Sunday 11 November 2007

Background

This parable is one of the hardest parts of the Gospel tounderstand as it can be read in a number of different ways. One ofthe biggest problems is that the figure of 'the man who went on ajourney' comes across as exceedingly unpleasant - a greedy, harshand cruel master who lavishly rewards financial enterprise butcondemns and punishes caution. Not quite an image of Jesus we maybe comfortable with, if we want to read the parable as referring tohis future return.

But lying behind Matthew's version (Luke has a slightly differentversion - Luke19:12-27) there may well be an original story told by Jesus fora very different purpose - to caricature and condemn the kind ofwealthy absentee landlord who exploited and abused histenants.

How different, says Jesus, from the 'Son of Man' in the nextparable who declares that it is those who feed the hungry andclothe the naked who are truly members of his family - in contrastto those who neglect the poor and the weak. And Jesus' hearerswould have understood very well what he was saying, for they wouldhave been all too familiar with the gap between rich and poor infirst century Palestine. And they would have laughed too, becauseof the fantastic sums of money involved - one 'talent' is about aquarter of a million pounds today. It is a satirical story with aserious message.

However, as we read the story here it serves a rather differentpurpose. Matthew is writing for a Christian community facing timesof great uncertainty and danger. Jerusalem has fallen and theTemple has been destroyed by the Roman occupiers. The youngChristian sect is vulnerable both to Roman and Jewish attacks. Themessage is 'stand firm and be ready for the return of the MessiahJesus', for when he comes he will identify those who are trulyfaithful to God and declare them to be his own people, and he willpunish their (and his) enemies.

Perhaps Matthew goes even further, and suggests that their faithwill be rewarded in some way, which may sound a little strange toChristians who believe that all of God's blessings are undeserved(which is what we call 'grace').

You can see why this parable is one of the hardest bits of thegospel to understand - and it has nothing at all to do withwhatever 'talents' we may, or may not, possess!

To Ponder

A passage like this can be read in many ways. Howdo youdecide how to read it?

How importantto you is the Christian belief thatJesus will one day return? Why?

How do you feel about the cursing of the servantwith the one talent? Is it fair?