14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, who demands perfect and personal obedience of all those who serve you, 25 so I was afraid of offering my sin-tainted works, or relating to you by performance, and I went and hid your talent in the ground, deciding to trust in your grace alone. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 And his master answered him, ‘You understanding and believing servant! You knew that I demand perfect and personal obedience of all those who serve me? 27 Thus you did not even invest my money with the bankers, so at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So you will not merely get “talents” which stand for mere “earthly rewards,” but will instead be granted eternal life as a gift.
vs 28b
Then the servant began praising God and singing,
“The best obedience of my hands dares not appear before Thy throne;
But faith can answer Thy demands, by pleading what my Lord has done. ”
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to the cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”