the talent in the ground (cf. 13:44). The result, announced by ἴδε, “look” (as in vv 20, 22), was that nothing had been gained (unlike the preceding two instances) except that the talent had been preserved and not lost: ἔχεις τὸ σόν, “you have what is yours.” McGaughy speculates that in the parable as Jesus first taught it the answer of the third servant reflected popular bitterness concerning Yahweh’s relation to his people, who had been entrusted with the traditions of the fathers. But this