The Talents

Jesus told His disciples a story about a man who gave his servants some talents, a kind of money. Matt. 25:14–15

The man gave one servant five talents. He gave another servant two talents. He gave another servant one talent. Then the man went on a journey. Matt. 25:15

The servant with five talents worked hard and made five more talents. Then he had ten talents. Matt. 25:16

The servant with two talents also worked hard and made two more talents. Then he had four talents. Matt. 25:17

The servant with one talent just buried it in the ground. He was afraid that he would lose it. He did not make any more talents. Matt. 25:18, 25

When the man came home, he asked the servants what they had done with their talents. Matt. 25:19

The first servant brought ten talents to the man, which made the man happy. He made the servant a leader over many things and told him to be joyful. Matt. 25:20–21

The second servant brought four talents to the man, which also made the man happy. He made the second servant a leader over many things too and told him to be joyful. Matt. 25:22–23

The third servant gave the man back the talent he had buried. The man was not happy with the third servant. He said that the servant was lazy, that he should have worked hard and made more talents. Matt. 25:24–27

The man took the talent from the third servant and gave it to the first servant. Then the man sent the lazy servant away. The man in the story is Jesus, and He will judge how His disciples have used the gifts they have been given. Matt. 25:28–30

Illustrations by Paul Mann