The parable of the ten talents was delivered on the Mount of Olives. Jesus had gone thither with his disciples, after his final words in the temple at Jerusalem, and immediately preceding the last passover. His discourse upon this mount is a series of remarkable utterances. He describes the fall of Jerusalem, and in the symbolism of parables illustrates the second coming of the Christ. Material sense has made many futile efforts to so interpret these sayings that they will harmonize with its concepts and conclusions. Dropping the effort to interpret them in a material sense and recognizing that these utterances were never designed to have other than a spiritual meaning, they are seen to be a succession of most intelligible truths.
Infinite Mind all harmonious (the kingdom of heaven) is as a man traveling; action and progression being implied in this word, — His Mind is ever active, ever expressing itself, — the simile of the man traveling is readily appreciated. Mind does not progress from one locality to another; it is everywhere present; yet the man symbolizing it in the parable journeys into "a far country." Although of a truth there is no place where Mind is not, yet to the false consciousness of belief it seems absent, and there appears much that does not agree with its eternal harmony. The realm of material sense, the domain of inharmonious beliefs, is the "far country" into which come, as a traveler, occasional glimpses of Mind. The curtain of physical sense is drawn aside so that man discerns the workings of divine intelligence. The manifestations of the Mind that is righteousness are but little understood or credited by materiality, hence it is indeed as "a man traveling in a far country," a stranger in a strange land.
"Who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods." An own servant is one who adapts himself to an especial work in the interest of an employer. The "own servants" of Mind must be allied to it that they may perform its services accurately and in its interest. Not persons, but thoughts are the servants of Mind. There is no fellowship between Spirit and physical sense, Mind and matter. The "own servants" best adapted to work in obedience to Mind, are those thoughts in closest communion with it, and such are apprehension, aspiration, and inspiration. The "goods" of Mind delivered into the keeping of these serving thoughts are understanding, truth, and love, which they hold in trust (make manifest) until the coming of their Lord. The coming of their Lord is the brightness of perfect realization, that dissolves the mists of sense and reveals the ever-shining sun of Spirit, Mind, whose rays illumine "the uttermost parts of the earth." In proportion as these thoughts are faithful in the use of the goods instructed to them, will they demonstrate the same by good works. The different degrees of ability pertaining to these several thoughts are seen in the different number of talents distributed among the servants.
