Well Done! The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30 New Testament PrincipleResponsibility
Jesus told a story about a master who went on a long trip. Before he left, he trusted his servants with his money. He gave one servant five talents, another two and another one, each "according to his own ability." The first two servants went right to work and doubled the money. The third dug a hole and hid his talent because he was afraid. When the master came back, he said to the two faithful servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your master!" Jesus is coming back too. Until then, He trusts us to use what He has given us.
Responsibility means taking good care of what God has trusted to us and using it for Him. Every gift, talent and chance we have comes from God, and He is glad when we use them faithfully.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it
- RestorationJesus makes it new (this lesson)
Memory verse
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!”
Matthew 25:21 BSB
The Big Story · Restoration
Jesus rose, went back to heaven and promised to return. Until that day, He trusts His people with gifts to use for Him, and one day He will welcome His faithful servants into His joy forever.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Hide it or use it?
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Buried treasure
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Double it
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God gives me gifts. I use them!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Find the treasure, Color the happy helper
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus told a story about a master who went on a long trip. He trusted three servants with his money. The first two worked hard and doubled what they had. The third was afraid, so he dug a hole and hid it. When the master came back, he was full of joy. He told the faithful servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Jesus is coming back one day. He has given each of us gifts, and our responsibility is to use them for Him.
Memory verse
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things.”
Adapted from Matthew 25:21
Start here
Hold up a coin. Ask, "If I gave you this to keep for me, what would you do with it?" Let a few kids answer. Say, "Jesus told a story about three men who were given money to keep. Let's see what they did."
Bible story 6 min
Jesus told a story. A rich man had to go on a long trip. He called his servants. He gave them his money to take care of.
He gave one man five bags of money. He gave one man two bags. He gave one man one bag. He knew what each man could do.
The man with five bags went to work right away. He bought and sold. Soon he had ten bags! The man with two bags did the same. Soon he had four!
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: Play coins or paper circles, A small clay flowerpot or plastic cup
- Choose a narrator, the master and three servants.
- Act out the skit. Servant Three "buries" his coin under the flowerpot.
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
Jesus told a story about a master who trusted three servants with his money before a long journey, five talents, two talents and one talent. The first two put the money to work and doubled it. The third, afraid of his master, buried his talent in the ground. When the master returned, he told the faithful servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your master!" Jesus is our Master. He has trusted us with gifts and will come back. Our responsibility is to use them faithfully for Him.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Faithful with a few things, Double it
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
On the Mount of Olives, days before the cross, Jesus told a story about His own return. A master entrusted his servants with talents, a fortune, "each according to his own ability." Two put the money to work at once and doubled it, and both heard the same words, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your master!" The third buried his talent because he believed his master was hard, and he lost everything. Jesus is the Master. He has trusted us with gifts, and faithful responsibility flows from knowing how good He is.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Stewards of God's gifts, My talents inventory
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Responsibility
The same principle in other Bible stories.
