Expert: Dennis Herman - 9/10/2008

Question
Is a talent money in the Bible or is it a gift?

Answer
Sarah

Thank you for the question.  I have never looked into the word talent before this question.  I think the text you are questioning is found in Matthew 25.

KJV Matthew 25:15-18
15.  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16.  Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17.  And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18.  But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

My first step would be to look at the definition of the word talent.  I need to first look up the Strong number for the text  using the literal translation of the verse with Strong's numbers.

LIT Matthew 25:15
15. |2532| and |3739| to one |3303| indeed |1325| he gave |4002| five |5007| talents. |3739| to one |1161| And |1417| two |9999| {talents}. |3739| to one |1161| And |1520| one |9999| {talent}. |1538| To each |2596| by |3588| the |2398| own |1411| ability, |2532| and |0589| went abroad |2112| immediately.

Talent is word number 5007:

Strong's Ref. # 5007  talanton  Pronounced tal'-an-ton
neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao (to bear; equivalent to GSN5342); a balance (as supporting weights), i.e. (by implication) a certain weight (and thence a coin or rather sum of money) or "talent":

While taking a look at this text one phrase jumped out at me, "according to his several ability."  Since I was already in the literal translation I took a look at the word ability.

Strong's Ref. # 1411  dunamis  Pronounced doo'-nam-is
from GSN1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):

I think this sheds a little more light on the subject.  

From this I can see why a lot of preachers refer to spiritual gifts when they teach on the parable of the talents.  It is not the talents or money that God is interested in but the ability that we develop.  Are we using our abilities to the fullest?  

This is a great illustration and I thank you again for the question.  I can see how someone a long time ago found this connection between a talent of money and our abilities to miracles.  It may have been more than 100 years ago the first sermon was preached on the parable of talents representing spiritual gifts.  It is quite ironic that the origin of this sermon has been lost and the sermon is repeated year after year and I doubt if anyone has a complete understanding of how money is actually connected to spiritual gifts.  Like you and I have always thought the connection was in the money itself.  It turns out that the connection is in a few words located right after the money.  Maybe there is a lesson in that.  

It is not the talents or money that represent spiritual gifts, it is the ability that should be the focal point of the seromn.  We are given gifts from God.  It does not matter if these gifts are physical or spiritual, if we do not use them they will be wated and taken away.  But if we do share our gifts with others, we can never imagine the returns we could receive.


KJV Matthew 13:23
23.  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.