Matthew 25:27 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The master says the servant should at least have placed the money with the bankers, where it would have earned interest by his return.
What Does Matthew 25:27 Mean?
The master names the floor of faithfulness: if venturing felt too bold, the exchangers — the bankers of that world, working at their tables — would have added interest with no labor at all. Usury in older English means simple interest, not exploitation. Even the timid had an option, and the servant chose none.
God does not require every servant to be daring; he asks that no servant be idle. There is always a smallest faithful step: a gift lent to others who can use it, a quiet contribution where braver work feels out of reach. The judgment falls not on small returns but on no attempt. Grace leaves no one with nothing to do.
Matthew 25:27 in the Original Language
trapezites (τραπεζίτης), 'exchangers' -- bankers, money-changers at their tables.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 25:27
What does Matthew 25:27 mean?
The master says the servant should at least have placed the money with the bankers, where it would have earned interest by his return.