The Parable of the Talents

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unsafe said:
Here is something to ponder ------what does it mean that each person was given according to his ability ------1 was given 5 bags ----1 was given 2 bags ----1 was given one bad -----

how did the manager know what their abilities were to divide the bags of Gold to each person as he did -----?????

What is the meaning of each got according to his ability -----???
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This is how I intend to use the story, pointing to the master knowing his slaves and how much trust he could have in them. I will invite listeners to consider how they make decisions to trust and how they can live to earn the trust of others.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
It’s because that was the tradition. That’s how rabbis teach.
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Interestingly, my minister offered in her sermon a few weeks ago that many of the old testament narratives can be read as parables.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? Tradition maybe.

I often think parables are meant to illustrate the tension between different perspectives. In the story of the talents we may find ourselves identifying with any one (or more) of the three servants.
 
Yeast ... a way to get some gas into the system for reason few understand ... because they preferred to know not ... god given wisdom is thus turned out there, not here!

Leaves me feeling dulled by some of the pious folk ... thus thought became as strange as the Stranger of Galilea as he rose ...
 
paradox3 said:
Interestingly, my minister offered in her sermon a few weeks ago that many of the old testament narratives can be read as parables.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? Tradition maybe.

I often think parables are meant to illustrate the tension between different perspectives. In the story of the talents we may find ourselves identifying with any one (or more) of the three servants.
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Yeah. I think how most Christians interpret it is, “if I’m the latter one, time to pull my socks up” I guess. But wouldn’t most people worry that they will end up being judged that way - and that worry and guilt could impede their gifts instead of allowing them to grow?
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
It’s because that was the tradition. That’s how rabbis teach. To discuss and debate meaning is also part of the tradition. There can be different interpretations - none are necessarily wrong, some are more helpful to human thriving. The parable of the talents could even be understood that way, ironically.

The problem with the story is the assumption that we are supposed to innately know what to do without having been taught or discussing it, or before we’ve learned through trial and error. That’s not fair, or realistic. People who’ve been through many trials often end up with multiple talents.
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Apparently even the disciples didn't understand Jesus parables and he had to explain the parable of the weeds to them and parable of the sower to them.
 
Waterfall said:
Apparently even the disciples didn't understand Jesus parables and he had to explain the parable of the weeds to them and parable of the sower to them.
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Yes you're right. Even Jesus's closest friends and associates couldn't always figure the guy out!
 
paradox3 said:
Interestingly, my minister offered in her sermon a few weeks ago that many of the old testament narratives can be read as parables.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? Tradition maybe.

I often think parables are meant to illustrate the tension between different perspectives. In the story of the talents we may find ourselves identifying with any one (or more) of the three servants.
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When Jesus disciples asked why he spoke in parables he told them, "to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given". Mathew 13:10-11
 
Waterfall said:
When Jesus disciples asked why he spoke in parables he told them, "to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given". Mathew 13:10-11
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Maybe Jesus felt closely aligned with the disciples on some occasions and not others. He certainly gets frustrated with them at times.

Not so different from many interpersonal relationships when you think about it.
 
paradox3 said:
Interestingly, my minister offered in her sermon a few weeks ago that many of the old testament narratives can be read as parables.

Why did Jesus teach in parables? Tradition maybe.

I often think parables are meant to illustrate the tension between different perspectives. In the story of the talents we may find ourselves identifying with any one (or more) of the three servants.
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What if the truth could not be told in the presence of vast powers that tend towards corruption and causing holes in virtue?

If appears a grand option to the more brutal myths of the lesser folk burning in hell ... perhaps burning because they come to know what was done to them after years of blindness about their front M'N! In Greeks that's a' MU's ... deep perception ... Minors, or Minas? Nonetheless of little consequence to the antes ... las one is not supposed to speak of such ...
 
How has the sowing worked out in 2023 as opposed to 1 AD? From where I sit, if the expectation is that Christians would sow good seeds, thriving ones beneficial to humanity - it looks like it didn’t go to well yet and we’re running out of time. Like, some talents have been wasted. However, if we all have a purpose, even the weeds - they haven’t been.
 
Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:13 that understanding comes to those led by the Holy Spirit.
Now what? How do we know if any of us have it right?
 
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Using cryptic stories is not uncommon among religious teachers in many cultures. Some of the Buddha's stories fit, too, and as pointed out, it was used by other rabbis in that era. I think there's a combination of not being obvious so that people can have a moment of insight when they get the meaning (that's certainly how Buddhist koans are supposed to work) and also to keep the teachings among the chosen. Sowing the seed on the most fertile ground sort of thing.
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
How has the sowing worked out in 2023 as opposed to 1 AD? From where I sit, if the expectation is that Christians would sow good seeds, thriving one’s beneficial to humanity - it looks like it didn’t go to well yet and we’re running out of time. Like, some talents have been wasted.
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Its a highly unbalanced discussion or intercourse given the dominant powers don't understand the sacred scripts ... too focused on power and little on the understanding factor ... a deeper enigma ...
 
Kimmio Laughterlove said:
How has the sowing worked out in 2023 as opposed to 1 AD? From where I sit, if the expectation is that Christians would sow good seeds, thriving ones beneficial to humanity - it looks like it didn’t go to well yet and we’re running out of time. Like, some talents have been wasted.
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I think it's at least good to remember that talent means a unit of money.
 
Mendalla said:
Using cryptic stories is not uncommon among religious teachers in many cultures. Some of the Buddha's stories fit, too, and as pointed out, it was used by other rabbis in that era. I think there's a combination of not being obvious so that people can have a moment of insight when they get the meaning (that's certainly how Buddhist koans are supposed to work) and also to keep the teachings among the chosen. Sowing the seed on the most fertile ground sort of thing.
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Consider the complexity of the Kabbalah even after so much of it was censored ... thus Kabbalistic warping of what ever light appears ... Black Glasses, etc, Onyx?
 
It might be good to read how Jesus' explanation for the two parables he did explain, lines up with the story.
 
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