A Psychologist looks at Scripture

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We will reflect on the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 14 to 30.  In this parable, a master goes on a journey and gives three servants money: five talents, two talents, and one talent, “each according to his ability.” When he returns, the servants who received five and two talents have each doubled what they were given. The servant with one talent, however, buried it out of fear and returns only the original amount.

The master praises the first two servants with the same words: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, 23). He then condemns the third servant as wicked and lazy, takes away his one talent, gives it to the servant who now has ten, and casts the servant into “outer darkness.”

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Jesus tells the story of a wedding. Five bridesmaids are prepared, while five are unprepared and therefore unable to take part in the wedding as planned. The bridegroom represents God, and the bridesmaids represent us—God’s people. The message seems clear: be prepared, because we do not know the day or the hour.

But I wonder whether there is more here.

Many of Jesus’ parables have several layers of meaning, and I encourage you to reflect on this passage for yourself. Together, let’s explore it a little further.

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There is a profoundly countercultural message in the Beatitudes. Jesus pronounced blessing on the poor, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In doing so, he challenged the prevailing values of wealth, military power, and social prestige.

That challenge remains relevant today. The Beatitudes invite Christians to question popular views and values when they conflict with the Gospel. They call us not to overlook injustice, suffering, or exclusion simply because they have become socially accepted or expected.

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In the Gospel reading Matthew 22:34-40 Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest. I suspect he meant which commandment is the most important. Jesus responds to the question by combining two teachings one.  He quotes from the Torah, Love God: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”, Deuteronomy 6:5. Love your neighbour: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, Leviticus 19:18.  Jesus creatively brings these two commands together in passage.  

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There is also a sub-story here—one hidden in plain sight. Why were some Pharisees so adversarial toward Jesus?  The first point worth noting is that not all Pharisees were against Jesus.

Sadly, however, there was a small group of Pharisees who actively worked to undermine and trap Jesus at every opportunity.  I am sure Jesus was likely annoyed by them. Yet, ironically, some of Jesus’ most powerful teachings emerged from his dialogue with the Pharisees.

As a psychologist, I wonder why those particular Pharisees were so opposed to Jesus when many of their colleagues were not.  You may have heard the expression “overreacting.”  People often use it to describe someone whose response seems far greater than the situation warrants.

But I would argue that people are not necessarily overreacting. 

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In Scripture, heaven and the reign of God are often described as a banquet.  We know that the first miracle Jesus performed making wine was at a wedding banquet. This image would have had particular meaning in the ancient world. Food preservation was difficult because refrigeration did not exist. People generally ate what was available. 

Perhaps the parable speaks to what happens when we become so busy that we fail to recognize the Spirit working in our lives and communities. The king invites people to a celebration that would feed them physically, emotionally, and socially. Yet they walk away. Could something similar happen in our own lives?

We may be invited into experiences that nourish our bodies, our relationships, and our spiritual lives. But because we are busy, distracted, or preoccupied, we may fail to recognize or value the invitation. We may walk away from possibilities that could help us grow.

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard, leases it to tenants, and then sends servants to collect the harvest. The tenants beat, stone, and kill the servants. Finally, the landowner sends his son, saying, “They will respect my son.” Instead, the tenants kill him as well, hoping to take possession of the inheritance.

Matthew’s Gospel presents the parable as a warning that the kingdom of God will be entrusted to a people who produce its fruits. This interpretation has sometimes been used to suggest that God rejected the Jewish people and replaced them with Christians. Such a reading is dangerous and fails to respect the Jewish roots of Jesus, his disciples, and the Christian faith.

Rather than using this parable to condemn another people, we should allow it to challenge every religious community—including our own. The question is not, “Who are the wicked tenants?” The question is, “How have we treated what God has entrusted to us?”

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There is little room for misunderstandings in this parable.  I am sure the Pharisees and Scribes who heard this story for the first time must have bristled in annoyance as they knew Jesus was referring to them.  This parable speaks to us today as well.  

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I have often asked this question, If your faith became illegal, would there be enough evidence for your neighbor’s to convict you?  This question is adapted from a question asked by John Wooden, a deeply religious basketball coach in 1997.  This question highlights the deeper question about how much our faith impacts our daily life choices.  I am reminded of this question when I reflect on the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.  This parable challenges our understanding of justice and mercy.  It is a challenging parable.  We may find ourselves more sympathetic to the workers who had worked all day and less so to those who only worked for an hour.  I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32.  I have given workshops on forgiveness and have used this parable to describe God’s forgiveness.   I have noticed however that many people are more sympathetic to the eldest son, the responsible one, the one who stayed home and worked in his father’s fields than the son receiving his father’s merciful forgiveness.

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In today’s Gospel Peter asks a question to Jesus, how many times does one forgive someone?  Excellent question, to paraphrase Peter, Jesus is asked about the limits of forgiveness.  Jesus poetically points out that forgiveness is limitless to anyone following him.  This answer is not  surprising; as Jesus frequently spoke about forgiveness.  One of the  last statements he made before his death on the cross is the prayer, “forgive them father for they do not know what they are doing”!  Forgiveness in various forms is found in all major religions.  Christianity is no different.  I have spoken about forgiveness in this podcast.  I invite my listeners to check out the editions on April 20, 2026, November 9, 2025, and February 16, 2025, for insights on forgiveness.  

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