What does the parable of the talents really mean?

Maybe the parable of the talents has nothing to do with our gifting. What if it doesn't even really mean we should be good stewards of our money? I think when Jesus talked in parables, they were not supposed to be taken literally. So if Jesus talks about the leaven of the Pharisees, he's not actually talking about bread.

This week I was reading through Matthew and read this familiar parable (that I've heard plenty of sermons on) about the talents of silver. I was reading in the New Living Translation and it popped out at me. I wonder if Jesus wasn't really talking about money.

Here's the story in Matthew 25 (NLT):
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together![c]’

22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’

23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
What is Jesus really talking about? I felt a nudge in my spirit and heard in my thoughts, "Talents are people." Thinking on this... what is more valuable than people? People created in the image of God? Nothing! The silver represents people!

Well, I wanted confirmation on this so I used lovely google. Click here to read more about what silver represents.

Silver represents REDEMPTION! Oh yay! I love that! As I continued to meditate on this scripture, I realized that this is the great commission! That while Jesus (the master) was away on a long journey (he's in heaven right now) he entrusted the Kingdom of God to us (the church)! As we each invest in people, 1, 2, 5 or more, they will invest in more as well and the kingdom of God multiplies! It's the great commission of Jesus - discipleship! Not just street ministry, trying to get people to say the prayer of salvation, but by mothering and fathering people. And as a result, they will then mother and father others.
The parable of the talents is really about investing in people, also known as discipleship.

Видео What does the parable of the talents really mean? канала Women's Bible Study