Parable of the Talents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Parable of the Talents - Essay Example 25. so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.' 26. But his master answered him: You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed 27. Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. 28. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.' 29. For to everyone who has it will be given and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.' " A similar parable, called "The Parable of the Minas" or "The Parable of the Pounds" is found in the Gospel of Luke (19:12-27). 12. He said therefore: "A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. 13. Calling ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said to them: 'Trade with these till I come.' 14. But his citizens hated him and sent an embassy after him, saying: ' We do not want this man to reign over us.' 15. When he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. 16. The first came before him, saying: 'Lord, your pound has made ten pounds more.' 17. And he said to him: 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful over very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.' 18. And the second came, saying: 'Lord, your pound has made five pounds.' 19. And he said to him: 'And you are to be over five cities.' 20. Then another came, saying: 'Lord,... Similarities and differences. There are examples of similarities, which are inevitable because of the common subject of the parables, these include, for example, such words as servants, say (said to him), came, man, money. But there are constructions which are too complex to repeat accidentally: from him and give it to him who has the ten, to everyone who has it will be given but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This raises the problem of relations between the two sources. Before turning our attention to this example, it is important to recall that there exists the Synoptic Problem, which is connected with the literary relationships between and among the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). Numerous hypotheses try to explain similarities and differences, which occur in the Gospels; some scientists explore the idea of the so-called Q-source (a lost source on Jesus' teachings). It can be reconstructed from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, which are based on two earlier sources: the gospel of Mark and Q. Stated differently, Q is by definition the material that Luke and Matthew have in common but is not dependent on Mark. In our case, when only t