What about the parable of talents?
Matthew 25:14
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20And 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.
21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26His 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:
27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
What does that parable mean to you?
Thanks very much for your posts and the several scriptures; wish I’d thought to include them as well.. :)
What do YOU think is the spiritual truth that Jesus is teaching with this parable? Shouldn't we remember to keep in mind the main rule of parabolic interpretation -- a parable has one central truth. All the details are not to be made to mean something. Knowing Jesus' OWN words that he came into the world to save sinners from their sins and that believing in him is how we accept his sacrifice for us - much in the same way the Old Testament saints believed and trusted in the Day of Atonement sacrifice to be an expiation for their sins that looked forward to the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. So, knowing Jesus' teachings how can we then turn around and presume he would contradict his own words by teaching opposite of what he said?
The rule of interpretation that works well is to look at the who, where, when and what of the context of the teaching. All the parables Jesus gave had a central meaning but it was often hidden from those who would not believe him.