But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The master’s retort isn't just an accusation; it's a sharp question designed to expose the servant's faulty reasoning. By challenging, "You knew I reap where I didn't sow," he implies the servant's excuse is a twisted perception, not a valid justification for inaction.
But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this parable, Jesus is explaining the nature of his kingdom and how his followers are entrusted with different gifts and responsibilities while he is away. The first two servants faithfully invested and multiplied what they were given, but the third, out of fear of his master, buried his single talent, choosing inaction over risk. This verse is the master's direct response to that servant's excuse, confronting his wicked and lazy approach.
The master's words cut deep: 'Wicked and slothful.' But how can laziness be wicked? Dive into what it means to be 'slothful' in God's eyes.
The master doesn't just call the servant lazy; he calls him 'wicked.' This highlights that neglect and inaction, especially when we've been entrusted with something valuable, are not neutral acts. They are moral failures.
The servant claims his master reaps where he hasn't sown. But was this true, or a twisted excuse born of fear? Explore the difference between God's true character and our flawed perceptions.
The servant’s excuse, 'You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed,' reveals a deep misunderstanding or willful distortion of his master's character. The master’s response is not an admission but a refutation.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
ponēros · Greek Adjective
In a moral or theological sense, this refers to that which is evil, corrupt, or malicious. It denotes a character or action that is contrary to God’s nature and commands.
oknēros · Greek Adjective
Refers to being lazy, indolent, or negligent. In a spiritual context, it signifies a failure to act on one’s responsibilities or a lack of zeal in serving the Lord.
doulos · Greek Noun
One who is subject to the authority of another. In the New Testament, it frequently describes the believer’s relationship to Christ as their Master or Lord.
The parable's message about accountability, stewardship, and the return of a master resonates deeply with the early Christian expectation of Christ's imminent return, a theme common in the New Testament.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus teaches the Parable
Jesus delivers the Parable of the Talents, likely in the final days of his ministry as he approached Jerusalem.
c. AD 33
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and resurrected, establishing the foundation of the Christian faith and the Church.
c. AD 33 - AD 60s
Early Church Growth
The gospel spreads, and the early Christian communities grow, facing persecution and internal challenges.
c. AD 62-68
The Gospels are Written
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John record Jesus' life and teachings, preserving parables like the Parable of the Talents for future generations.
This verse echoes the servant's excuse, revealing a recurring theme of self-justification and fear in the face of responsibility, even when the master's demands were not as harsh as perceived.
Romans 12:11The master calls the servant 'slothful,' a direct parallel to Paul's exhortation to be 'fervent in spirit,' highlighting the spiritual danger and wickedness of idleness in God's service.
Proverbs 18:9This proverb directly links being lazy in one's work to being a 'brother to a great destroyer,' reinforcing the idea that slothfulness is not just inaction but a form of wickedness that leads to ruin.
Matthew 25:30This verse describes the consequence for the 'unprofitable servant'—being cast into outer darkness—which directly follows the master's condemnation in Matthew 25:26, showing the severe outcome of refusing to use one's gifts.
Hebrews 10:39This passage speaks of those who shrink back and are destroyed, contrasting with those who have faith and are saved. It illuminates the spiritual peril of retreating from God's work due to fear or laziness, as the servant did.
vincentMatthew 25:26: "His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:"
SlothfulWith no more trouble than he expended in digging, he might have gone to the exchangers. The verse should be read interrogatively, Didst thou indeed know this of me? Thou shouldst then have acted with time promptness and care which one observes in dealing with a hard master. To omit the interrogation is to make the Lord a…
bensonMatthew 25:26: "His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:"
Matthew 25:26-27 . Thou wicked and slothful servant — Wicked, because slothful. Observe well, reader, slothful servants are wicked servants, and will be reckoned with as such by their Master: for he that is slothful in his work, and neglects to do the good that God has commanded, is brother to him that is a great waster, by doin…
The master’s retort isn't just an accusation; it's a sharp question designed to expose the servant's faulty reasoning. By challenging, "You knew I reap where I didn't sow," he implies the servant's excuse is a twisted perception, not a valid justification for inaction.
In this parable, Jesus is explaining the nature of his kingdom and how his followers are entrusted with different gifts and responsibilities while he is away. The first two servants faithfully invested and multiplied what they were given, but the third, out of fear of his master, buried his single talent, choosing inaction over risk. This verse is the master's direct response to that servant's excuse, confronting his wicked and lazy approach.
In this parable, Jesus is explaining the nature of his kingdom and how his followers are entrusted with different gifts and responsibilities while he is away. The first two servants faithfully invested and multiplied what they were given, but the third, out of fear of his master, buried his single talent, choosing inaction over risk. This verse is the master's direct response to that servant's excuse, confronting his wicked and lazy approach.
"But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?" — The master’s retort isn't just an accusation; it's a sharp question designed to expose the servant's faulty reasoning. By challenging, "You knew I reap where I didn't sow," he implies the servant's e…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026