Matthieu 25: le Maître et ses serviteurs

I am determined to get to the bottom of this parable, in spite of my limited internet time over the last 2 weeks!

But wait a moment.
Let us bear in mind that this parable is 3rd in a row of four, each illustrating the idea of no-one knowing the day or the hour of the Son of Man's coming.

So..
The Master entrusts his property to his servants.

If the Master represents Jesus Himself, then what is Jesus' property?

Furthermore, how does He expect His servants to be "good and faithful" with that aforesaid property?

The property:
The Master's property appears to be money. Wealth; riches; thousands of coins. That's what talentas meant.

So what is the true wealth of Jesus the Master of the universe - the King of the kingdom of heaven? What, therefore, is His property?

Why does the master of the parable commend & reward the good/faithful servants who double the money he entrusts to them, and cast out the servant who digs a hole in the ground to hide his master's money?

If good/faithful handling of the property means multiplying it through work, what is this property that Jesus the Master has given to me His servant?
What is the wealth/money/property that my Lord and Master really wants me to multiply?

What the property is NOT:
It is NOT my ability, my strengths, my gifts in music/languages/friendships/childminding/dance/[fill-in-the-blanks]. The word TALENT here is a Roman Empirical unit of money, not the modern Oxford or Webster dictionary definition that Asians of every generation think it is.

Hence, with as much respect to the well-meaning Christians of my mummy's generation as ever I could muster - I believe your reading of the passage is well and truly out of context.

I am not going to be classed as wicked and lazy [ESV "slothful"] if I don't put every one of my so-called gifts, abilities, skills, etc., to work.

Seems, though, like I'll be classed as those negative things if I don't guard the good deposit entrusted to me (2 TIM. 1:14) - the gospel [good news] of Jesus (GALATIANS 2:7 as well as 1 THESS. 2:4 and TITUS 1:3).

So if I make no effort to increase the kingdom of heaven by sharing the gospel that the Master entrusted to His servants - well, isn't that a bit closer to the mark than the classic Asian Generation B interpretation?

Apologies for any perceived brusqueness; just thinking aloud.
All comments subject to change without notice.


COMMENTAIRE?
Yes, I've been hunting commentaries, too.

1. The New Bible Commentary Revised (1970).
Not that helpful, as it didn't say much!!

2. IVP online (on Bible Gateway site)
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers

OPENING PARAGRAPHS
(directly quoted from the ABOVE site link):
^^As in 24:45-51, readiness for Jesus' return here demands faithfulness in doing the work he has called us to do. This warning applies to all disciples, but perhaps most seriously to church leaders: "A Christian leader who does not lead is damned" (Meier 1980:300).

We have the opportunity to multiply what Christ has entrusted to us.
Matthew seems to make a special point in noting that the master gave to
each according to his ability
--he already knew which slaves would be most industrious, but expected all to show some industry. In the Roman Empire slaves could earn wages and bonuses and acquire property (as in Apul. Metam. 10.13; Cohen 1966:179-278), hence they would have more incentive to look out for the master's property than slaves in many cultures do. Householders going on long journeys might entrust their estate to slaves to oversee (compare 24:45-51), since household slaves often held managerial roles (for example, Treggiari 1975:49). Thus the servants understood very well what was required of them.^^

CITED FROM IVP NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES.
Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Matt/Industrious-Lazy-Managers [On-line.]

L/T.