Matthew 25:14.

“Again, it (the Kingdom of God) will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.”

I wonder what the people thought when Jesus, in his usual manner, told yet another story, again in word pictures that everyone could readily understand.   Had I been present I might have suggested to him, “Be more specific.” Jesus knew exactly what he was doing.

He began his story. A wealthy man entrusted his business to three chosen persons because he had to take a journey. When he finally returned, he found that two of them doubled what they had received. The third simply returned what he had received without one cent or interest.

The “kicker” in the story was that each had to imagine what the owner wanted or thought. The first two believed the owner would be pleased if they took risks, like the owner himself must have done to increase his wealth, so that is what they did.  The third one was like most of us, I presume, who misunderstood the desire of the wealthy man, or understood his desires but despised him.

Hear the third man’s assessment of the owner, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.” v 24  In my own words, I heard him accuse the owner of having no ethics or compassion. For that reason the fellow confessed, “I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.” v 25  He was paralyzed by fear while the first two were excited about the prospect of pleasing the owner and so earned, handsomely.

We do not know exactly what Jesus’ point of the story was, in fact. It seems to me that Jesus is stressing the importance of knowing the real character of the owner. If one’s investment strategy flies in the face of the desire of the owner, then comes judgment. The owner rewards earning and punishes doing nothing.

The third fellow knew that what he did was contrary to the character of the owner. He was right on that account.  But the outcome was grim.  The owner denounced him in anger. “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness.'” v 30  Harsh words indeed.