Peter and that given to himself a reflection of the words, "according to his several

ability". We can readily see that the Apostles who heard the Lord utter these parables

would seen their own place therein. To them perhaps were given the five talents, and

mighty works were done by the Apostles through the gift of the Spirit during the period

of their ministry. To others two talents were given. In I Cor. 12: various gifts of the

Spirit are enumerated, closing with the words, "But all these worketh that one and the

selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will" (verse 11). In the parable the

talents are divided "according to his several ability."

With this parable it is helpful to read that of the pounds in Luke 19: In this case one

pound is given to each servant instead of a different amount to each as in the parable of

the talents. Then, instead of saying, "Behold I have gained" so many talents, as in

Matthew 25:, the servants says, "Thy pound hath gained" ten or five pounds. In the case

of the evil servants of Matthew 25:, he digs in the earth and hides the Lord's money,

while in the parable of the pounds he keeps it laid up in a napkin. Again, in each case the

evil servant gives a similar excuse for his action. In Matt. 25: it is, "I knew thee that

thou wert an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast

not strawed; and I was afraid". In Luke it is, "I feared thee because thou art an austere

man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow".

In both parables the reply of the Lord is that the money ought to have been so used

that he would have received his own with interest. In both is emphasized the principle,

"Unto every one that hath shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath

shall be taken away from him." The parable of the talents is followed by the judging of

the nations, whereas the parable of the pounds concludes with the judgment upon the

nation "which would not that I should reign over them."

Let us consider some of the points a little. First, the difference between the amounts

given. When the Lord divides his goods "according to their several ability", the servants

can say, "I have gained five talents," but when the Lord gives to each the same--one

pound, the servant says, "Thy pound hath gained." Here we have a twofold view that is

most important for us to see clearly. The principle is stated doctrinally, and in higher

connections, by Paul in Philippians 2: 12, 13, "Work out your own salvation"; this is the

talent aspect, the "several ability", the "I have gained" position. "For it is God which

worketh in you", that is the one pound aspect, the "Thy pound hath gained", with no

reference to the individual ability.  The reference to "gains" is not absent from

Philippians either, but is really a vital part of its teaching. "For me to live is Christ, and

to die gain"; "That I may win (have for my gain) Christ"; "What things were gain to me."

In both parables the unprofitable servant hides the money; the one in the earth, the

other in a napkin. Matt. 5: 14-16 says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on

a hill cannot be hid. . . . let your light so shine". This takes us again to Phil. 2:, for

there, immediately following the words already alluded to, "work out your own

salvation", the apostle says, "among whom shine ye a light in the world", this being

further connected with the wish, "that I may rejoice in the day of Christ". The Apostle

tells them that he "desired fruit that may abound to their account" (4: 17).