Matthew 25:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The servant with one talent comes last and explains himself by calling the master a hard man who reaps where he has not sown.
What Does Matthew 25:24 Mean?
The third servant opens not with results but with a portrait of his master: hard, grasping, harvesting fields he never planted. Nothing in the story supports the charge; this master entrusted fortunes freely and has just rewarded two servants lavishly. The accusation tells us about the servant, not the lord.
What we believe God is like shapes everything we dare to do for him. Picture him as harsh, and service shrivels into self-protection; know him as the generous giver he is, and venture becomes natural. The fear-filled portrait became the excuse. Jesus exposes the move so that we can refuse it: God is not waiting for us to fail. He is hoping to say, well done.
Matthew 25:24 in the Original Language
skleros (σκληρός), 'hard' -- harsh, stern, unyielding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:24
What does Matthew 25:24 mean?
The servant with one talent comes last and explains himself by calling the master a hard man who reaps where he has not sown.