The first two lose no time in making the most of the opportunity presented to them.  They had already determined to give their master the best possible welcome on his return and so, using their talents as capital, they entered into a series of business transactions, devoting all their care and skill and ability to what was, for them, a labour of love.

The third servant had a very different outlook.  He had no affection for his master.  In fact he looked on him as a hard and calculating man who was concerned only with making money for himself out of other people’s labours.  So he had no interest in the trust committed to him.  It just gave him extra to do, so he did nothing.  He put the money in an earthenware jar and buried it in a secret place.  At any rate, when his master returned he could not be blamed for having lost any of it.

As a matter of fact it was a long time before he did come, and the first two servants had a successful tale to tell.  “Master”, said the first, full of joy at his master’s return, “you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more”.  And his master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master” (RSV Catholic edition, Matthew 25:19).  The second servant was also praised and promoted to a position of authority and friendship.