Mateus 25:15

In New Testament times a talent (Gr. talanton) was a unit of exchange. Its value depended on the type of metal that was in view-gold, silver, or copper. The talents in this parable may have been silver, though this is not important. The Greek word argyrion in Matthew 25:18 can mean either "money" or "silver." Originally a talent was a measure of weight, between 58 and 80 pounds. [Note: Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, s.v. "talanton," p. 803.] Many translators and commentators use 75 pounds as a convenient working amount. Later the talent was a coin worth about 6,000 denarii. The earning power of a talent coin was therefore the equivalent of about 16 and a half years wages for a workingman or a foot soldier. By any reckoning the worth of the talents entrusted to the slaves in this parable was great. Five talents might amount to considerably more than a lifetime of earnings.

This master distributed his resources according to his evaluation of the ability of each slave. As always, greater privilege brings greater responsibility.

Probably we should understand the talents to represent all the working capital that God entrusts to His disciples. To limit the talents to spiritual gifts, natural abilities, the gospel, opportunities for service, money, or whatever, limits the scope of what Jesus probably intended. All of these things constitute what God has given His servants to use for His glory.

"This capacity for work lies not within our own power; but it is in our power to use for Christ whatever we may have." [Note: Edersheim, The Life . . ., 2:460.]

These slaves represent Jews living during the Tribulation, not Christians living in the church age, though this parable is applicable to us. They will have unparalleled opportunities to serve Jesus Christ then. The opportunity to herald the gospel to the ends of the earth will be one of these great privileges. Many disciples then will probably have the opportunity to present the gospel to thousands and perhaps millions of individuals using the technology of their day.