Matthew 25:16

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

The one with the five talents soon invested the money in business transactions which netted him five more.

Cross References

2 Timothy 2:6

[And] the farmer who works hard should be the first one to receive a share of the crops.

Acts 13:36

For David died and was buried with his forefathers and [his body] decayed after he had served his generation according to the purpose of God.

1 Corinthians 15:10

But I am whatever I am because of God’s unearned favor, and the favor He showed me was not for nothing [i.e., Paul made the most of his conversion by being extra diligent in his service to God]. But I worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I, but God’s favor on me [that accomplished it].

Matthew 18:24

When he began figuring, one of his servants, who owed him a huge sum of money [Note: The amount is variously estimated to be in the multiple millions of dollars in 2005], was brought to him.

Matthew 25:17

In the same way the one who was given two talents made two more.

Luke 19:13

So, he called ten of his slaves and gave each of them a sum of money [Note: The amount of each sum was equivalent to one hundred twelve-hour days of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $10,800 in 2005]. [Then] he said to them, ‘Invest this money until I return.’