Bobby. wrote on Mar 12
th, 2014 at 12:00am:
Or it could also read:
Quote:“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.
To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.
Then he went on his journey.
The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and and lost it all in a bad business.
So also, the one with two bags of gold lost it all
But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received five bags ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have lost it all.
“His master replied, you idiot.
“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; I lost it all.
“His master replied, you idiot.
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, you have done the right thing as you have not wasted my money.
“‘So take the bag of gold & give it back to me.
And throw those other worthless servants outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
I imagine the original form of the parable (as posted by Sprintcyclist - even then how close to the very original telling one could never know) was given as a lesson for a certain circumstance.
Under a different circumstance (with a very different lesson required) your mirrored version could just as well serve. I do like it! lol
So what seems important to me ... is the circumstance of the telling and actual matter or activity being addressed at the time - with some parables this is relatively easy to discern with others more discrimination may be required.
This points to a distinct problem with ancient texts etc ... much is lost over time and many editors and revisionists have had their chance to either add, change or delete information to suit their own purpose!
Some involved may have claimed divine inspiration justified their editorial activities, others were most likely or more wholly concerned with power, influence and control!
Although adherents may claim God's (always and ever) guiding hand has precluded any meaningful/essential changes from being made ...
and ... Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the only book that has been protected by God from distortion or corruption ... (yet it was at first only memorized and then only written down sometime after Muhammad's death) ...
Early in my life - a primary school class exercise/lesson in Chinese whispers laid a solid foundation of doubt as to the validity of this pervasive and seemingly very convenient, God's (always and ever) guiding hand/corruption-less claim!