Matthew 25:27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Original Language Analysis
ἔδει
oughtest
G1163
ἔδει
oughtest
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
1 of 18
also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding)
οὖν
therefore
G3767
οὖν
therefore
Strong's:
G3767
Word #:
2 of 18
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
βαλεῖν
to have put
G906
βαλεῖν
to have put
Strong's:
G906
Word #:
4 of 18
to throw (in various applications, more or less violent or intense)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀργύριον
money
G694
ἀργύριον
money
Strong's:
G694
Word #:
6 of 18
silvery, i.e., (by implication) cash; specially, a silverling (i.e., drachma or shekel)
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 18
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐλθὼν
then at my coming
G2064
ἐλθὼν
then at my coming
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
11 of 18
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἐκομισάμην
have received
G2865
ἐκομισάμην
have received
Strong's:
G2865
Word #:
13 of 18
properly, to provide for, i.e., (by implication) to carry off (as if from harm; genitive case obtain)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Historical Context
First-century banking (trapeza) offered relatively safe returns of 6-12% annually, far less than the 100% returns the active servants achieved through trade, but infinitely better than 0%. The master's rebuke shows that God expects some return proportional to risk tolerance—but zero return from any resource is unacceptable.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'minimum effort' stewardship could you do with your gifts if you're afraid of greater risks?
- Does this verse challenge the idea that God accepts total inaction if we lack confidence?
- Are you so paralyzed by fear of doing 'big' things for God that you refuse to do 'small' things?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers—Edei se oun balein ta argyria mou tois trapezitais (ἔδει σέ οὖν βαλεῖν τὰ ἀργύριά μου τοῖς τραπεζίταις): 'You ought to have deposited my silver with the bankers.' Trapezitai (τραπεζίται) were money-changers/bankers who paid interest on deposits. Even the minimum effort—letting others invest the talent—would have been better than nothing.
And then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury—Tokos (τόκος, usury/interest) wasn't sinful here (Deut 23:20 forbade charging interest to fellow Jews, but permitted it to foreigners; banking practices were evolving). The master's point: even risk-averse stewardship beats total inaction. If the servant truly feared risk, banking was available. His burial revealed not prudence but contempt.