents. And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained another two. But he that had received one went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

After a long time, the lord of those servants came and reckoned with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, Lord, You delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained another two talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.

Then he who had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not sowed And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that which is yours His lord answered and said unto him, you wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not sowed you ought to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming, I should have received my own with increase. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him who has ten talents. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him, that has not shall be taken away even that which he has  And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25 vs 14-30.

Now, as they heard these things, Jesus spoke another parable because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore Jesus said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten talents, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten talents’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your talent has earned five talents.’ Likewise, he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’“Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your talent, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth, I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank that at my coming, I might have collected it with interest?’ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’ ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ Luke 19 v 11-27.