Matthew 25 26

Matthew 25:26 kjv

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Matthew 25:26 nkjv

"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Matthew 25:26 niv

"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

Matthew 25:26 esv

But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Matthew 25:26 nlt

"But the master replied, 'You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate,

Matthew 25 verses

Matthew 25 26 Meaning

This verse contains the master's direct rebuke to the servant who buried his single talent. The master calls the servant "wicked" and "lazy" because his inaction was not due to ignorance but a deliberate choice stemming from a warped perception of the master's character, which then became an excuse for negligence. The master challenges the servant's false premise about his supposed ruthlessness ("you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?"), implicitly revealing the servant's illogical and irresponsible reasoning. The master takes up the servant's own skewed view of him to expose the servant's hypocrisy and inexcusable idleness.

Matthew 25 26 Context

Matthew chapter 25 is a segment of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, focused on the theme of readiness for His second coming and the final judgment. It contains three parables: the Ten Virgins (vv. 1-13), the Talents (vv. 14-30), and the Sheep and the Goats (vv. 31-46). The Parable of the Talents immediately precedes the final judgment scene. In this parable, a master entrusts his property, represented by "talents" (a large sum of money), to three servants before going on a journey. Two servants diligently invest their talents and double them, receiving commendation. The third servant, the focus of this verse, buries his single talent out of fear and sloth. Verse 26 captures the master's sharp, condemning response to this servant's excuse and inaction. Historically, masters would entrust considerable assets to their servants, expecting a return or profit through careful management, and a "talent" was an enormous amount, signifying a great opportunity and responsibility. The parable uses these familiar economic principles to illustrate spiritual stewardship and accountability to God.

Matthew 25 26 Word analysis

• His master (Κύριος αὐτοῦ, Kyrios autou): "Master" (Lord) signifies authority, ownership, and one to whom account must be given. The servant's actions are judged by his rightful Lord.
• answered and said: A direct, declarative response, signaling a decisive verdict after hearing the servant's lame excuse.
• 'You wicked (Πονηρὲ, Ponēre):
  • Original Greek: πονηρός (ponēros). This is a strong word, meaning "evil," "bad," "worthless," "vicious," "malignant," "corrupt," "harmful." It points beyond mere failure or mistake to a deliberate moral defect, an intentional refusal to do good, or an inner spiritual perversity. The servant is not just mistaken, but morally culpable. His fear and inaction were rooted in an unrighteous perception of his master and a refusal to fulfill his duty.
  • Significance: It's a severe condemnation. The "wickedness" lies in his distorted view of the master (God), his refusal to use the gift, and his subsequent rationalization, indicating an ungodly disposition rather than simple error.
• and lazy (Ὀκνηρέ, Oknēre):
  • Original Greek: ὀκνηρός (oknēros). Meaning "sluggish," "dilatory," "hesitating," "fainthearted," "procrastinating." It points to a lack of effort, an aversion to work, idleness, or slothfulness.
  • Significance: This word perfectly captures the servant's failure to act on the responsibility given. He chose comfort and ease over the diligence and risk required for productive stewardship. The pairing with "wicked" suggests his laziness was not merely an oversight but a moral failing that prevented faithful service.
• servant (δοῦλε, doule): A bondservant or slave. Highlights absolute ownership and the master's rightful expectation of obedient service and profitable management of his resources. The title underscores the servant's obligation and the master's authority.
• you knew (ᾔδεις, ēideis): From the verb οἶδα (oida), meaning "to know," implying certain knowledge, full awareness. The master implies that the servant's understanding (even if twisted) should have logically led to action, not inaction. The servant had knowledge, but used it perversely to justify sloth rather than motivate diligence.
• that I reap where I have not sown (ὅτι θερίζω ὅπου οὐκ ἔσπειρα):
  • Meaning: The servant's excuse from verse 24 ("I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed").
  • Master's response: The master repeats the servant's words, not as an affirmation of his own character (he is not truly an exploitative, unjust being), but as a challenge to the servant's faulty logic. "Even if you thought this of me, or that I demanded profit even from things I didn't personally labor on – which is how you mischaracterized me – your action makes no sense! If you believed I was so profit-driven, why didn't you, at the very least, engage in the minimal action of depositing the money to earn interest?"
  • Significance: This exposes the servant's intellectual dishonesty or extreme spiritual laziness. Even if the master were as exacting as the servant claimed, burying the talent still made no logical sense. It highlights the irrationality of the servant's fear-driven inaction.
• and gather where I have not scattered seed? (καὶ συνάγω ὅθεν οὐ διεσκόρπισα): A parallel phrase, reinforcing the previous statement and emphasizing the master's expectation of return on his investment. The servant's own premise, however flawed, condemned him.

Matthew 25 26 Bonus section

This verse stands as a stark warning against sins of omission, highlighting that neglecting to do what God expects, especially out of a misplaced or unbiblical understanding of His character, is just as condemnable as direct transgression. The "fear of the Lord" that should motivate faithful service was twisted into a paralyzing dread by this servant, leading him to rationalize his negligence. This points to the importance of discerning God's true nature as both just and gracious. The servant was judged not for losing the talent, but for not trying at all, for spiritual stagnation. His excuse served only to expose his self-serving avoidance of responsibility. This verse serves as a crucial reminder for all believers to actively employ the spiritual and natural gifts entrusted to them, understanding that faithful effort and initiative are expected and rewarded by the Master, while idleness and fear-based inaction will be judged.

Matthew 25 26 Commentary

Matthew 25:26 delivers the Master's stern judgment on the "wicked and lazy" servant. This rebuke encapsulates two critical spiritual failures: a distorted view of God's character ("wickedness") leading to paralytic fear and the subsequent negligence ("laziness") in exercising one's gifts or opportunities. The master is not confessing to being an unjust exploiter but rather uses the servant's own faulty reasoning against him. "Even if you believed I was this harsh," the master implies, "your inaction demonstrates your illogical and culpable idleness." The servant's distorted perception became an excuse for spiritual apathy, preventing him from engaging with the master's kingdom responsibilities. This parable is a potent call to faithful stewardship, reminding believers that spiritual gifts, resources, and opportunities are entrusted to them for active, fruitful use, not to be preserved in spiritual inactivity due to fear or misconception of God's nature. Failing to act on God-given responsibilities, out of fear or spiritual sloth, incurs divine displeasure and judgment, signaling a deficiency in faith that results in unfruitfulness and moral culpability.