Luke 19:11-27
11 Now while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.
12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.
13 And he called ten of his own slaves and gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with this money until I come back.’
14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be summoned to him so that he would learn how much they had made by the business they had done.
16 The first slave appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave; since you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to have authority over ten cities.’
18 The second one came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’
19 And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
20 And then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept tucked away in a handkerchief;
21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down, and reap what you did not sow.’
22 He said to him, ‘From your own lips I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?
23 And so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?’
24 And then he said to the other slaves who were present, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
25 And they said to him, ‘Master, he already has ten minas.’
26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’ ”
The Parable of Minas
People who will be praised by the king
The distance from Jericho to Jerusalem is about a day’s journey which is approximately 30 km (19 miles). When the people saw that Jesus had come as far as Jericho, they thought that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately. To correct this misunderstanding, Jesus told them this parable. The main storyline is that a man of noble birth went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. This man of noble birth represents Jesus. Since he was going to a distant country, he would not return soon. In other words, this implies that after the cross, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus will one day return to the earth as King. The master gave ten servants ten minas and instructed them to do business with that money. One mina was equivalent to about one hundred days’ wages for a laborer. In comparison, the “one talent” mentioned in Matthew chapter 25 was worth about six thousand days’ wages for a laborer. Compared with that, one mina was not a large amount. Each of the ten servants was given the same sum, and they were tested to see whether they would be faithful in small matters. The ten servants were divided into two groups: those who actively engaged in business and increased what they had been given, and those who hid away their money without using it. The former group was praised by their master: “Well done, good slave; since you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to have authority over ten cities.” In this way, the good servants were entrusted with a number of cities according to the profit they had earned. Moreover, even the portion of the unfaithful servants was given to them. What does it mean for you to be faithful in small things? Is God praising the way you are living your life?
People who will be condemned by the King
The wicked servants had everything taken away from them because, out of fear, they kept what had been entrusted to them hidden and unused. But they were not the only ones judged. Those citizens who did not want this man to become their king were also condemned. Let us take note of the master’s very severe words. “But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in my presence” (v 27). In every generation, there are those who refuse to acknowledge God as God. They will reap the consequences of their choice. This is a solemn reality. The choice one makes in this present time is a matter of life and death. Are you mindful of the seriousness of judgment, and are you choosing to walk through this earthly life by faith?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me to walk as a faithful servant until the day of the Lord Jesus’ return. Let me begin by being faithful in the small things set before me. Help me never to forget the solemn events that will take place on the day of judgment. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.