Matthew 24:14-28
The key point is in the conclusion, “Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” The fates of the faithful servants and the wicked servant illustrate the different responses the Master has towards them and show us that the parable ultimately is about judgement.
The servants are exactly that: their responsibility is to serve the Master. How they came to be servants, the basis on which they agreed to be servants is not at issue here: the parable is about servants and the question is how they serve.
Each servant was entrusted with gold according to his ability and clearly they will be judged on that and not judged in comparison with other servants. The judgement is just and fair. Whatever the final result was in terms of quantity and effort, to the first two servants the Master responded equally: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
The last servant clearly had no intention to serve. The Master already knew that and so gave him the simplest task of all. It was, the way I see it, an act of grace.
From his own mouth we learn that he does not want to profit the Master in any way: ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.’ The reason for his attitude was his conclusion about the Master. You can judge from the whole parable as to whether his perception of the Master is true. Be that as it may, as a servant he should serve, or else resign as a servant. He did neither even though, as the Master said, he could have done the minimum with no effort. He had no love for the Master.
So, the last servant wanted to be in the Master’s house and enjoy the privileges there but has no respect for the Master and refuse to profit him in anyway. He clearly showed that he was no servant but had entered the Master’s house under false pretenses. He was scrupulous in that he did not rob the Master but gave him back what he was given (he did nothing wrong in the eyes of the law) but still the Master characterised him as wicked and consequently banished him from the Master’s house.
What do you think is the lesson of the parable?