LECTION 63 - Parable Of The Talents

Parable Of The Talents

1. He also said: 

The Kingdom (of Heaven) is [as] a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 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.

2. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

3. After a long time, the lord (of those servants) cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy (of thy lord).

4. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy (of thy lord).

5. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine.

6. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, dost thou tell me that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed? Thou oughtest therefore to have put thy talents to use, with profit, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

7. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him who hath two talents. For unto every one that hath improved shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not improved, shall be taken away, even that which he hath. And cast yet out the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, for that is the portion he hath chosen.

8. Iesus also said unto his disciples, 

Be ye approved money-changers (of the kingdom) rejecting the bad and the false, and retaining the good and the true.

9. AND Iesus sat over against the Treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the Treasury.

10. And there came a certain poor widow and she threw in two mites (which make a farthing).

11. And He called His disciples unto him and said, 

Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the Treasure.

12. For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her poverty did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

LECTION 64 

LECTION 63. 8. -These words are one of the "last sayings" of Iesus and vividly describe the duty of a Christian Council, so oft neglected.