The master does not deny the charge of the wicked servant, unjust as it is; but taking him on his own ground he shows that his conduct is without excuse. Ways and means had been provided whereby the talent might have been improved to the owner's profit. "Thou oughtest," he said, "to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury."

Herren benægter ikke den onde tjeners beskyldning, selv om den er uretfærdig, men idet han betragter sagen fra hans synspunkt, viser han, at han ikke har nogen undskyldning for sin opførsel. Der var sørget for midler hvorved talenten kunne være udnyttet til bedste for ejeren. Han sagde: "Så burde du jo have anbragt mine penge hos vekselererne, så jeg havde fået mit igen med rente, når jeg kom hjem."