Please give a warm welcome to my dear friend, Kate DiZio, today as she discusses the original meaning of the word talents and how that should shape the way we use what we’ve been given. It is a fascinating way to look at things!
Talent (Greek; n. talanton — tal’-an-ton ): Originally “a balance,” then, “a talent in weight,” was hence “a sum of money” in gold or silver equivalent to a “talent.”
When we think of talent in modern day, we consider our abilities and gifts. Coming across the word talent in the Bible, though, brings a literal weight to the definition.
Talents were, originally, money. In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus lends us the ‘Parable of the Unforgiving Servant’ in response to Peter’s questions about forgiveness. Peter wanted to know how many times we should forgive a brother who sinned against him. In the parable, a servant owes his master ten thousand talents, and the master is poised to sell not only him, but his wife and children as well, in order to settle the debt.
To illustrate, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: “In Matthew 18:24 the vastness of the sum, 10,000 talents (f2,400,000), indicates the impossibility of man’s clearing himself, by his own efforts, of the guilt which lies upon him before God” (Bromiley, “Money”).
Think about that for a moment. Imagine owing someone so much, that you could never possibly pay your own debt. So much, that the equivalent was several lives.
Consider…that rather than gathering boundless lives as payment for our sins, our Lord Jesus Christ paid the entire debt with His own.
In a different vein, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary includes a note following the definition for talents, which states that the word talent in the Greek has influenced the modern-day English meaning as “a gift or ability” (Vine, Unger and White, “Talent”).
‘The Parable of the Talents’ (Mt. 25:14-30) tells the story of a master giving a specified amount of talents to three of his servants. The servants given most talents multiplied them, while the servant with the least decided to hang on to what he had rather than risk losing it all. In short, he was afraid.
How many gifts or abilities has the Lord given each of us, and what do we do with them in order to further His kingdom? Do we charge forward into the many wars of this world, seeking to multiply His devoted flock? These wars aren’t just large-scale ISIS and Iraq – these wars are your toddler’s refusal to apologize, your mother-in-laws opinions on your drapery, or your silence as you witness a discriminating injustice.
Talents are not just an amount of money, or an ability the Lord bestowed upon you. Talents are a gravity we should always consider in the light of God’s unending grace.
Talents are a gravity we should always consider in the light of God’s unending grace. @KateDiZio Click To Tweet
Katherine DiZio is a Graphic & Web Designer based in Philadelphia, PA and is currently pursuing her next adventure. Kate boasts the Lord as her miracle, and strives to surrender - above all else. She has been blessed to marry her soul mate, Jeff and together they have a son, Elijah. Connect with her on her website: KatherineDizio.com
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I love today’s #WORDNerdWednesday because it is a reminder of a few things. The first is the fact that we owe Yahweh a debt that we could never repay on our own. Entire lifetimes would not suffice. He sent His One and only Son to pay our debt in full. Who does that? Only a loving God! Next, we see the gentle and underlying reminder to take what Yahweh has given us and use it for furthering the kingdom of heaven. He has given us remarkable gifts and calls us to use them according to what has been given. God’s grace affords us the opportunity to fully use what we have been given, our talents, our time, our gifts, our resources etc….. Now, may we be faithful to use these resources for furthering our call and the commandment to love God and love others.
Absolutely, Misty!!
Amen!!
First of all, I LOVE Words!!!! So why have I not found this meme before??? But I am delighted to have found it.
I have usually seen “talents” as just as you described: either money in the Bible or a gift God has given me to ‘do’ in my strength. But seeing talents as these lovely gifts that God has given me yet to be drawn into the places He desires I use them or have the talent drawn out of me for this special purpose of God’s are fine ways to look upon talents. I love this: “Talents are a gravity we should always consider in the light of God’s unending grace.”
Thank you for the detail to this word research. It is a way I love to learn.
Praise God for placing me near you at Word of God Speaks today.
So glad you stopped by today. I do hope you’ll check back every Wednesday for a new word study! I’d love to know what you’d like to see included in the 2017 line up!
Thank you, Linda…so glad you enjoyed reading. The Word is so amazing in its depth of meaning!
Nice to meet a fellow Philly person! Thanks Kate and Liz! This will definitely have me thinking today. The Parable of the Talents is one of the most personally challenging lessons for me!
Woooo, Philly!!