Matthew 25:20

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

Matthew 25:20 (KJV)

Context

Matthew 25:20 is the third verse in the Parable of the Talents, which Jesus told to teach about the kingdom of heaven and the responsibilities of His followers while awaiting His return. In the parable, a master entrusts his possessions to his servants before going on a journey, giving five talents to one servant, two to another, and one to a third, each according to his ability. A talent was a significant sum of money, indicating the great trust the master placed in the servant who received five.

Meaning

In this verse, the servant who received five talents comes forward to give an account, freely and cheerfully, with holy confidence. He declares that he has gained five more talents beside the original five, effectively doubling what was entrusted to him. The servant acknowledges the master as the source of what he received, saying, “thou deliveredst unto me five talents,” and then presents the gain as the result of his stewardship. His approach shows a sense of responsibility and a joyful confidence in presenting the results of his work.

Biblical connections

This verse directly follows the servant’s action in Matthew 25:16, where he immediately went and traded with the talents, and precedes the master’s commendation in Matthew 25:21, where he is called “good and faithful servant” and invited to enter into his master’s joy. The immediate context of verses 19-21 shows that this accounting happens after a long time, emphasizing the expectation of faithful service during the master’s absence. The master’s journey signifies the period between Jesus’ first and second coming, when He will hold His servants accountable.

Application

This verse challenges us to reflect on our own lives. What talents, abilities, and resources has God given us? How are we using them? Are we being faithful stewards who seek to multiply what we have been entrusted with? Are we grateful for God’s blessings and aware of our accountability to Him?

• Reward: In the subsequent verses of the parable, the master commends the servant for his faithfulness and rewards him by putting him in charge of many things and inviting him to enter into his joy. This points to the promise of rewards for those who are faithful stewards of what God has given them. While the focus is not on material wealth, the parable teaches that God rewards faithfulness with greater responsibility and blessings in His kingdom.

Reflection

The servant’s response to the master is characterized by gratitude and a sense of accountability. He recognizes that he was merely a steward of what belonged to someone else. This reminds us of our role as stewards of God’s blessings in our lives. We are accountable to God for how we use what He has entrusted to us. The doubling of the talents illustrates the principle of faithful use of what God has entrusted, leading to increase.