Sunday 15 November 2026

Psalm 90

Background
This Sunday gives us the second of Jesus' trio of great parables in Matthew 25. The first concerns the wise and foolish virgins, and the third is about the sheep and the goats, but the one we are reading today is about the talents. They are clearly all about the end times with the first two concentrating on watching and waiting and being prepared. So also does the third, of course, since the final judgement is based on your behaviour while waiting for the end. We are to believe that no one, except God, knows the timing of the final hour, so we must keep alert and make good use of the time remaining, however long that might be. These three heavy pieces of teaching lead into Matthew’s Passion narrative.

Jesus' parable of the talents is also to be found in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 19:11-26) although that is a rather confusing presentation of the story: even the number of servants entrusted with money changes during its telling, a very careless piece of editing. The parable also appears in a non-biblical text called 'The Gospel of the Nazarenes'.

The version in Matthew's Gospel of the talents parable is generally considered by biblical scholars to be closest to Jesus' original. The master presumably doesn’t want his capital lying unemployed while he’s away so he gives it to the three servants, apparently as some sort of test. On his return, the risk-takers are rewarded but the focus is on the third who is roundly condemned for making no use of the money left with him.

It is notable that the thing which holds back the third servant is fear. The others had enough confidence to risk the money by investing it (disregarding the idea that 'your money can go down as well as up'). Fear disables the third man making him 'lazy' and 'wicked' (verse 26). Harsh judgements indeed.

This parable has been interpreted in many different ways. Is it a condemnation of those who have made poor use of the long religious traditions of Israel? Is it a stern warning to the current generation because the time is short? Is it encouragement of people to make good use of their gifts and graces? Like many parables it is open to multiple interpretations, which are a central part of Scripture’s liveliness through which the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.

To Ponder:

• Do you hear this story with gladness, or with guilt, or even fear?
• Does it matter that different people will take different messages from the story?

Prayer
Lord God, father of our Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for this story. By your Spirit’s power, bring it alive to challenge and teach. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Alan Bolton
Alan Bolton is a supernumerary presbyter in the High Wycombe Circuit, having sat down in 2018. He preaches regularly round the Circuit. His other occupations are family, music, model railways, walking, and reading – with a close interest in politics.