Hello... I hope you will permit me to expound on the Biblical interpretation and significance of this parable in [Matthew 25:14-30].

Firstly, for serious Bible study, I strongly and humbly urge you to pick up an Authorized King James 1611 Bible. Without going into any exhaustive manuscript evidence, an Authorized King James 1611 Bible is THE spiritual literary work which has withstood the test of time as THE Word of GOD in the English language.

Secondly, in order to correctly understand Biblical content, you must learn how to rightly divide the word of truth [II Timothy 2:15]. This verse has been changed in all modern-day English Bibles but is preserved for us in the Authorized King James 1611 Bible. The meaning of this verse is that you must correctly understand where the doctrinal separations are in GOD's Word in order to understand and interpret the text. For example, the best known separation in GOD's Word is that there is an Old Testament and a New Testament. With the passage of time, you will realize that many other divisions exist in GOD's Word.

Thirdly, before beginning any Biblical interpretation of a parable, you must spend some time investigating PROPHECY in relation to GOD's Word. A parable is a representation of something real in life or nature from which a moral or doctrine is drawn for the purpose of instruction. Also, a parable may relate to a past, present, or future event. Therefore, you must be able to recognize where a parable fits within Biblical prophecy in order to correctly understand and interpret for whom the parable was meant and its implications.

After recognizing the aforementioned information, you may now tackle the parable of [Matthew 25:14-30].

The following points are observed from the text:

(1) Jesus Christ is speaking to his disciples concerning the kingdom of heaven. Distinct from the kingdom of GOD (which is a spiritual kingdom [John 3:3] [Romans 14:17]), the kingdom of heaven is the Biblical reference to the literal, physical, Davidic, Messianic, Millenium kingdom which will be ruled by Jesus Christ himself. At the time of this conversation, Jesus Christ has not been nailed to a cross, has not shed his blood, has not been buried, and has not resurrected. In other words, the New Testament is not yet in operation. Since the name 'Christian' was not in use before [Acts 11:26] and was given only in relation to Born-Again Believers, you begin to see that this conversation between Jesus Christ and his disciples has nothing to do with Gentiles and the Body of Christ (ie.church). This conversation is between the Jewish Messiah and his Jewish disciples. In light of this, the parable could involve the nation of Israel. Please continue reading.

(2) There were no parables spoken before [Matthew Chapter 13]. After the person and works of Jesus Christ was rejected, Jesus Christ began to speak in parables. Only the small segment of Jewish people who had accepted Jesus Christ as Messiah would understand the lessons of the parables. At this point, if you would take the time to read and study the parables starting from [Matthew Chapter 13], you would realize that GOD has already interpreted the identity of the characters in the parable of [Matthew 25:14-30]. Please continue reading.

(3) From the lessons of previous parables, the parable of [Matthew 25:14-30] is interpreted as follows:

a. 'The man...' is Jesus Christ the Messiah

b. 'He travels to far country...' points to Messiah's return to Heaven after the resurrection

c. 'He called his servants...' points to the chosen nation of Israel

d. 'Delivered unto them his goods...' points to all of Israel's privileges as the chosen nation [Romans 3:1,2] [Romans 9:3-5]

e. Some Jewish people recognized their privileges and increased the worth of 'the man'. Other Jewish people just wasted away their privileges by not increasing the worth of 'the man'. These people forgot that to whom much is given, much is required.

f. 'After a long time, the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them' points to Jesus Christ's Second Coming and to the judgement on the nation of Israel which will take place right before the start of the Millenium kingdom. Firstly, Jesus Christ judges Israel. Then, Jesus Christ judges and separates the Gentile nations by dividing the goat nations from the sheep nations as shown in the rest of the chapter[Matthew 25:31-46].

g. To the Jewish person who recognized his privileges and increased the worth of 'the man' through his actions, he will hear the statement 'Well done, good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the thy lord'. Therefore, this obedient Jewish servant will obtain entrance into the Millenium kingdom. Unfortunately, at the time of this future judgement, the Jewish person who did not recognize his privileges and did not increase the worth of 'the man' through his actions will hear the statement 'Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness'. This disobedient Jewish servant will NOT obtain entrance into the Millenium kingdom and is eternally separated from GOD.

In conclusion, you can see that this parable has absolutely NOTHING to do with 'Christian values' or that 'GOD is extremely unforgiving' or that 'GOD takes terrible revenge for minor offences' or that 'If GOD takes revenge, why should we humans refrain from a revenge or two'. Doctrinally, this parable is a warning to the nation of Israel that there will be a national judgement before the start of the Millenium kingdom and that this judgement will be conducted by Jesus Christ the Messiah. Is it not truly considerate and compassionate of GOD to actually WARN SOMEONE YEARS IN ADVANCE(!) that a spiritual judgement is on its way?

Furthermore, allow me to remind you that the Bible declares that GOD took the form of a man [I Timothy 3:16], lived a sinless life [II Corinthians 5:21], died on a cross [Matthew 27:50], shed His blood for the forgiveness(!) of sins [Colossians 1:14], resurrected [Romans 6:9], and is still calling sinful man unto Him even today [II Peter 3:9]. Do these Biblical facts sound like the actions of an 'unforgiving' GOD to you? Honestly?

Thanks for reading.

Concerned Citizen

Personally, I choose to interpret the parable differently. When we are given talents and bury them out of fear, we do indeed suffer but when nurtured they do in fact flourish and grow.

God is not taxing his servants and then punishing them - they are in fact creating what happens with the decisions they make themselves with the talents they are given.The one who buries them out of fear creates his own hell while the one who put his to good use is given even more because that is the natural law of the Universe. The story is teaching us that the more we nurture our God given talents and the more we give, the more we will receive.

However, if we live from a place of fear and hide what we are given and are afraid to share, we will live a life of lack.

God is not unforgiving - he gives us the free will to choose. We can live from a place of Love or we can live from a place of fear,the choice is always ours.

I also interpret this parable in the sense presented by Michaela. To receive one or more talents is an investment by God to humans. To hide and make no good use of this investment, for the personal good and the good of others, means to squander away the received talent. Which talent is incumbent on you to be responsible by developing and manifesting it.. Frequently, God helps by mind, words, hands and acts of other humans; frequently, God loves you with the heart of other humans; frequently, God teaches you by human teachers; frequently, God manifests His forgiveness by the forgiveness of humans.

And a little story about God's forgiveness:

It says that the devil asked an audience from God and God gave it to him. Devil said: "God, You always forgive men, but they make mistakes again and again and You forgive again and again. Also being very old and Your son,I made a mistake only once and you never forgave me. Why this discrimination?" God answered: "Have you asked for forgiveness? Do you regret your mistake? Have you readdressed the mistake? No! The men have done all these. And I forgive them."

the way i see it he was given a talent so he could have used it to gain something or to make something of it and he did not! so it is not about revenge! but about the stupid way he acted!that is why he as been punish! and the seed part is found in another place in the bible: you reap what you sow! if you plant good seed you will have good fruit and if you plant bad seed you will have bad fruit! as weeping and gnashing of teeth. it is find in the narrow gate :Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

another thing about god:Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside with his disciples and taught them, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Bleesed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are reviled, persecuted and lied about for great is their reward in heaven. For so they presecuted the prophets before you.