Introduction
Jesus, now in Jerusalem, has been telling his disciples about the kingdom of heaven, perhaps better translated as ‘the reign of heaven’. He reminds them that this heavenly reign has begun and is getting wider, and that at some point in the future — he never says exactly when — God will require us to produce something to show for the errands he has sent us on, however small.
FOR the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents,* to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability;* and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.*
* A talent was a large sum of money of the ancient Near East, equivalent to 6000 Roman denarii, with a denarius being roughly a labourer’s daily wage. Five talents was enough to pay eighty labourers for a whole year.
* See Cynewulf on Gifts of the Spirit.
* This is the story as told by St Matthew in Matthew 25:14-30. In Luke 19:12-27, ten servants are given a pound (literally a mina, worth 100 denarii) each, and some get a better return on the markets than others do. All are nevertheless commended, except (as in Matthew’s story) for the one servant who makes no attempt to invest at all.
Précis
The Parable of the Talents tells how a wealthy employer left three servants in charge of his affairs, and gave each a sum of money to invest for him. The servant who received five talents doubled his investment; the servant who received two also doubled his. But the servant who received one talent buried it without investing it at all. (60 / 60 words)
The Parable of the Talents tells how a wealthy employer left three servants in charge of his affairs, and gave each a sum of money to invest for him. The servant who received five talents doubled his investment; the servant who received two also doubled his. But the servant who received one talent buried it without investing it at all.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, if, just, must, or, otherwise, ought, whether.
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