Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 25:14

"For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods." — Matthew 25:14 (ASV)

For the kingdom of heaven — The words in italics are added for grammatical completeness, a common practice in older Bible translations. The original Greek simply begins, “For as a man... called his own servants,” without formally completing the comparison.

The parable introduced this way has many points in common with the parable of the pounds recorded by Luke (Luke 19:12–27). However, the distinctive features of each are so characteristic that it is best to deal with each one separately, reserving a comparison of the two until both have been interpreted.

The external framework of the parable is based on the ancient Eastern way of managing property when the owner was away. Two options were available that approximate what we call investment. The first, more primitive and patriarchal method was for the absent owner to make his slaves his agents. They were to cultivate his land and sell the produce, or use the money he left with them as capital for trade. In such cases, there was often an understanding that they would receive part of the profits, but since they were their master’s slaves, there was no formal contract.

The other option was to use the banking, money-changing, and money-lending system, which was invented by the Phoenicians and was in full operation throughout the Roman Empire at the time. Bankers received money on deposit and paid interest on it, and then lent it out at a higher percentage, employed it in trade, or (as the publicani did at Rome) used it in farming the revenues of a province. This, therefore, was the natural option for those who did not have the energy to engage in business themselves, much like investing in stocks or companies is for us today.