Matthew 25:1-30
Matthew’s parable of servants receiving 5, 2, and 1 talent in today’s reading can be compared to Luke’s parable of ten servants receiving ten minas each (Luke 19:12-26). In Matthew the three servants are given talents of various levels; in Luke all ten are given the same level. In Matthew the 5-talent servant returned 5 talents more, the 2-talent servant returned 2 talents more, and the 1-talent servant had no increase over his original allotment. Thus the more-gifted servant was expected to return his investment at a higher level than the less-gifted servants, but each was expected to show a return based on their original allotment. In Luke’s parable all ten servants received the same original allotment and showed different returns, but the 5-return servant was rewarded (comparably) just as highly as the 10-return servant.
What I see in contrasting these two parables is that God is the giver of all good things and that He gives to each of us as He chooses, and He puts each of us in our own circumstances and will reward each of us as He chooses. So 10s returning 10 and 5 – both are good. Each of us has to ask ourselves about the talents that God has given to us and to ask ourselves what we have done with His original gift. But that reflection is only contemplation, not evaluation. God alone is the One to whom we must answer – and He alone will reward us as He chooses.
See also: October 7 / Matt. 25:1-13; October 8 / Matt. 25:14-30