What is the parable of the talents about?
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), a master entrusts his servants with different amounts of money before traveling, then judges them by their faithfulness — teaching that God expects us to invest what he has given for his kingdom.
A master gives one servant five talents, another two, another one. The first two double their share; the third buries his out of fear.
On return, the master praises the faithful: "Well done, good and faithful servant!" — but takes the one talent from the fearful servant and condemns him for hiding what was entrusted to him.
The parable is about all that God gives us — time, gifts, opportunities, the gospel itself — and the day when he asks what we did with it. Faithfulness with little wins the same "well done" as faithfulness with much.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.