The Parable of the Minas
TRANSLATION
(11) While they were listening to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and because they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear at once. (12) He said, “A nobleman traveled to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. (13) He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Put this money to work until I return.’ (14) However his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
(15) “Now it happened when he returned, after having been made king, that he summoned those servants to whom he had entrusted the money to appear before him to learn what they had gained with it. (16) The first came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has earned ten additional minas.’ (17) He said ‘Well done, my good servant! Because you were faithful with a small amount you will be placed in charge of ten cities.’ (18) The second servant came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has earned five more minas.’ (19) He said to him also, ‘You are placed in charge of five cities.’ (20) Then another servant came and said, ‘Lord, here is your mina which I kept hidden away in a handkerchief. (21) I was afraid of you because you are a hard man. You take what you haven’t deposited and reap what you haven’t sown.’ (22) He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant. If you knew me to be a hard man, taking what I haven’t deposited and reaping what I haven’t sown, (23) why did you not put my money in the bank so that I would receive it back with interest when I returned?’ (24) And he said to those that stood by, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ (25) And they said to him, ‘Lord, he already has ten minas.’ (26) (Their master said), ‘I tell you that to everyone who has more will be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. (27) But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and execute them in front of me.” (28) And after he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus may well have spoken this parable while still a guest in Zacchaeus’ house to let his followers know that the kingdom they hoped he would inaugurate once he reached Jerusalem would be delayed due to his rejection by the nation. With this story he provided an answer to the question, “What shall we do while we await the Lord’s return?”
In the parable, we first meet a nobleman, rejected by his subjects, who departed for a time to receive a kingdom before returning to rule. Then we meet his ten servants who were each entrusted with the same amount of money and told to engage in business while he was absent. Next, we skip ahead to the time when the master returned and required his servants to give an accounting of what they had gained by doing business. One servant reported a tenfold increase and another fivefold. Those who obeyed his parting command were richly rewarded for their service. However, the one servant who failed to produce anything due to his lack of respect for the master suffered great loss. His punishment and the punishment of those who rejected the master’s right to rule served as a strong warning that Jesus is looking for obedience and loyalty in those who would follow him.
OUTLINE
I. Luke first explained the parable’s significance. (11)
II. Jesus gave the parable of the minas. (12-27)
– Upon leaving, the master distributed minas to his servants. (12-14)
– When he returned, he demanded an accounting. (15-27)
III. Jesus departed for Jerusalem. (28)
IDEA STATEMENT
For those who serve the master faithfully, there will be great rewards, but for those who fail to obey his commands or refuse his rule the punishment will be severe.
APPLICATION
We do not normally associate the word “severity” with Jesus. However, this parable should leave no doubt that the Lord considers faithful service to be of the utmost importance. Those who obey his commands can count on great rewards for faithfulness. Those who fail to recognize his lordship by rejecting him or refuse to serve him obediently face a severe day of reckoning.
In John 5, Jesus described himself as both the life-giver and the judge. “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (Jn. 5:21-23). Further on he stated, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment” (Jn. 5:26-29). The choice we face is quite clear. Either we give our allegiance to Jesus Christ as our savior from sin and faithfully serve him as our master or we will someday face him as the judge who will condemn us for refusing to submit to his authority.