3. How did the slaves who received the talents from the master before his departure handle them during his absence?

³ “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour. For it is just as when a man, about to travel abroad, summoned slaves of his and committed to them his belongings. And to one he gave five talents,a to another two, to still another one, to each one according to his own ability, and he went abroad. Immediately the one that received the five talents went his way and did business with them and gained five more. In the same way the one that received the two gained two more. But the one that received just one went off, and dug in the ground and hid the silver money of his master.

⁶ “‘Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to him that has the ten talents. For to everyone that has, more will be given and he will have abundance; but as for him that does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw the good-for-nothing slave out into the darkness outside. There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.’”​—Matthew 25:13-30.

7. What is represented by the talents?

⁷ In this parable, what is represented by the talents? Something of high value, not monetarily but in a spiritual sense. The talents represent the commission to make disciples of Christ. Along with this commission goes the highly privileged opportunity of acting as ambassadors for Christ, the King, to represent the Kingdom to all the nations of the world.​—Ephesians 6:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 5:20.

8. (a) Into what darkness has the “sluggish” slave class been cast during this “conclusion of the system of things”? (b) Why is the world of mankind not enjoying the light of God’s favor and blessing?

⁸ Beyond all question, we today have reached the culmination of the fulfillment of this prophetic parable! There has descended upon this generation the darkest period of all human history! Indeed, there is a fitting darkness outside the visible part of Jehovah’s organization into which the “sluggish” and “good-for-nothing” slave class can be thrown at the order of the Master. Such a “darkness outside” depicts the bedarkened condition of the world of mankind, especially in a religious sense. The world of mankind is not enjoying the light of God’s favor and blessing. It is not in the light of the knowledge of the Kingdom of God. It is under “the god of this system of things,” who “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.”​—2 Corinthians 4:4.

16. (a) For what use of the figurative talents is this the most auspicious time? (b) What obligation now falls on the “great crowd” of “other sheep”?

¹⁶ Never was there a time more auspicious for proclaiming the “good news of the kingdom” by employing the “talent,” that is, the unusual privilege, the opportunity, of acting as “ambassadors substituting for Christ,” the reigning King, and making disciples for him. (2 Corinthians 5:20) And as the end draws on apace, it behooves the “great crowd” of “other sheep” to assist those remaining spirit-begotten ambassadors as they zealously make full use of the valuable “talent” entrusted to them.