The Parable of the Talents vs Faith alone

Throughout Scripture, we are told that God will save only those who do His will. Beginning in Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and as a result were cast out of Paradise. All the way through to Revelations where Jesus Christ comes quickly to give his reward to all who do right in God's eyes. The Parable of the Talents is another case in point.

For all the Catholics who don't have Bibles, I printed it out. Haha. Just kidding.

Let's go through it:

Mt 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:"A man going on a journeycalled in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away.

Jesus tells His parable of the talents. Talents were a form of money in those days. In the parable, they represent faith. The man or King who gives the servants the talents, represents Jesus or God. We are the servants.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,and made another five.

The first servant who received the highest share of faith, promptly put it to work and received more faith in exchange. Faith is a grace received from God. The more we exercise our faith in works of love, the stronger it becomes and the more it grows.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

The second servant received less faith but also put his faith to work and received more in exchange.

You might ask, "Why did one receive more than the other? It doesn't seem fair." Well, think about it. In almost every material gift that I can think of, one will say, "I want one of those." Another will say, "I want two." And another might say, "What would I do with it?" I've even met people who will refuse gifts of money. Some because they don't want to be obligated. Others because they really don't feel they need it. When it comes to faith, God gives us as much as we really want. The more we want, the more He will give:

Luke 11:13 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit[a] to those who ask him?”

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the groundand buried his master's money.

The third servant didn't want the faith because he didn't want to be obligated to work. Therefore, he didn't do anything, effectively digging a hole and putting his faith in it.

After a long timethe master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them.

Then Jesus (God) comes back. This could be a reference to the Final Judgement. It could also be a reference to the Sacraments, especially Confession. And also a reference to God's omniscience. God sees everything and knows everything we do. Therefore, we are always being judged by God.

The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.'His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

So, the one that received more and did more with his faith, is greatly rewarded. He will sit on a great throne in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.'

Likewise, the second servant who accomplished lesser works with his faith, he received a lesser reward.

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,'Master, I knew you were a demanding person,harvesting where you did not plantand gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter?Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has,more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'"

Notice what happened to the one who accomplished nothing at all with his talent. Even though he called the King, Master, and thus expressed faith in him, he was sent into eternal punishment. Faith ALONE is not just dead. It is deadly for your soul.

It is obvious, then, that only those who do something good IN THE EYES OF GOD will be rewarded. The very next Parable in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the one about the Sheep and the Goats, makes that idea even more plain.

Let me know what you think.