Matthew 25 18

Matthew 25:18 kjv

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Matthew 25:18 nkjv

But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

Matthew 25:18 niv

But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Matthew 25:18 esv

But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.

Matthew 25:18 nlt

But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master's money.

Matthew 25 verses

Matthew 25 18 Meaning

Matthew 25:18 describes the action of the servant who received the single talent. Instead of investing or using it productively like the other servants, he went and dug a hole in the ground to conceal his lord's money. This action represents a complete lack of initiative, trust, and diligence, driven by fear or a misguided understanding of stewardship, ultimately leading to unprofitability and a failure to honor the master's expectations.

Matthew 25 18 Context

Matthew 25:18 is part of the Parable of the Talents (Mat 25:14-30), which is delivered by Jesus as part of His Olivet Discourse, a series of teachings on the end times, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Second Coming. This discourse follows immediately after Jesus' denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23) and precedes the account of His passion. Chapters 24 and 25 focus on themes of vigilance, readiness, and accountability for the Lord's return. The parable itself illustrates that God entrusts His servants with various resources, abilities, and opportunities ("talents") according to their individual capacity, and He expects them to use these gifts wisely and productively for His glory while He is away. The narrative structure contrasts the two diligent servants with the one who squanders his opportunity through inaction, fear, and misunderstanding of his master's nature. Historically, talents were vast sums of money, making the servant's negligence highly significant, representing not merely minor unfaithfulness but gross dereliction of duty with immense resources. This narrative would challenge a first-century audience to consider their own spiritual and material stewardship in anticipation of God's final judgment, countering any passive expectation of salvation or adherence to mere ceremonial purity without productive spiritual living.

Matthew 25 18 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): This conjunction introduces a strong contrast or opposition. It immediately signals a divergence from the previous two servants who acted diligently. This "but" sets the stage for a distinct and problematic course of action.
• he that had received (ὁ δὲ λαβὼν - ho de labōn): Emphasizes that this servant, like the others, was a recipient of a gift, a privilege, and an opportunity. He was given, not earned, the talent. The focus is on his relationship with the master as one entrusted.
• the one talent (τὸ ἓν τάλαντον - to hen talanton): "Talent" here refers to a substantial sum of money, a unit of weight, typically of silver or gold, representing about 6,000 denarii (a denarius was a day's wage). One talent was an enormous sum, perhaps 15-20 years' wages for a common laborer. This highlights that even the "least" entrusted servant received a great responsibility and capacity for profit.
• went (ἀπελθὼν - apelthōn): Implies a deliberate, active choice and movement away from the master. It wasn't accidental; it was a chosen course of action.
• and digged in the earth (ὤρυξεν ἐν τῇ γῇ - ōryxen en tē gē): "Digged" (ὤρυξεν - ōryxen) indicates effort and deliberate action, but expended for a destructive, rather than constructive, purpose. "In the earth" (ἐν τῇ γῇ - en tē gē) signifies a focus on the mundane, the temporary, and burying rather than investing or bringing forth fruit. It's the opposite of bringing something to light or putting it to use. Symbolically, it suggests materialism, clinging to the perishable, or hiding one's gifts from public view and use for the kingdom.
• and hid (ἔκρυψεν - ekrypsen): "Hid" (ἔκρυψεν - ekrypsen) literally means to conceal, put out of sight, cover up. This emphasizes secrecy and negation of the money's intended use. It reflects a desire to avoid risk, possibly rooted in fear or a profound misunderstanding of the master's expectations.
• his lord's money (τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ - to argyrion autou): "Lord's money" stresses that the talent never ceased to belong to the master. It was entrusted, not given as personal property. This underlines accountability and clarifies that the servant's actions were against his master's possessions. "Money" (ἀργύριον - argyrion) specifically refers to silver or silver coin, indicating actual wealth rather than an abstract concept.

Matthew 25 18 Bonus section

The concept of "digging in the earth" to hide valuables was a common, ancient practice in times without secure banking systems, reflecting a pragmatic decision for safety. However, within the parable, it ironically becomes a symbol of ultimate insecurity for the servant's relationship with the master. The master did not want the money to be merely safe; he wanted it productive. The "talent" itself in Greek (talanton) literally meant a "scale" or "balance" before it referred to a weight or sum of money, possibly hinting at the servant's own "weight" or measure being tested. This servant's error wasn't financial mismanagement in terms of losing the money, but in spiritual sloth, effectively creating a zero-sum outcome when exponential growth was expected. The "fear" (as stated in v.25) leading to this inaction points to a profound spiritual state: a misunderstanding of God's grace and a crippling anxiety that prevents obedience and bold service. This type of "safe" living, where one attempts to avoid risk by doing nothing, ultimately leads to a great spiritual loss, signifying that spiritual stagnation is seen by the Lord as a form of unfaithfulness.

Matthew 25 18 Commentary

Matthew 25:18 powerfully depicts the steward who failed his trust not through active misuse, but through egregious inaction. The servant's decision to "dig in the earth and hide" the single talent is profoundly symbolic. It represents burying one's God-given gifts, talents, and opportunities instead of employing them for the Kingdom. This wasn't merely idleness; it involved a deliberate effort to conceal, driven, as later verses reveal, by a distorted understanding of the master's character—perceiving him as harsh and demanding rather than benevolent and trusting. This fear-based inaction contrasts sharply with the profitable enterprise of the other servants. It underscores that spiritual diligence isn't about mere preservation but about proactive growth and faithful investment of what God has entrusted to us, regardless of the quantity. Failure to produce is just as blameworthy, if not more so, than outright squandering, because it betrays a lack of trust, courage, and understanding of God's nature and purpose for His resources.

Practical examples of "burying a talent" in modern life include:

• A believer with a gift for teaching who never volunteers for Sunday School out of fear or perceived inadequacy.
• Someone with financial resources who saves everything, never investing in charitable causes or supporting ministry.
• An individual blessed with time or energy who chooses only leisure instead of engaging in service or sharing the Gospel.