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.
MATTHEW 25:20KJVWhat does Matthew 25:20 mean?
Matthew 25:20 shows the servant who received five talents reporting to his master that he has doubled what was entrusted to him, bringing five more talents as proof of his work. The verse highlights the servant’s faithfulness and success in managing what he was given.
In this verse, Jesus is telling a parable about a master who entrusts his servants with different amounts of money (“talents”) before going on a journey. The servant with five talents comes forward to give an account, showing he has gained five more. This moment sets up the master’s response and illustrates the idea of responsibility and reward in the story.
The Greek behind Matthew 25:20
- The word for “talents” (τάλαντα, talanta) refers to a large sum of money, not a skill or ability. This helps clarify that the story is about stewardship of resources, not natural talents.
- The verb “gained” (ἐκέρδησα, ekerdēsa) means to earn or profit, emphasizing that the servant’s increase came through effort and wise action, not luck.
- The word “behold” (ἴδε, ide) is a way of drawing attention, as if the servant is excited and eager to show what he has accomplished.
Why Matthew 25:20 matters
- This verse clears up the common misunderstanding that “talents” means abilities; in the parable, it is specifically about money or entrusted resources.
- The verse emphasizes accountability, showing that the servant must report directly to the master about what he has done with what was given.
- Matthew 25:20 connects to the larger parable’s theme of faithful stewardship and sets up the master’s praise and reward in the following verses.