In the parable of the talents the man to whom was entrusted one talent manifested a grudging spirit and hid his money so that his Lord could not be benefited by it. When his master required him to give an account of his stewardship, he excused his neglect by laying blame upon his lord. “I knew thee [he professes to be acquainted with his lord] that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed: and I was afraid [that all my improvements would not be mine, but that you would claim them], and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto everyone that hath [made a right use of my goods] shall be given, and he shall have abundance [for I can trust him, knowing that he will make right improvement of what is lent him]: but from him that hath not [who has been fearful to trust me] shall be taken away even that which he hath. [I shall deprive him of what he claims as his; he shall forfeit all right of trust; I will take away his talents and give them to one who will improve them.] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” {5T 282.2}

I lignelsen om talenterne, viste den mand, som kun havde fået betroet ét talent, en modvillighed og skjulte sine penge så at hans Herre ikke kunne hjælpes derved. Da hans mester krævede ham til regnskab for hans forvaltning, undskyldte han sin forsømmelse ved at påføre sin herre skam. »Herre, jeg havde lært dig at kende [han bekender at kende sin herre] som en hård mand, der høster, hvor du ikke såede og samler, hvor du ikke spredte og af frygt for dig [at al min fortjeneste ikke vil blive mit, men at du ville kræve den,] gik jeg hen og gemte din talent i jorden; (283) se, her har du, hvad dit er« Da svarede hans herre og sagde til ham: »Du dårlige og dovne tjener, du vidste, at jeg høster, hvor jeg ikke såede og samler, hvor jeg ikke spredte. Så burde du jo have anbragt mine penge hos vekselererne, så jeg havde fået mit igen med rente, når jeg kom hjem. Tag nu den talent fra ham og giv den til ham, der har ti talenter; thi enhver, som har, [gør rigtig brug af mine goder] ham skal der gives og han skal have overflod; [for jeg kan stole på ham, vide at han vil gøre rigtig udbytte af hvad han har fået lånt,] men den, der ikke har, [som var bange for at stole på mig] fra ham skal endog det tages, som han har. [Jeg skal fratage ham det han kræver som sit; han skal forspilde alt betroet; jeg vil borttage hans talenter og give dem til én som vil udnytte dem.] Og kast den unyttige tjener ud i mørket udenfor. Der skal der være gråd og tænderskæren.«