Matthew 25 28

Matthew 25:28 kjv

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Matthew 25:28 nkjv

Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

Matthew 25:28 niv

"?'So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.

Matthew 25:28 esv

So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Matthew 25:28 nlt

"Then he ordered, 'Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver.

Matthew 25 verses

Matthew 25 28 Meaning

Matthew 25:28, found within the Parable of the Talents, reveals a core principle of divine judgment regarding stewardship: resources, opportunities, and gifts entrusted by the Master must be actively employed for His glory and kingdom increase. The verse commands the immediate reallocation of the single talent from the unfaithful servant, who chose idleness out of fear and misunderstanding of his master, to the servant who demonstrated diligence and fruitfulness, having already multiplied his ten talents. This action underscores the consequence of neglect and the reward for faithful productivity in the Kingdom of God. It highlights that God values engagement and growth, and that disuse leads to loss, while effective use leads to greater abundance.

Matthew 25 28 Context

Matthew 25:28 is located within the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30), which immediately precedes the description of the Last Judgment in Matthew’s Gospel. This parable is part of Jesus’ broader eschatological discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives (Mt 24-25), addressing the disciples’ questions about His return and the end of the age.The chapter opens with the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-13), emphasizing the necessity of preparedness and watchfulness for the Lord's return. The Parable of the Talents shifts focus to faithful stewardship during the Lord's absence. The master entrusts different sums (talents, significant amounts of money symbolizing various divine resources like abilities, opportunities, and the Gospel itself) to his servants according to their ability. Two servants are faithful, doubling their talents, while the third buries his.Verse 28 is the direct pronouncement of judgment on the unfaithful servant. It’s the consequence of his idleness and fear, flowing directly from the master's rejection of his excuse in the preceding verses. The cultural context understands that a master expected profitable returns from invested capital. This wasn't merely about protecting assets but growing them. The polemic is against a view that inactivity, even if seemingly preserving, is acceptable to God when resources are given for fruitful use. It challenges the idea that safety and inaction are virtues when facing a divine mandate to serve and produce.

Matthew 25 28 Word analysis

• "Take therefore" (Ἄρατε οὖν, Arate oun):

  • "Take" (Ἄρατε, Arate): An imperative verb in Greek, conveying a strong, direct command for immediate action. It suggests a swift and non-negotiable transfer of possession. It's the same root for "lift up," implying a definitive removal.
  • "therefore" (οὖν, oun): A conjunction indicating a logical conclusion or consequence. It signifies that what follows is a direct result of the preceding actions and judgment. The unfaithful servant's inaction and self-justification led to this inevitable outcome.

• "the talent" (τὸ τάλαντον, to talanton):

  • "the" (τὸ, to): The definite article, pointing specifically to the one talent the third servant received and failed to invest.
  • "talent" (τάλαντον, talanton): A very large unit of weight or money in ancient times, equivalent to approximately 6,000 denarii (a denarius was a day's wage). It represented an enormous sum, far beyond simple coins. Symbolically, it signifies significant entrusted resources, opportunities, gifts, or spiritual responsibilities. The magnitude emphasizes the weight of the servant's negligence, not just in losing an item, but in squandering a major opportunity. It reflects divine trust and expectation.

• "from him" (ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ, ap' autou):

  • "from" (ἀπ’, ap'): A preposition indicating separation or removal from a source.
  • "him" (αὐτοῦ, autou): Refers to the unfaithful servant, who proved unworthy of the entrusted resource due to his lack of action and productive use. The emphasis is on the individual's failure.

• "and give it" (καὶ δότε, kai dote):

  • "and" (καὶ, kai): A connective conjunction, linking the two imperative actions of taking and giving.
  • "give it" (δότε, dote): Another imperative verb, demanding the transfer of the talent. This command emphasizes the active re-allocation based on performance. God re-distributes resources according to faithfulness and ability to produce.

• "unto him which hath ten talents" (τῷ ἔχοντι τὰ δέκα τάλαντα, tō echonti ta deka talanta):

  • "unto him which hath" (τῷ ἔχοντι, tō echonti): Literally, "to the one having." This identifies the recipient not by his inherent worth but by his demonstrated possession and proven ability to multiply. It encapsulates the principle of more being given to those who have already.
  • "ten talents" (τὰ δέκα τάλαντα, ta deka talanta): Refers to the servant who received five talents and doubled them to ten. This servant had proven most productive and trustworthy. Giving the single talent to him is not simply an arbitrary reward but an affirmation of a tested principle: to those who use well what they have been given, more will be entrusted. It exemplifies proportionate blessing based on spiritual diligence and results.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it": This phrase embodies the core justice and consequence of divine judgment. The "taking away" is not arbitrary but a logical conclusion based on demonstrated unfaithfulness. The "giving" is a purposeful redistribution. This action highlights that God's resources are not meant for stagnant possession but for dynamic use and increase.
  • "unto him which hath ten talents": This choice of recipient solidifies the kingdom principle: God invests where there is demonstrated capacity for growth and fruitfulness. It's a statement about divine efficiency and rewarding faithful stewardship, directly affirming the principle laid out in Mt 25:29, "For to every one who has, more shall be given."

Matthew 25 28 Bonus section

The "talent" is not merely money, but fundamentally represents any endowment from God for kingdom service, including spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11), natural abilities, time, influence, financial resources, and most critically, the very Gospel message and opportunity for ministry (Jn 15:16). The parable challenges a passive faith or a faith paralyzed by a misconstrued understanding of God's demanding nature. The unfaithful servant viewed his master as a "hard man," leading to fear and inaction, rather than seeing him as a demanding but also rewarding and trustworthy master who expected fruitful participation. This demonstrates that one's perception of God directly impacts their service and diligence. Furthermore, the transfer implies a dynamic flow of grace and responsibility within the community of believers; where one person fails to exercise their call, another, more faithful, may receive added responsibility and opportunity. The "taking away" signifies a loss not only of potential reward but also of the entrusted spiritual capital and perhaps even spiritual vitality itself.

Matthew 25 28 Commentary

Matthew 25:28 succinctly states the critical consequence of spiritual negligence in the Parable of the Talents. It is not merely a transfer of money but a profound theological declaration about divine economy. The master, representing Christ, removes what was entrusted to the unfaithful servant not as punishment alone, but as a practical consequence of his proved inability or unwillingness to engage. His fear, expressed in Mt 25:24-25, led to idleness, preventing the Lord's investment from yielding any return. The re-distribution to the most fruitful servant underscores that resources within the Kingdom of God are for active multiplication, not mere preservation. This highlights that disuse of gifts, opportunities, or responsibilities effectively results in their loss, while faithful, productive application leads to greater entrusted blessing. This applies to our time, spiritual gifts, material wealth, and even the Gospel message itself – all are entrusted for a purpose: the increase of the Kingdom and the glory of God.