這比喻給我最大的啟示是關於天賦(talents)與努力的問題，讓我反思人應該善用老天爺給我們的任何能力與才華，這些都是白白得來的「恩典」，應該心存感恩並與他人分享。
這星期有位學生問我如何看待比喻中的主人，特別是第三個僕人頂嘴時說的話:
— And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work: And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.
重新思考這段話，原來我們常常都屬於第三個僕人這類型，人都是有惰性，不做事也都可以找千百個藉口，還有，我們對我們的「主人」、老闆、上司….也常常持有類似的心態。
這個僕人眼中主人像是一個剝削雇工的資本家，但是，僕人不會檢討自己拿了主人給他的資源，卻甚麼事也不做，這個僕人連把錢拿去銀行存或世借人都不肯。早期羅馬帝國的合法利息是八分，但高利貸有十二分、二十四分甚至四十八分的。比喻中的主人確實自資本雄厚，但卻沒有剝削勞工，因為主人信任僕人、並樂意把資源和僕人分享。
這個僕人定義主人在資本家，其實是矮化自己的價值與意義；他計較利益，但未曾思考更高的發揮空間。也就是說，一個人怎麼定義「主人」等於一個人的視角(scope)。
這個僕人還很皮的頂嘴：getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work
試想一個小孩不寫功課被爸媽罵，還頂嘴，「你們也沒寫功課，就可以看電視、不必背書就都會…..」
當一個人說別人可以「不勞而獲」，是投射他期待不勞而獲的心態。
此外，故事中的「主人」是甚麼都不缺的上帝、老天爺。這位僕人認為主人給他是理所當然，驕傲反而變成一個人偷懶的原因。
Matthew 25: 14-29
「天國又好比一個人要往外國去，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們，
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For
it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and
gave them his property.
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按著各人的才幹給他們銀子：一個給了五千，一個給了二千，一個給了一千，就往外國去了。
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And
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as
he was able; and he went on his journey.
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那領五千的隨即拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。
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Straight
away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and
made five more.
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那領二千的也照樣另賺了二千。
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In
the same way he who had been given the two got two more.
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但那領一千的去掘開地，把主人的銀子埋藏了。
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But
he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and
kept his lord's money in a secret place.
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過了許久，那些僕人的主人來了，和他們算帳。
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Now
after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account
with them.
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那領五千銀子的又帶著那另外的五千來，說：『主啊，你交給我五千銀子。請看，我又賺了五千。』
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And
he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord,
you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.
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主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
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His
lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a
small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the
joy of your lord.
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那領二千的也來，說：『主啊，你交給我二千銀子。請看，我又賺了二千。』
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And
he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two
talents: see, I have got two more.
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主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
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His
lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small
thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy
of your lord.
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那領一千的也來，說：『主啊，我知道你是忍心的人，沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要聚斂，
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And
he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you
are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making
profits for which you have done no work:
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我就害怕，去把你的一千銀子埋藏在地裡。請看，你的原銀子在這裡。』
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And
I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what
is yours.
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主人回答說：『你這又惡又懶的僕人，你既知道我沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要聚斂，
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But
his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had
knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for
which I have done no work,
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就當把我的銀子放給兌換銀錢的人，到我來的時候，可以連本帶利收回。
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Why,
then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got
back what is mine with interest?
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奪過他這一千來，給那有一萬的。
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Take
away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents.
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因為凡有的，還要加給他，叫他有餘；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪過來。
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For
to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who
has not, even what he has will be taken away.
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