When reading the stories Jesus told, people tend to think that the most powerful person in the story is the "God" character, or the one we are to emulate. However, Jesus was constantly at odds with the people who held power. The king and governor put him to death as a political enemy of the empire. In that context, the parables he told often show the problematic behaviour of the leaders of his land.

The meaning of the story changes dramatically if the powerful character is the model or the one being criticized. I'd like to look closely at the story known as the parable of the talents to illustrate. Here, "talent" is a coin, the highest value coin in his day, worth more than a thousand dollars. English language preachers often play on the meaning of talent as skill.

In the story as recorded by Luke, a nobleman goes to a far place in order to receive the position of ruler in a kingdom. Just before leaving, he calls ten of his servants, gives them a talent each, and tells them to trade with it while he is gone. When he comes back, the first servant returns and says that the one talents made ten more. He is given power over ten cities. The second returns with a profit of four talents, and is given five cities.

The third hands back the one talent he was given, saying he was afraid of the nobleman so hid it away so as not to lose it. The noblemean is furious and declares that at least the servant could have put it in the bank and earned interest. The one talent is taken away and given to the man who has ten, because, as the nobleman says, to everyone who has wealth, more will be given, and with the one who has little, everything will be taken away.

Thousands of sermons in North America have been preached on this story, and most use it to argue that people need to invest what they have, to give freely of their skills, to actively do good. In that interpretation, the nobleman is God who gives us talents to benefit the community.

The first clue that this is a problematic interpretation is missed in our society where charging interest is completly normal. But it was illegal, immoral, just plain wrong in the society Jesus grew up in. So the nobleman advocates a Roman practice not Hebrew ethics.

The next clue is context. Immediately before Jesus tells this parable, a wealthy tax collector has sought out Jesus, and when Jesus engages in conversation with him, the man has a change of heart. He announces that he is going to give half his wealth to the poor, and if he has cheated anyone, he will give back four times what he took. Jesus praises him and reminds the crowd that his mission is to seek and save the lost. The tax collector is still standing there while Jesus tells this story.

Also, just a little before this parable is recorded, in a conversation with a wealthy ruler who claims to follow the law carefully but wants to know what else he needs to do, Jesus says that he must give his treasure to the poor, and follow Jesus. The man is saddened, unable to let go.

If everywhere else, Jesus praises those who let go of their wealth, how do we read a parable where the one who with the least has his one coin taken away and given to the wealthy?

It seems that this parable is descriptive of what goes on in the world rather than a model for behaviour.

What Jesus does with the story is uncover the injustice of his society. He uses it to show the abuse of power common under the Roman Empire.

It is still a good thing to use our abilities and resources to do good. It is good to be dedicated. The story warns that the way we use our resources can hurt those who are poor, those who are lost, those who suffer. Dedication requires gentleness. Those who act must notice who is left out or hurt. This story warns us to be careful of those who have little.

Cathy Hird is a farmer, minister, and writer living near Walters Falls.