Mat 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents.
Mat 25:17 And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.
Mat 25:18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

Alternative: Taking only the five sums of money he received, one worked with them and produced another five sums of money. In the same way, the one with two derived a profit of another two. But the one who received one, went to dig in the earth and to hide the money from his lord.

Christ is emphasizing that idea that money need to be worked to produce something. Money is unique because it is both a product and a tool. In this verse, the money is worked specifically to produce a profit. In this, money is exactly like the grain of wheat that dies, producing a seed and then multiplying itself. Both the seed and money represent information that can duplicate itself in the right environment.

What is the right environment for making money productive? Christ makes it clear here that, unlike seeds, money does not reproduce itself by being planted in the ground, hidden. The hidden is Christ's constant symbol for the spiritual realm, the nature of God. God makes the seed grow hidden in the earth. However, God does not make money grow. The Greek word used for earth here (NOTE: Someday I will have to do an essay on the different Greek words used for "earth" and "world," which are used much more consistently to mean different things in the Greek than in our English translation.) is the one that Christ uses to refer to this planet and its nations in contrast with heaven or the rest of the universe. Christ usually uses the term for "field" which can also be translated as earth, when discussing planting.

The point is that you must WORK money for it to produce. This is an intellectual work but it requires real effort. You cannot expect to the hidden God or the worldly state to grow your money for you.

"Had received" is from lambanô (lambano) which means "to take," "to receive," "to apprehend with the senses," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean seized with emotion.

"Went" is from poreuô (poreuomai), which means "make to go," "carry," "convey," "bring," "go," "march," and "proceed."

"Traded" is from ergazomai, which means "to work," "to labor," "to work at," "to make," "to perform," "to work at," "to cause," and "to practice."

"Made" is from poieô (poieo), which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."

"Gained" is from kerdainô, which means "to gain," "to gain an advantage," "to derive profit from," and "to save yourself from."

"Dug" is from orussô (orusso), which means "to

"Earth" is from (ge), which means

"Hid from" is apokruptô (apokrupto), which "to hide from," "to conceal from," and "to keep hidden from." It also means, interestingly, "to lose from sight."