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Luke 19:11-27 - The Parable of the Ten Minas
INTRODUCTION: There is a sense of excitement when you get close to reaching your destination. Whether you are traveling by car and you see the city limits sign, or traveling by air and the airplane begins its descent, or traveling by boat and you sight land in the distance: whatever the mode of travel it always feels good when you reach the end. No matter how long the trip, no matter how tired you are or worn out from the road, your adrenaline kicks in and you experience a lift as you near your destination.
That is a little how the disciples must have felt in today’s passage. For three years now they have been following Jesus. For six months they have been heading towards Jerusalem. Now verse 11 tells us that they were very near. They were in Jericho, only seventeen miles away. The end of the road was in sight. During this time the disciples have come to understand that Jesus is the Messiah, that he is the Promised One, the Great Deliverer prophesied about in the Scriptures. He is the One who was sent by God to deliver his people. The crowds are swelling, more and more disciples are joining the band, and now they are heading to Jerusalem, the Holy City, with Jesus the Messiah in their midst. Talk about a lift as you near your destination!
But this is more than just an adrenaline boost at the end of a journey. In all their excitement and enthusiasm the disciples fully believe that the kingdom of God is about to come in power and great glory. They believe Jesus is going to enter Jerusalem and take his rightful place as King. They have seen his power and his miracles. They know that he is well able to deliver them from the Romans. The people are already rallying to his side, and they expect nothing less than complete liberation from their enemies.
Now Jesus has already told his disciples on numerous occasions that he will suffer and die in Jerusalem. But somehow they could not take it in. Luke tells us that when Jesus spoke about his coming suffering, death and resurrection that: “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:34)
This parable is the last recorded teaching of Jesus before he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And Luke tells us why Jesus told it. He told it: “because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” (Luke 19:11) The word translated “at once” in this verse means “immediately.” The disciples thought that Jerusalem was the end of the road for them. Jesus now tells them it is just the beginning. He has work for them to do. The disciples won’t understand much of this until after Christ has suffered, died and rises again, but afterwards they will remember his teaching and then they will understand.
This parable in Luke is similar parable to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. There are many parallels between the two, but also some significant differences. Jesus modified the same parable to two different situations in order to emphasize different points. This is an example of good teaching – applying the teaching at hand to the actual audience at hand.
I. Introducing the main characters
Jesus begins the parable by introducing the main characters.
A. The king
First of all, we have the king. Look at verse 12: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.” (Luke 19:12) So what details are important about the king? He is a nobleman who travels to a distant country to receive the power to rule and then to return as king. The fact that it is a distant country implies that an interval of time takes place. Remember, the reason Jesus is telling this parable is because they thought that the kingdom of God in all of its fullness was going to appear immediately, and that was simply not true.
B. The servants
Next we have the servants. Look at verse 13: “So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’” (Luke 19:13) The king has ten servants, and each is entrusted with the same amount of money. This is a little different from Matthew’s parable of the talents in which the servants are given differing amounts. Remember, Jesus had a different purpose in telling each of these parables.
Each servant is given one mina. A mina is not a particularly large sum of money. It was worth about $20, although that would have been three months wages for a laborer back then. Compare that to the parable of the talents in Matthew where a talent was worth about $1000. This is the last time the ten servants are mentioned. Only three servants are mentioned from here on. Why? Basically this is good story telling. It would clutter up the parable to go into detail about each servant. These three servants are representative of the others and their potential responses.
The servants are told to “put the money to work” until he comes back, literally, to carry on business as a banker or trader. The king expected them to turn what they had been given into profit. Notice that they are putting the money to work for him, not for themselves. In other words, this money is given as a trust. It is not their money to do with as they want.
Also, notice that not all the servants are equally faithful to their master. The two who make a profit with what they have been given are called good servants. The one who has done nothing is called a wicked servant.
C. The subjects
Finally, we have the subjects. Look at verse 14: “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’” (Luke 19:14) The subjects form a larger group than the servants. The subjects are those who live in the master’s region and fall under his jurisdiction as king.
Notice Jesus says that they hated the king. The Greek tense is even stronger than that. It implies that their hatred was habitual: they were continually hating him. In fact, they hated him so much they even sent a delegation after him, saying “We don’t want this man to be our king! We don’t want him to rule over us.”
II. Identifying the main characters
So we have these three main sets of characters: the king, his servants and his subjects. And it is fairly easy to identify whom Jesus intends each of these characters to represent.
A. The king
The king represents Christ who will not bring in the kingdom right away as the disciples suppose, but rather he will go away for awhile and then return. Jesus will emphasize this to his disciples again the night before he is crucified. There at the last supper he tells them he is going away, but will come back again. He will not leave them as orphans, but will send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to be with them and to guide them. When Christ returns he will bring the kingdom in its fullness. In the meantime the disciples will experience the kingdom of God within their own hearts as righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
B. The servants
How about the servants? Well, the servants are a little trickier to identify because there are two servants who produce a profit and one who does not. Let’s take a look at the third servant for a moment. It is not clear from this parable alone whether the third servant is condemned along with the subjects or merely loses his reward.
If he merely loses his reward, then he is a true believer, and Jesus is portraying a similar situation to what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
However, when we compare this parable to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, we find the third servant there, who acts identically to this servant, suffers judgment. There he is called a worthless servant and is thrown outside where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The servants then would seem to represent those who profess to follow Christ. This would include both true believers who bear fruit in their lives, and those who profess to be Christians but do not really have faith. Many of Christ’s parables teach that there are both true believers, and then those who merely profess faith, for example the parable of the wheat and the tares.
So who are these false professors of faith? Some of them may be sincere. They may truly believe they are saved. They have been baptized, they go to church, they consider themselves good Christian people, but they have never come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And so, although they are sincere, they are merely professors of faith, not true believers.
Other professors of faith are merely pretenders. They know they are not saved. They have no desire to follow Christ or submit to him, but they continue to play the game for a variety of reasons – perhaps tradition or respectability or just to keep the peace at home. Although they may think they have everyone fooled, God sees the heart and will one day proclaim to them: “I never knew you.”
C. The Subjects
And then finally we have the subjects. The subjects represent those unbelievers who do not profess any type of faith in Christ. They are certainly not hypocrites, at least as far as faith in Christ is concerned. They may or may not be openly antagonistic towards Christianity, but they make no claims of Christian faith for themselves.
You might wonder about some of the more minor characters in the parable? What about the delegation in verse 14 or the bystanders in verse 24? One mistake people often make with the parables is trying to find a correspondence to each individual detail in the parable. But parables weren’t meant for every detail to line up with something else. Sometimes the details are just necessary to carry the story along and make the parable hold together as a whole. And so it is not important to determine a precise meaning for the minas, the number of servants etc.
It is interesting, however, when you look at the delegation in verse 14. The delegation part of the story would have reminded the listeners of Herod Archelaus who ruled over Judea after Herod the Great died. Archelaus first had to travel to Rome to receive his authorization to rule. The people didn’t want him as their king, and they actually sent a delegation after him saying so. So the delegation in verse 14 is an example of Jesus inserting a real life, contemporary detail into the parable to make it more striking and memorable to his listeners.
III. Five lessons to learn
So then, these are the main players in Jesus’ parable: 1) Jesus Christ who goes away and returns as king, 2) those who claim to serve and follow him, and 3) those who make no such claim at all. What then are the lessons Jesus would have us draw from his parable? Here are five lessons Jesus would have us learn form the parable of the ten minas.
A. Christ will return as King over all
First of all, Christ will return as King over all. Notice that Christ himself will return. He will not send some representative in his place. He will not come just as a spiritual presence in the world. His return is different from his resurrection, and it is different from the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Bible teaches the visible, personal return of Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that Christ will return as King. Now, he has always been King, but this time all will acknowledge his Lordship. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
There is a message for the disciples in this parable too. Jesus will not return immediately, not “at once” as the people supposed. Jesus teaches an interval of time in the parable. The master goes to a distant country and then returns.
Now for us a fairly long interval has already passed. Will Christ return soon? I hope so! There are many possible indications that he will. Some people may wonder why Christ hasn’t returned already. The Bible provides an answer. 2 Peter 3 talks about scoffers who will come in the last days doubting Christ’s return. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:4,8-9) Christ will return as King over all.
B. When Christ returns there will be an accounting
Secondly, when Christ returns there will be an accounting. God shares his resources with us; he gives us gifts, and he expects us to use them for his glory. He gives you your life and tells you: “Put this to work until I come back.” And when he comes back there will be an accounting. Look at verse 15: “He sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.”
One day Christ will ask you the question: “What have you done with your life? How have you used the gifts I entrusted to you? What fruit have you born for me?” Notice the servants each appear individually before the Master to give an account for their actions. Each must produce evidence that they have faithfully handled that which was entrusted to them.
Christ holds us accountable for how we live during the interval. The disciples thought that Jerusalem was the end of the road, but it was really just the beginning. When we walk with Christ to the cross, and die to ourselves there, it is only the beginning, for then we are finally set free to live a life of service for him. Then we are finally able to produce good works through his Spirit that will have lasting value.
Will Christians be judged at the last day? Yes! In fact Scripture teaches that Christians will be judged first! Notice even in the parable that the good servants are judged before the wicked servant or the subjects. Judgment for the believer, however, is far different than judgment for the non-believer. It is an evaluation of your life rather than a condemnation for your sin.
C. The greater your faithfulness to Christ, the greater your reward
The third lesson is this: the greater your faithfulness to Christ, the greater your reward. There are many passages in Scripture which teach that there will be rewards in heaven. Here are a few of them:
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12 )
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:20)
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24 )
The book of Revelation also talks about crowns or rewards we will receive. So what will these rewards be? The greatest reward will just be the satisfaction of seeing Christ glorified through our lives, seeing people who have come to salvation, people who were helped along the way, a life lived to the glory of God.
One of the wonderful things about the Christian life is that it is open to all equally, with no barriers. There is nothing to screen you out. It is not like the Olympics where only those with extraordinary athletic ability are able to participate. You can have as much of Christ in your life as you desire. The greatest rewards of heaven are open to every believer. It is not a matter of giftedness. It is a matter of faithfulness to Christ.
Scripture also speaks of ruling power and authority as reward, that somehow our faithfulness will be rewarded with greater opportunities to govern and serve. That is the image we find in this parable. Look at verses 16-17: The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” (Luke 19:16-17) And then the servant who earned five more minas was told to take charge of five cities. According to our faithfulness we will be rewarded.
Notice the disproportion between the service and the reward. The first servant had merely increased $20 to $200. That was hardly anything for a king to get excited over. And yet he gives the servant charge over ten cities! God’s rewards far exceed any service we can possibly give to him, especially when you consider that even the little we have to begin with is a gift from him! God is not obligated to give us any rewards. When a servant serves faithfully, he is merely discharging his duty. God’s rich rewards are just another example of God’s incredible grace. This should be a great encouragement to us. Be faithful to God in even the smallest of things, and he will reward you greatly.
Although the parable specifically addresses rewards when Christ returns, the principle also holds true for this life. Faithfulness in even the smallest of matters leads to greater responsibilities from God. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10) “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30)
It only makes sense when you think about it. Life works this way even in ordinary things. It is the faithful worker who gets promoted. How much more does this apply to spiritual things in God’s kingdom
D. A true believer will yield spiritual fruit in his or her life
A fourth lesson is this: a true believer will yield spiritual fruit in his or her life. Let’s take a closer look at the third servant in the parable. Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” (Luke 19:20-21)
First of all, notice that the third servant produced no fruit. He tucked the mina away in a cloth and did nothing with it. The third servant is judged for the sin of omission. It’s not that he used the mina wrongly or for wrong ends. He just didn’t use it at all!
Secondly, the third servant accuses God. He calls the king “a hard man.” It is a word that means severe, austere, strict. Many people think of God this way, but it is far from the truth. God is loving, kind and gracious. The master in the parable was not hard or severe. In fact he rewarded the faithful servants beyond their wildest dreams! Don’t think unworthy thoughts of God. Romans 8:32 says: “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
And then thirdly, notice how the third servant makes excuses for himself. He tells the master: “You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” Basically the servant is saying: “I was afraid to make any profit, because I thought you were going to keep it all for yourself.” Well, he was wrong there, wasn’t he? Just look what the master did for the other two servants! Still, the third servant tries to use this as an excuse for his lack of faithfulness in discharging the master’s trust.
And what is the master’s response to all this? Look at verses 22-23: His master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” (Luke 19:22-23)
The Master does not affirm the servant’s appraisal of himself but goes on to judge the servant according to his own words. He actually gives the servant the benefit of the doubt here. “Okay, let’s assume then that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, reaping what I did not sow. You are still condemned by your actions. For you could have put my money on deposit, so when I came back I could have at least collected it with some interest. But as it is you have done nothing.”
How many will try to defend themselves before Christ at the Last Judgment? Even their own words will condemn them. Want some free advice? If you never receive Christ in this life, when you stand before him on Judgment Day, don’t say anything. Don’t make any excuses, don’t try to defend yourself. You will only make things worse. Want some better advice? Receive Christ as your Savior today! Know his pardon and forgiveness. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
What did the master do with this third servant? Look at verse 24-26: Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” “Sir,” they said, “he already has ten!” “He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.” (Luke 19:24-26)
This is a paradoxical saying. In the context of the parable, it refers to profit. “Everyone who has profit will be given more; for the one who has no profit, even what he has will be taken away.” When we apply it spiritually, we could say it this way: “Everyone who bears fruit for Christ will be given more, but the one who bears no fruit, even what he has will be taken away.” It’s a sobering thought. If you are not living for Christ, if you are not producing for him in this life, then all that you have, all that God has given you, all that you have worked for will be taken away. Nothing will last. Nothing will be saved.
Don’t misunderstand. We are not saved by our own good works or by anything we produce for Christ. We are saved by faith and faith alone. However, those who are truly saved will produce fruit for God. The one who has nothing to show for Christ in his or her life has no assurance of salvation. All that God has given them – life, love, and opportunity – will one day be taken away.
E. Those who do not submit to Christ will be condemned
And then finally, the fifth lesson: those who do not submit to Christ will be condemned. In verse 14 we read that the subjects hated the nobleman. Now there are many who do not follow Christ who would claim that they do not hate him. They would just say they are neutral. They feel very little of anything towards him. But Jesus said there is no middle ground. You cannot serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. Jesus said “He who is not with me is against me.” (Matt 12:30) And so those who do not love and serve God have placed themselves on the other side of the fence.
Man’s rebellion is summed up in the subjects’ words: “We don’t want this man to be our king.” (Luke 19:14) This is similar to last week when we read how Jesus longed to gather Jerusalem in, but she was not willing. “We don’t want this man to be our king!” How many do not want Jesus to be their King, their Lord. And yet He is King, He is Lord. Even if he were a hard, severe, unfair ruler, he would still be king, and people would have to deal with him as such. But Jesus is so different from the third servant’s description of the master. He is a loving, wise, gracious and just king. Therefore how much more should we love and serve him, and how much less excuse we have for rebellion against him.
You cannot rebel against God without consequences. Verse 27 ends the parable on a somber note. After dealing with the three servants, the master speaks, “But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them — bring them here and kill them in front of me.” (Luke 19:27) Yes, Christ is a loving and kind king who gave his life so that you might be saved. But he is also a just judge who must punish sin and deal with rebellion. And those who do not submit to Christ will be condemned on the last day. There will be no excuses, no defense, no escape.
CONCLUSION: Jesus and his disciples were at long last approaching Jerusalem. The disciples thought it would all end there. The kingdom of God was going to come with power, and they would enter into rest. Jesus told this parable to correct their thinking. Yes the Kingdom will come fully when Christ returns. In the meantime we are to work and to serve, to use the lives God has given us for gain, to allow Him to work through us to His glory.
Luke only tells us about three of the ten servants. What about the others? How did they do? Luke doesn’t tell us. The more important question is: What about you? How are you doing? Are you living your life in faithfulness for God’s glory? The lessons from Jesus’ parable are clear: Christ will return, and there will be an accounting. Those who are faithful Jesus will reward beyond measure, but those who have wasted what God has given them will be judged and found wanting. The kingdom will come, but not yet. Jerusalem is not the end of the road — it is just the beginning.
© Ray Fowler
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