Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 27

 The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:27 “Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”

Put (βαλεῖν)

Lit., throw or fling down, as one would throw a bag of coin upon the exchangers table.

to the exchangers... The bankers who would give interest. Were persons who were in the habit of borrowing money or receiving it on deposit at a low rate of interest, to be loaned to others at higher interest. They commonly sat by tables in the temple, with money ready to exchange or loan (see Mat. 21:12).

exchangers (τραπεζίταις)

Taking their name from the table or counter at which they sat (τράπεζα). The Jewish bankers bore precisely the same name.

This money was left with the servant, not to exchange, nor to increase it by any such idle means, but by honest industry and merchandise. But since he was too indolent for that, he ought at least to have loaned it to the exchangers, that his master might have received some benefit from it.

own with usury... With interest, increase, or gain even if no other profit. The word usury, in our language, has a bad signification, meaning unlawful or exorbitant interest. This was contrary to the law (Exo. 22:25; Lev. 25:36). The original means gain, increase, or lawful interest.

Usury (τόκῳ)

A very graphic word, meaning first childbirth, and then offspring. Hence of interest, which is the produce or offspring of capital. Originally it was only what was paid for the use of money; hence usury; but it became synonymous with extortionate interest. Rev., better, with interest. The Jewish law distinguished between interest and increase. In Rome very high interest seems to have been charged in early times. Practically usury was unlimited. It soon became the custom to charge monthly interest at one per cent a month. During the early empire legal interest stood at eight per cent., but in usurious transactions it was lent at twelve, twenty-four, and even forty-eight. The Jewish bankers of Palestine and elsewhere were engaged in the same undertakings. The law of Moses denounced usury in the transactions of Hebrews with Hebrews but permitted it in dealing with strangers (Deut. 23:19, 23:20; Psm. 15:5).

The Master is ready to make all allowance for the weakness of His servants, so long as it does not amount to absolute unfaithfulness; so long as by any stretch of charity it is possible to call the servant good and faithful. In this case it was not possible. Not faithful, but slothful, was the word: therefore, good it cannot be, but-the only other alternative-wicked thou wicked and slothful servant.

But if he failed to return, the servant wanted to be able to keep the talent for himself. He did not want to deposit the talent in a bank where it would be recorded that the talent belonged to the master (Mat. 25:27). His reasoning indicated he lacked faith in his master; he proved to be a worthless servant.