Parable Documentation

1. Look at the title and consider its implications, then read and write down all facts to understand surface plot line.
The title "parable of the talents" refers to a form of monetary measurement that was used by the elite during the times of Jesus. A talent was the amount an average worker earned in 15 years. This was the largest way to count money and was used only by the wealthy and the elite.
Details:
Man goes on journey and entrusts property to them.= The man is wealthy because he is travelling while most people stayed close to village. The servants are trusted because he is leaving his property to them

The man gives three servants talents based on their ability= the man is wealthy because his servants have their own hierarchy. This was required to run a powerful household of the elite

The servants with 5 and ten talents go to work at once and double what they have been entrusted with= The servants went to work right away because once they reached the "understanding" of gaining a 100%profit for their master, they could begin to gain money for themselves. Therefore, they must have been exploiting the peasant population profusely.

Man with one talent digs a hole and places his master's money in there= He is keeping the money safe. It also takes the money out of the circle of exploiting the peasants. The money cannot be doubled which would then allow the master to continue to exploit the peasants for more money

After a long time the master comes to settle accounts with the servants= Servants had a long time to exploit the peasants and the master is expecting payment.

Man with five talents tells master he has earned 5 more= he has made a 100 percent profit for his master

Master says "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 in your master's happiness!"= The master is pleased at how able the servant was able to exploit more money. He will be rewarded with more responsibility and a greater chance for him to achieve personal gain. The last statement suggests he is becoming more tied to the aristocrat and distances the servant from the peasants.

Repeat reaction for the man who doubled the 2 talents= sets up the listener to expect the third servant to do the same as the first 2

3rd servant says "you are a hard man"= Servant is a "whistle blower" calling the aristocrat out on his cold immorality

"Harvesting what you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed"= the master exploits the working class to earn money for his own high lifestyle

Man returns the talent he his in the ground= The man is showing the master that he is honorable because he kept the money safe and is returning it to him

You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. = king denounces the integrity of what the servant has just said by calling him wicked and lazy. Does not deny that he exploits the peasants because he sees his lifestyle as acceptable.

The servant is thrown into the darkness to weep and gnash his teeth= the servant is banished to where he is alone because the household and the peasants do not accept him

2. Research to understand the social class/context of characters in first century Palestine.
Household= the basic part of Palestine. It was a place that controlled the harvest and exports of the neighboring workers. The household was run by the elite, who needed servants to help run their large organizations. The more servants, the more powerful and wealthy the aristocrat of the household. Servants often had their own hierarchical rankings to keep order. The servants in the story are more like retainers. They would be in charge of the aristocrat's affairs while he was gone and there was an underlying understanding that they would earn money for their masters in their absence. The peasants knew that the servants exploited their people to earn their own money. A tributary mode of production (TMP) was in place in 1st century Palestine. It consists of the exploiters and the exploited, with the produce centered on land. The exploited had the surplus products, but because of the TMP three main groups exploited the peasant farmers through various means. The state took surplus in forms of taxation and corvee. The elites took produce with interest and rental fees for farminf their land. Finally foreign powers took produce a "tribute" in the form of higher taxes.
3. Find main character and why.
The main character is the third servant because he is a hero. He sees that his class needs to help the peasant class if the peasants are ever going to stop being exploited. He knows he will be punished for "blowing the whistle" on the king, but he can no longer take part in the immoral cycle of profit gain. The audience is surprised by the third retainer's boldness to confront the aristocrat and at the harshness of his punishment.
4. What is the conflict that Jesus is addressing?
Jesus is addressing the conflict of the exploitation of the peasants. He tells them that they must seek and accept the help of the retainers that they hate in order to ever get away from oppression. The heart of class conflict is the exploitation of surplus labor.
5. Interpret every detailed fact in parable and why characters acted the way they did (w/o allegorizing)
See number 1 after =
6. Look before and after in Bible to see immediate context of parable
Before, Jesus talks about his coming crucifixion. After, the process for Jesus' crucifixion takes place. This refers to what the peasants have to do after Jesus is gone in order to achieve the Kingdom of heaven
7. What is Jesus' message about the kingdom of God/life/ WHAT IS CORE VALUE?
Jesus' core massage is that sometimes in order to achieve something one has to work with your "enemies". It teaches that we must work with the "bad people" in order to change bad circumstances. The oppressed class cannot act alone. The parable also raises the consciousness of the peasants and shows that the exploiters are responsible for the destruction of society.
8. Apply to current event.