Even more so when talents are not gifts or skills.. but weight, a weight measurement.. Like a talent of gold.. which is/was the weight of the King in Gold.. This parable was a Jewish idiom about weight measure.. Amazing that so many have no idea what this parable means when its so important TO THEM and their future..
Nothing can be hidden from God.
Our motives are ever known to Him - whether what we said and did was out of love for Him or for ourselves or for some thing or some one.
There are so many examples in Scripture - such as the sorting of the sheep and the goats, the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the workers being sent into the field at different times of the day and receiving the same compensation, various stories from the history of Israel and so much more. But here are a few of my favorites:
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: - Luke 6:37
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. - Matt 7:2
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. - Romans 2:12-16
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - Matt 7:21-23
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. - Matt 5:21-22