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Explanation for:
Matthew
25
:
14
For even as a man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods;
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If there is a distinction in the parable of the talents as conveyed by Luke, one might interpret that each parable offers a unique message. In Luke’s narrative, various profits are derived from the same sum of money; one servant produces five talents while another yields ten, resulting in differing rewards. In this scenario, however, the rewards are uniform. The servant who received two talents also doubled his return, just as the one with five did the same. In this case, given that one servant has produced more than the other, it is only just that their rewards differ. Notice that everywhere, accountability is not hastily demanded. The vineyard owner entrusted his farm to tenants and then went away, just as the master distributed the funds and departed; this illustrates His patience and forbearance. I believe Christ is hinting at the resurrection through this. However, His message extends beyond just the tenants and the vineyard; it encompasses all laborers, as He addresses not only the rulers and Jewish authorities but everyone in a broader sense."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The head of this family is undoubtedly Christ, who, following His Resurrection, ascended to the Father as the Conqueror, summoned His apostles, and entrusted them with the message of the gospel. He did not evaluate the amount given based on a rigid standard of fairness, but instead distributed according to the capacity of each recipient. As the apostle states, for those unable to digest solid nourishment, he provided them sustenance as noted in 1 Corinthians 3:2: \\"I have nourished you with milk, and not with solid food.\\" Consequently, in the end, He welcomes with equal joy both the one who has multiplied five talents into ten and the one who has doubled two talents into four. The five, two, and one talents can be understood as representing the diverse gifts bestowed upon each individual, or in the first instance, the full array of tested virtues; in the second instance, intellect and actions; and in the third case, the rational faculty that distinguishes humans from animals."},{"author-name":"Anastasios the Sinaite","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c888f268caf48c19182221_Anastasios%20the%20Sinaite.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":7,"exegesis-text":"What is the talent that the Lord refers to when He states it will be removed from the unfaithful servant at the end and bestowed upon the one who has skillfully managed the five talents (Matthew 25:14-30)? Some propose that this talent represents the Holy Spirit, which is bestowed through the Sacrament of Baptism. However, I would counter that the servant who was entrusted with five talents also possessed the Holy Spirit and did not require another. Generally speaking, this parable teaches us that God frequently bestows certain gifts of healing and teaching from the inspired Scriptures to unworthy individuals and even to outsiders, so that, feeling the weight of their unworthiness, they might strive toward righteousness. Yet, others, being deceitful and failing to recognize God's providence, mistakenly believe themselves to be virtuous, attributing their gifts to their own righteousness. Blinded by their arrogance, they face eternal judgment, having lost such gifts."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In the earlier assertion that 'you do not know the day when the Lord will come,' the Saviour communicates a parable that emphasizes His imminent return. The Lord, likened to a man who departs, summoned His servants and entrusted them with various responsibilities. Christ, who took on human form for our salvation, is referred to as the departing man, either because He ascended to heaven or because He remains absent for a time, patiently awaiting our actions rather than demanding immediate accountability. The servants comprise those charged with the proclamation of the gospel, including bishops, priests, deacons, and all who have been endowed with spiritual gifts, varying in magnitude according to each individual’s strength, specifically in alignment with their faith and purity."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"A certain individual went away and summoned his servants, entrusting them with his assets. He allocated five talents to one, two to another, and one to a third, distributing them according to each person's abilities. This parable resembles the previous one regarding the trustworthy and wise servant but is articulated in a different manner. It addresses those who have received from God the precious gifts of teaching, referred to as talents, and illustrates their responsibility to either utilize these gifts for growth or to hide them, resulting in no profit. Thus, it is stated that the Son of Man called His servants, akin to a man embarking on a journey, giving one five talents, indicating an abundance since the gifts of teaching are diverse, as Paul enumerated; to another he gave two talents, denoting a smaller amount, while the last received only one. The bishops and teachers within the Church might be considered the servants in this context. The text further explains the rationale behind this disparity in distribution: the capability and readiness of each individual. He then departed, allowing them to labor, similar to how in the parable of the vineyard, the owner entrusted the task to the workers and went away, illustrating His patience in that He does not demand immediate results. Some interpret this departure as the Ascension of the Savior into heaven."},{"author-name":"Nicephoros (Theotokis)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8958407451968d9c204fb_Nicephoros%20(Theotokis).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":18,"exegesis-text":"The individual who entrusted his belongings to his servants represents the Most Generous God, who bestows His gifts upon humanity. He is referred to as Man due to His human nature, and He identifies Himself as such to illustrate His immense patience with those who have received His blessings. He does not immediately require the results of these gifts from them, but rather waits a considerable time. ‘But after a great length of time, saith the Scripture, the Master of those servants cometh’ (Matt. 25:19; Cyril in convers.). Additionally, some interpret this term, man, to refer specifically to the incarnate Jesus Christ, who, when He was ready to leave this world and ascend to heaven, entrusted His sacred disciples with His possessions, namely His holy Church, ‘which He purchased with His blood’ (Acts 20:28)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the parable of the virgins, Christ reveals the expectations He holds for our faith-filled hearts. Through the parable of the talents, He instructs how every genuine believer must serve Him wholeheartedly with their endeavors. The unfortunate destiny of the foolish virgins serves as a caution against spiritual apathy and indifference, while the judgment of the slothful servant condemns our negligence in fulfilling our vocations and serving for the welfare of others. The parable of the virgins calls for sincere enthusiasm for God's delight and love for our neighbors; the parable of the talents urges us to diligently fulfill our responsibilities, ensuring we can present our accounts to the Lord joyfully on the final day. It is significant that the Lord shared the parable of the virgins before that of the talents, as wisdom does not dwell in an evil heart (Prem. 1:4), and only from a pure heart can truly selfless, holy intentions and actions arise. Thus, it is imperative for each person to first strive to cleanse their heart of passions and nurture the sacred sentiments of prayer and love, so that they may then serve their neighbors with the gifts bestowed upon them by God. This constitutes the proper order of spiritual labor. This, however, does not allow one to excuse their idleness by claiming they are still working on their spiritual purification, declaring that they are not yet prepared to aid in the salvation of others, citing their own soul's concerns. Rather, do not summon yourself to extraordinary acts; instead, when God calls you and presents opportunities, embrace them. This is the lesson the Lord imparts through His parable of the talents. He asked His apostles, “Do you wish to understand how the Son of Man will act upon His return and how you should behave while awaiting His arrival? Listen to this parable: FOR HE WILL DO AS A MAN WHO, when preparing to journey to a distant land, CALLED HIS SERVANTS—those he had entrusted, not mere hired help who could not be held accountable—and assigned them to manage his property, distributing his wealth among them according to their abilities: to one he granted five talents, to another two, and to another one, so that each could engage with the resources provided; and THEN he departed. In the master's absence, each servant had the freedom to act as they saw fit. Thus it was that the diligent and responsible servants immediately set to work."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates how the Lord will evaluate humanity at His return. While individuals will face a personal judgment at the time of their death based on the same standard of divine righteousness, this discussion centers on the ultimate judgment. This parable conveys that those who actively employ their God-given abilities and material possessions for their own benefit, the welfare of others, and the glory of God will receive a reward reflective of their faithfulness; conversely, those who are careless will face consequences. In this scenario, God will respond similarly to how the man in the parable treated his servants. The phrase ‘Going into a strange country’ metaphorically represents Christ's ascension from earth to heaven and His time there, signifying His patience as He awaits our accountability (cf. Matt. 21:33). The phrase ‘He entrusted them with possessions’ indicates that the Lord has bestowed upon each person mental capacities, spiritual gifts, and material resources, which, when used rightly, can serve the greater good for themselves and their neighbors, ultimately glorifying God."},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The outcome is well understood: those who were given greater treasures diligently worked to increase what they had been entrusted with, earning further favor from their master; however, the one who received a single talent chose to bury it in the ground, and through his dishonesty and laziness, he lost that talent, facing harsh judgment. In this parable, the man represents God the Creator and Provider, who grants His servants, meaning all humanity, different gifts—both natural and spiritual, internal and external—most notably the God-man, Christ. Upon His ascension into heaven, He bestowed gifts upon humanity (Eph. 4:8), including the Holy Spirit's gifts, the Gospel, the sacraments, and all divine resources necessary for living a godly life (2 Pet. 1:3). These diverse talents are allocated, as the parable illustrates, in accordance with each individual's capabilities, and as explained by the Apostle, in proportion to the measure of Christ's gift, ensuring sufficiency for our life’s needs, which are determined by God’s wisdom and provision. \\n\\nIt is essential to recognize that the talents granted are paramount; without them, the servants would have been left with nothing. However, it is not merely the possession of these talents that matters, but the active engagement with them and their multiplication that leads to entering into the joy of the Lord. It is striking how those who receive more are often more driven to gain additional rewards, while the one with fewer talents may show no effort at all. This serves as a reflection on us, often justifying our shortcomings by claiming we are not apostles, saints, or righteous, lacking their grace, which we believe excuses our failure to act and cultivate virtue. Is this not akin to declaring that those endowed with five or two talents should strive to acquire more, while we who possess one are exempt from such endeavors, content merely to return what we have been given? Yet, the Divine Giver will not permit His gifts to be squandered or allow deceit and laziness to masquerade as weakness. Ultimately, He will reclaim the overlooked gift and leave the unworthy servant to face the absence of light."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"A righteous God does not ask anything beyond human capability; He has provided individuals with diverse talents and resources to accomplish His will, and He will hold accountable those to whom He has given little, asking little in return. However, while we seek God's grace, we must not use our circumstances of poverty and lack of unique talents as an excuse for inactivity. To those who have received less, less will be required, yet every person will be called to account at the Judgment, regardless of the size of their contributions. The poor widow, who offered just two small coins, did not cite her lack of wealth as a reason for inaction; instead, she gave all she possessed to the temple treasury. Jesus remarked that her offering surpassed that of all the affluent, for in her dedication, she amassed a treasury of small acts—such deeds that would grant her access to the Heavenly Kingdom.\\n\\nThe parable of the talents illustrates this principle. In biblical times, a talent represented a significant monetary amount. In this parable, the term symbolizes the spiritual gifts and resources bestowed upon humanity by God—essentially everything we have been entrusted with to utilize for both ourselves and for the sake of others. \\n\\nA wealthy man, embarking on a journey abroad, entrusted his property to his servants according to their abilities; he gave one five talents, another two, and a third one talent, before departing. The servants who received five and two talents actively engaged them in business and, upon the master's return, had successfully doubled their master’s assets. In contrast, the servant who had only one talent, feeling disadvantaged compared to the others, believed it futile to invest his modest sum and feared his master’s severity. Rather than risk any loss, he chose to bury his talent in the ground. \\n\\nWhen the master returned after an extended absence, he requested an account from his servants. The servant who had received five talents reported that he had doubled them, presenting ten talents to his master. The master commended him, calling him good and faithful, promising him a generous reward, and inviting him to share in his joy. Likewise, the servant with two talents presented four talents to the master and received the same praise and reward as the first servant."}]}
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