⭐WEB · Matthew 25:23
What does Matthew 25:23 mean?
"“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’"
— Matthew 25:23 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
Explanation
Matthew 25:23 comes from the Parable of the Talents, a story Jesus told his disciples during his final days of teaching in Jerusalem, shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. In the parable, a master entrusts three servants with different amounts of money (talents) before going on a journey. Two servants invest what they were given and double it, while the third buries his talent out of fear and returns only the original amount. This verse records the master's response to the second servant, who took two talents and made two more. The master's words are identical to what he says to the first servant in verse 21, showing that the reward is based on faithfulness, not on the size of the original amount entrusted.
In its original context, this parable is part of a larger discourse in Matthew 24-25 where Jesus is teaching about the end times and the importance of being ready and faithful while awaiting his return. The audience was his disciples, who would soon be entrusted with the mission of spreading the gospel after Jesus' ascension. The parable functions as a warning and encouragement: those given responsibilities by God are expected to actively use them, not passively preserve them out of fear or laziness.
Theologically, this verse emphasizes several key truths. First, faithfulness rather than results in an absolute sense is what God rewards—the servant with two talents receives the same praise as the one with five, because both were equally faithful with what they were given. Second, it reveals that God entrusts people with resources, gifts, opportunities, or responsibilities (represented by the "talents") that are meant to be actively used and multiplied for his purposes, not hoarded
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.