Hi Michael Loyer

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Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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Though a little late in this discussion, I hope to get a response. I too, had always thought that Jesus was interpreting himself as the Master in this parable. Yet the master's principles do not coincide with teachings from the bible that it is by faith not works that we are saved. It its interesting to note that Dave had derived at the interpretations that the key teaching here has something to do with slavery. We should take account that the parable in this teaching is meant to be isolated in its own context. But rather, take it as a series of parables in which Jesus describes the state of the world when he brings upon the kingdom of heaven, which the day of his return. He asks us to be ready for we will not know the day or the hour. And he goes on with how we must always be prepared like the virgins who woke up and trimmed their lamps. The parable of the talents then goes on to describe a master. The key points as Dave describes, is a master who harvests where he has not sown and gathers where he does not scatter seed. This is contradictory to Jesus for he is our shepherd and he is the one that scatters the seeds. The second thing to note about the Parable of the talents is that the master in question required the unfaithful servant to deposit his money with the bankers if here were not to do something with it himself so that the master may collect, at the very least interest, in his talent. Be reminded that a "talent" in those times was a calculated sum of money. Correct me if I am wrong, but a talent is 75lbs of silver. In the Old testament, it is said many times that it is unlawful to collect interest/usury upon your brother. Only a wicked man multiplies his wealth by employing servants to expand his kingdom by reaping his servants harvest without having have lifted a finger himself. And it is an even more wicked man for punishing a servant for giving him no return on something he still owns in full. That to me is has the very elements of slavery in which David Henson has touched upon.