The Talents Parable Has No Instructions
The master in the Talents parable gives no instructions on what to do with the money — he simply leaves.
Matthew 25:14–30. The master distributes talents according to ability (v15) and then 'straightway took his journey.' No instructions. No rate-of-return expectation communicated. No timeline. When he returns and settles accounts (v19), he commends those who doubled the money and condemns the one who buried it. The condemnation of the buried talent is: 'Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers.' The servant who buried the money explains his action by his fear of the master's severity (v24). The absence of instructions means the servant's response to uncertainty is the content of the judgment. The parable turns on what people do with what they've been given when given no guidance.
Red Letter Sources
Matthew 25:15Matthew 25:19Matthew 25:24
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.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Evidence Notes
Matthew 25:15 states only that the master distributed and left. No instructions are recorded in the text.
