Matthew 25:24

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161}{G2532} he which had received {G2983} the one {G1520} talent {G5007} came {G4334} and said {G2036}, Lord {G2962}, I knew {G1097} thee {G4571} that {G3754} thou art {G1488} an hard {G4642} man {G444}, reaping {G2325} where {G3699} thou hast {G4687} not {G3756} sown {G4687}, and {G2532} gathering {G4863} where {G3606} thou hast {G1287} not {G3756} strawed {G1287}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Now the one who had received one talent came forward and said, `I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn't plant and gather where you didn't sow seed.

Berean Standard Bible

Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

American Standard Version

And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 25:24 captures the third servant's fearful and accusatory defense in the Parable of the Talents, revealing a profound misunderstanding of his master's character and his own stewardship responsibilities. Having received only one talent, this servant justifies his inaction by portraying his master as a harsh and exploitative figure who reaps where he has not sown, thereby attempting to shift blame for his own unfaithfulness and idleness. This verse is pivotal in highlighting the dangers of a distorted perception of authority and the consequences of failing to diligently employ the gifts and opportunities entrusted to one.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of the [Parable of the Talents](/matthew/25-14-30 "Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents"), which immediately precedes the vivid description of the [final judgment](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations"). Positioned within Jesus' Olivet Discourse, a series of teachings on the end times and the Kingdom of Heaven, the parable serves as a crucial call to faithful stewardship and preparedness for the Master's return. The preceding verses (Matthew 25:14-23) introduce the master's departure and the diligent actions of the first two servants, who doubled their entrusted sums. Verse 24 marks a dramatic shift, introducing the third servant's unique and troubling response, setting the stage for the master's stern rebuke and the parable's climactic conclusion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "talent" (Greek: _talanton_) was not a coin but a significant unit of weight, typically for silver or gold, representing an immense sum of money—equivalent to many years' wages for a common laborer. This highlights the substantial trust the master placed in his servants. The master-servant relationship in this era, while varying, often involved a degree of delegated authority and expectation of productive management, especially for trusted household managers. The servant's accusation of "reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed" would have resonated with agricultural practices, implying an unjust and exploitative landlord who claimed produce without contributing labor or investment. This cultural understanding underscores the severity of the servant's charge against his master, painting him as a figure who violated common ethical norms.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 25:24 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Parable of the Talents and the broader Gospel of Matthew. The servant's accusation of the master as "a hard man" immediately introduces the theme of **misunderstanding God's character**, as his distorted perception directly leads to his inaction. This contrasts sharply with the master's actual generosity in entrusting vast sums, emphasizing the importance of a true understanding of divine grace and expectation. Furthermore, the servant's fear-driven decision to bury the talent highlights the theme of **stewardship and accountability**, underscoring that God-given gifts and opportunities are meant for active use and multiplication, not preservation out of fear or idleness. His attempt to blame the master also touches upon the theme of **excuse-making and responsibility**, demonstrating how individuals may rationalize their unfaithfulness rather than admitting their own shortcomings, a tendency frequently addressed in Jesus' teachings on discipleship, such as the call to bear fruit found in [John 15:1-8](/john/15-1-8 "John 15:1-8 - Jesus the True Vine").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **knew (Greek, _ginṓskō'_):** This verb signifies more than mere intellectual awareness; it implies a deep, experiential knowledge or recognition. The servant claims to "know" his master's character, suggesting an intimate understanding. However, the master's subsequent actions and words (Matthew 25:26-27) demonstrate that the servant's "knowledge" was fundamentally flawed, rooted in fear and misperception rather than truth. This highlights the danger of knowing _about_ God without truly _knowing_ Him in a transformative way.
* **hard (Greek, _sklērós'_):** This adjective describes something dry, tough, harsh, severe, or rigorous. When applied to a person, it means unyielding, cruel, or oppressive. The servant uses this term to paint his master as an unreasonable and exploitative figure, demanding profit without legitimate investment or effort. This accusation reveals the servant's bitter and fearful disposition, projecting his own anxieties onto the master.
* **strawed (Greek, _diaskorpízō'_):** This verb means to dissipate, rout, separate, winnow, or figuratively, to squander or scatter abroad. In an agricultural context, it refers to the scattering of seeds or grain during sowing or winnowing. The servant's accusation, "gathering where thou hast not strawed," implies that the master unjustly collects what he has not dispersed or invested, reinforcing the image of an exploitative and illegitimate profiteer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then he which had received the one talent came and said":** This clause marks the entry of the third servant, who, unlike the first two, had received the smallest allocation. His approach to the master is not one of joyful report but of defensive explanation, setting a distinct tone for his interaction.
* **"Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man":** The servant immediately addresses his master with a title of respect ("Lord") but quickly follows it with a direct and severe accusation. His claim of "knowing" the master's "hard" character serves as his primary justification for inaction, framing his decision as a rational response to a perceived oppressive authority.
* **"reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed":** This is a proverbial accusation, painting the master as unjust and exploitative. "Reaping where one has not sown" refers to claiming harvest without having planted the seed, while "gathering where one has not strawed" (or scattered) implies collecting grain without having participated in the initial dispersal of seed or effort. These parallel phrases reinforce the servant's distorted view of the master as someone who demands profit unfairly, without contributing legitimate investment or labor.

#### Literary Devices
The servant's speech in Matthew 25:24 employs several significant **literary devices**. **Characterization** is central, as the servant's words immediately paint a vivid, albeit flawed, portrait of his master as a "hard man." This **accusation** is delivered through **parallelism**, using the proverbial phrases "reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed." This repetition emphasizes the servant's perception of the master's perceived injustice and exploitation. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **irony** at play. The servant's description of the master, intended to justify his inaction, ultimately serves as the very basis for the master's condemnation of him in subsequent verses (Matthew 25:26-27). The servant's words, meant as a defense, become a self-indictment, demonstrating his profound misjudgment and the master's shrewdness in using the servant's own logic against him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 25:24 reveals a critical theological truth: our perception of God profoundly impacts our obedience and service. The third servant's distorted view of his master as a harsh, exploitative figure led directly to his fear and inaction, preventing him from engaging faithfully with the resources entrusted to him. This serves as a powerful warning against allowing a misapprehension of God's character—whether seeing Him as overly demanding, uncaring, or unjust—to paralyze us from utilizing the gifts, talents, and opportunities He has graciously bestowed. True understanding of God's nature, which is both just and generous, empowers faithful stewardship and diligent service, knowing that He rewards faithfulness and expects growth from what He has given.

* [Luke 19:20-23](/luke/19-20-23 "Luke 19:20-23 - The Parable of the Minas")
* [Proverbs 28:22](/proverbs/28-22 "Proverbs 28:22 - The Greedy Man")
* [2 Timothy 1:7](/2_timothy/1-7 "2 Timothy 1:7 - Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Control")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The third servant's excuse in Matthew 25:24 is a stark reminder that our internal beliefs about God directly shape our external actions and willingness to serve. If we perceive God as a harsh taskmaster who demands without giving, or as an unapproachable judge, fear can paralyze us, leading to spiritual idleness and a failure to deploy the unique gifts, resources, and opportunities He has entrusted to us. This verse challenges us to honestly examine our heart's view of God. Do we truly understand His character as both sovereign and loving, just and merciful, who empowers us by His Spirit and expects faithful, not fearful, stewardship? Embracing responsibility for what we have been given, rather than making excuses or blaming circumstances, allows us to step out in faith, take calculated risks for the Kingdom, and diligently invest our lives for His glory, trusting in His grace to multiply our efforts.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my personal perception of God's character influence my willingness to take risks or step out in faith in my service to Him?**
* **Am I burying any "talents"—gifts, resources, or opportunities—due to fear of failure, a misunderstanding of God's expectations, or a tendency to make excuses?**
* **In what areas of my life am I called to more actively "sow" and "reap" for God's Kingdom, rather than passively preserving what I have been given?**

### FAQ
**Why did the servant accuse the master of being "a hard man"?**

Answer: The servant's accusation reflects his own distorted perception and fear. He portrays the master as someone who is unjustly demanding, expecting returns without legitimate investment ("reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed"). This accusation serves as his excuse for not investing the talent, attempting to justify his own inaction by blaming the master's perceived character. However, the master's response in [Matthew 25:26-27](/matthew/25-26-27 "Matthew 25:26-27 - The Master's Rebuke") reveals that this perception was entirely self-serving and untrue, exposing the servant's laziness and lack of initiative.

**What does "reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed" mean?**

Answer: This proverbial phrase describes someone who benefits from the labor or investment of others without contributing their own. "Sowing" and "strawing" (scattering seed) are initial acts of agricultural labor, while "reaping" and "gathering" are about collecting the harvest. The servant is accusing his master of being an exploitative and unjust person who demands profits (reaping/gathering) from ventures in which he has not made the initial effort or investment (sowing/strawing). This highlights the servant's bitter and fearful view of his master, which ultimately led to his failure to act faithfully.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 25:24, while seemingly a straightforward parable about stewardship, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in revealing the true character of God through Jesus and the believer's call to active participation in His Kingdom. The servant's distorted view of the master as "a hard man" stands in stark contrast to the loving, merciful, yet just God revealed perfectly in Christ. Jesus, the ultimate Master, did not "reap where He had not sown"; rather, He sowed His very life, becoming the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), and then reaped a harvest of redemption and new life for all who believe. Through His atoning work on the cross, Christ has entrusted His followers with the immeasurable "talent" of the Gospel and the indwelling Holy Spirit, empowering them to live lives of fruitful service. The call to faithful stewardship, therefore, is not born of fear of a harsh master, but of love and gratitude for the One who [gave Himself for us](/galatians/2-20 "Galatians 2:20 - Christ Lives in Me") and has promised to return to settle accounts. Our active service, far from being a burdensome obligation, becomes a joyful response to the One who has already invested everything in us, enabling us to be [His hands and feet in the world](/1_corinthians/12-27 "1 Corinthians 12:27 - You Are the Body of Christ") until His glorious return.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 19:20

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

Luke 19:22

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Luke 15:29

And he answering said to [his] father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

Malachi 3:14

Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

Malachi 3:15

And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even delivered.

Ezekiel 18:25

Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

Ezekiel 18:29

Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?