Matthew 25:26

Arabic Bible ERV 2009

«فَأجابَهُ سَيِّدُهُ: ‹أنتَ عَبْدٌ شِرِّيرٌ وَكَسُولٌ. فَما دُمْتَ تَعرِفُ أنِّي أحصُدُ مِنْ مَحصُولٍ لَمْ أزرَعْهُ، وَأجنِي مِنْ حُقُولٍ لَمْ أبذُرْها،

What Does This Mean?

In Matthew 25:26, a master is speaking to one of his servants who did not use the resources given wisely. The servant was lazy and refused to act even though he knew that the master would reap where he had not sown and gather where he had not scattered.

Explained for Children

Imagine you have a toy box with all your favorite toys, but instead of playing with them or sharing them, you just leave them there without touching them at all. Now imagine if someone gave you those toys so that when they came back later, the toys would be even more fun to play with because you had taken good care of them. But since you didn't do anything with them, it's like saying 'I don't want to help make things better.'

Historical Background

Matthew wrote this gospel around AD 80-90 for a largely Jewish-Christian audience living in the Roman Empire. This story would resonate with their understanding of a master-servant relationship and the expectation that servants should use their resources wisely.

Living It Out Today

In today's world, imagine receiving a loan to start a business but choosing not to do anything with it. The lender might say, 'You knew I expected you to make something out of this, so why didn't you try?' This verse encourages us to take responsibility and use what we have been given.

Topics

• responsibility
• service
• faithfulness
• stewardship
• judgment
• wisdom

Related Verses

• Luke 19:20-22
• Ephesians 6:5-7
• Proverbs 13:4
• Genesis 28:20-22
• Matthew 25:14-30

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a 'wicked and slothful servant'?

A wicked and slothful servant is someone who has been entrusted with resources or responsibilities but fails to use them well due to laziness or evil intentions, disappointing the one who gave them.

Why does the master criticize the servant's lack of action?

The master criticizes because he expected his servant to make productive use of what was given, even if it meant taking risks, rather than doing nothing at all.

How can this verse apply to modern business practices?

In a business context, this verse encourages employees and leaders to take initiative and be proactive with the resources they have been given, rather than being passive or negligent.

Is there hope for those who fail like the servant in this story?

While the story does not explicitly offer hope, other biblical passages teach that God is merciful to those who repent and strive to do better with what they have been given.