Pentecost Season · Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
Matthew 25:14-30 or Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21
The Parable of the Talents
November 15, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)
Chapter 24 concludes and chapter 25 begins with a call to be prepared, since there will be no precursor signs for Jesus’ reappearing (24:36–51). Matthew 25:14–46 continues with this theme of readiness by narrating two more parables of Jesus, one focusing on faithfulness as the way to continually stay prepared (25:14–30), and one on actions of mercy and justice as the way to live out covenant faithfulness (25:31–46). Themes of faithfulness, mercy, and justice have already been introduced as hallmarks of Torah adherence (23:23), which are to typify Jesus’ followers. Chapter 25 concludes the fifth and final Matthean discourse of Jesus’ teachings (chaps. 24–25). The final words of Matthew’s Gospel will make clear that Jesus expects his followers to obey all his teachings (28:20; see 26:1).
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Commentary
Matthew 25:14-30 (Gospel) Working Preacher
Weekly exegesis of the Gospel by a named seminary scholar.
Matthew 25 verse by verse Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's evangelical, verse-by-verse commentary on the whole chapter.
Matthew 25:14 commentaries BibleHub
A stack of classic commentaries gathered at the start of the parable.
Matthew 25 commentaries StudyLight
A second aggregator carrying a different set of classic commentators.
Matthew 25 commentary Precept Austin
A deep well of cross-linked commentary quotations and study notes.
Thirty-third Sunday readings (Cycle A) Agape Bible Study
A Catholic verse-by-verse study of all four of this Sunday's readings.
Sunday Connection: 33rd Sunday (A) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
A Catholic walk through the Sunday readings with reflection prompts.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What is a “talent” in this parable?
A talent was a large sum, years of a laborer’s wages. A master entrusts five, two, and one to his servants; the first two trade and double them, the third buries his out of fear (Matthew 25:14–30). The parable is about faithful stewardship of what God entrusts, not about natural abilities in the modern sense.
Where does this fall in the Catholic lectionary?
This is the Gospel for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (November 13 to 19). A shorter form, Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21, may be read.
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