Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 25:24

"And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;" — Matthew 25:24 (ASV)

The third servant accuses his master of grasping, exploiting the labor of others, and putting the servant in an invidious position. Should he take the risk of trying to increase the one talent entrusted to him, he would see little of the profit. If he failed and lost everything, he would incur the master’s wrath. Perhaps, too, he is piqued at having been given much less than the other two; so, in a rather spiteful act, he returns to his master what belongs to him, no more and no less.

What this servant overlooks is his responsibility to his master and his obligation to discharge his assigned duties. Such failure betrays his lack of love for his master, which he masks by blaming his master and excusing himself. Only the wicked servant blames his master. Grace never condones irresponsibility; even those given less are obligated to use and develop what they have.