Matthew 25:15

Verse

To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.

American Standard Version (1901)

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.

Bible in Basic English

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey.

Free Bible Version

To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another one, according to their different abilities. Then he left.

Geneva Bible 1599

And vnto one he gaue fiue talents, and to an other two, and to another one, to euery man after his own ability, and straightway went from home.

King James (Authorized) Version

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

One Unity Resource Bible

To one he gave five talents [30,000 denarii; 2,587 lb; 117 kg], to another two talents [12,000 denarii; 1,035 lb; 46.8 kg], to another one talent [6,000 denarii; 517.5 lb; 23.4 kg]; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Translation for Translators

He gave them money according to their ability to take care of it. For example, he gave one servant 5,000 dollars, he gave another servant 2,000 dollars, and he gave another servant 1,000 dollars. Then he left on his journey.

Unlocked Literal Bible

To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to yet another he gave one talent. Each one received an amount according to his own ability, and that man went on his journey.

Noah Webster Bible

And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and forthwith took his journey.

World English Bible

To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

Young's Literal Translation

and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several ability, went abroad immediately.

Context

The Parable of the Talents

¹⁴For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. ¹⁶The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more.

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Summary

In this parable of the talents, Jesus teaches about the importance of stewardship and using the gifts and resources that God has given us wisely. The master entrusts his servants with different amounts of talents, symbolizing the varying abilities and opportunities each person receives from God. The servants who invest and multiply their talents are commended and rewarded, while the one who buries his talent out of fear incurs the master's displeasure. This passage encourages believers to be faithful and diligent in using their God-given gifts for His kingdom, knowing that they will be held accountable for how they have stewarded what they have been given.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one--While the proportion of gifts is different in each, the same fidelity is required of all, and equally rewarded. And thus there is perfect equity. to every man according to his several ability--his natural capacity as enlisted in Christ's service, and his opportunities in providence for employing the gifts bestowed on him. and straightway took his journey--Compare Mat 21:33, where the same departure is ascribed to God, after setting up the ancient economy. In both cases, it denotes the leaving of men to the action of all those spiritual laws and influences of Heaven under which they have been graciously placed for their own salvation and the advancement of their Lord's kingdom.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And unto one he gave five talents,.... A "talent" with the Jews, if of silver, was, according to Brerewood (w), of the value of 375 l. of our money; according to Bishop Cumberland, 353 l. 11 s. 10 1/2 d.; and if of gold, was equal to 4500l. and, according to the latter, 5075 l. 15 s. 7 1/2 d.: so that five of these talents, if of silver, were 1875 l. and if of gold, 22,500 l. according to Brerewood; a very large sum for one servant to be intrusted with. The Persic version reads "pounds", as in Luk 19:13. By these talents, special grace is not meant; for the parable speaks not of what was wrought in these servants, but of what was committed to their trust, and of what might lie useless by them, and be taken away from them; whereas special grace is internal, something, implanted in man, and is an incorruptible seed, that can never be lost, or will be taken away; and it is certain, that one of these servants had not special and saving grace, but was wicked, slothful, and unprofitable, and was cast into utter darkness: but outward gifts are designed by the talents; and these not merely the gifts of natural knowledge and riches, the gifts of nature and of providence; nor the external ministry of the word, Gospel ordinances, and opportunities of enjoying them; but ministerial gifts, such as fit and qualify men to be preachers of the Gospel, as appears from their name, "talents": they being the greatest gifts for usefulness and service in the church, as talents were the greatest of weights and coins among the Jews; from the nature of them, being what may be improved or lost, and for which men are accountable; from the persons to whom they were delivered, the servants of Christ; from the time of their delivery, when Christ went into a far country, to heaven, when he ascended on high, and received gifts for men, and gave them to them; and from the unequal distribution of them, being given to some more, and others less; all which perfectly agree with ministerial gifts: for it follows, to another two, and to another one; and these were given to every man, according to his several ability, or "according to his own power"; his proper power that belonged to him, as the Lord of these servants: for the sense is, not that he gave these talents, or gifts, according to the different capacities, abilities, stations, and employments of these men; but according to that power and authority which he, as Mediator, had, to dispense these gifts to each as he would; to some more, others less, as he knew would best serve his interest and kingdom: and straightway took his journey; after he had signified, that all power in heaven and earth was given to him, by virtue of which he ordered them to go into all the world, and preach his Gospel, and administer his ordinances; for which he had, and would abundantly qualify them; with a promise of his presence with them to the end of the world; he took his leave of them, blessed them, and was parted from them, and went up into heaven. (w) De Nummis Jud. c. 4.