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Luke 19:11-27 – The Parable of the Ten Minas

INTRODUCTION: We have been following Jesus and his disciples on the road to Jerusalem, and this morning we finally reach the end of the road. Or do we? Let’s find out! (Read Luke 19:11-13 and pray.)

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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 your 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 at last they were near Jerusalem. 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 right now. 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 something very different will happen when they reach Jerusalem. He has told them numerous times that he will suffer and die when he gets to Jerusalem. But somehow, they could not take it in. Luke later tells us that when Jesus spoke about these things: “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)

The parable we are looking at this morning is the last recorded teaching of Jesus before he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And Luke not only tells us the parable. He also tells us why Jesus told this parable. We read in verse 11: “While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” (Luke 19:11)

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.

I. Introducing the main characters

Jesus begins the parable by introducing the main characters.

   A. The king (12)

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 we have the 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 the people 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 (13)

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. 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.

The nobleman tells the servants to “put the money to work” until he comes back. Basically, he 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.

   C. The subjects (14)

And then, 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 they hated the king. In the original language it is even stronger than that. In the original 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 you to be our king! We don’t want you 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 = Christ

The king, of course, 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. 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 = those who profess to be Christians

How about the servants? Well, the servants are a little trickier to identify because here we have two different types of servants. In the verses to come Jesus describes two servants who each return a profit and a third servant who does not. It is not clear from this parable alone whether the third servant is condemned along with the subjects in the parable or if he merely loses his reward.

If he merely loses his reward, that would mean he is a true believer, and Jesus is portraying a similar situation to what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3 where our works are tested at the last day. Paul writes: “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 3:14-15)

However, when we compare this parable to a similar parable Jesus told in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 25), we find the third servant there, who acts identically to this servant, does suffer judgment. And so, the servants in the parable would seem to represent those who profess to follow Christ. This would include both true believers who profess faith in Christ and those who profess to be Christians but do not really have faith.

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.

Then, other professors of faith are 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.” (Matthew 7:23)

   C. The subjects = unbelievers

So, we have the king, we have the servants, and then finally, we have the subjects. The subjects represent unbelievers who do not profess any faith in Christ at all. 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, and so on.

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.

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.

III. Five lessons to learn

What then are the lessons Jesus would have us draw from his parable? Here are five lessons Jesus would have us learn from the parable of the ten minas.

   A. Christ will return as king over all (15a)

First of all, Christ will return as king over all. Look at the beginning of verse 15: “He was made king, however, and returned home.” (Luke 19:15) 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. The Bible teaches the visible, personal, bodily return of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us 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 3:9 tells us the reason: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise…. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) That’s the first lesson we learn from this parable. Christ will return as king over all.

   B. When Christ returns there will be an accounting (15b)

Secondly, when Christ returns there will be an accounting. God 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 indeed be an accounting. Look at the rest of verse 15: “Then 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.

The disciples thought that Jerusalem was the end of the road, but it was really just the beginning. And it’s the same for us. When you come to Christ, that’s not the end of the road – you are just getting started! God has a whole life of good works he wants you to live for him.

Will Christians be judged at the last day? Absolutely! In fact, Scripture teaches that Christians will be judged first! Notice even in the parable that the good servants are judged first, and then the wicked servant and 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 condemnation for your sin.

   C. The greater your faithfulness to Christ, the greater your reward (16-19)

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., but 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 everyone equally, with no barriers. There is nothing to screen you out. It is not like the Olympics where only those with the best athletic ability are able to participate. You can have as much of Christ in your life as you want. 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 even greater opportunities to govern and serve. Look at verses 16-19: “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.’ The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’” (Luke 19:16-19) According to your faithfulness, you will be rewarded.

Notice the disproportion between the service and the reward. The first servant 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. And so, God’s rich rewards are just another example of God’s amazing 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.

It only makes sense when you think about it. Life works this way even in the ordinary things. It is the faithful worker who gets the promotion. 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 (20-26)

A fourth lesson is this: a true believer will yield spiritual fruit in his or her life. Let’s go back to the third servant in the parable in verses 20-21: “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 here 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, notice how the third servant accuses God here. He calls the king “a hard man.” It is a word that means “severe or strict.” Many people think of God this way, but it is far from the truth. Romans 8:32 tell us: “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?” 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.

And then thirdly, notice how the third servant makes excuses for himself. He accuses 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 own lack of faithfulness.

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 judges 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 own 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 people will try to defend themselves before Christ at the Last Judgment? Even their own words will condemn them. Do you 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.

Now, do you want some better advice? Receive Christ as your Savior today! Know his pardon and forgiveness today. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

What did the master do with this third servant? Look at verses 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 (27)

And then finally, the fifth lesson: those who do not submit to Christ will be condemned. Earlier in verse 14 we read about the subjects who hated the nobleman. Now, there are many who do not follow Christ who would claim that they do not hate him. They would 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 you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30) And so those who do not love and serve God have placed themselves on the other side of the fence.

This world’s rebellion is summed up by the subjects’ words in verse 14: “We don’t want this man to be our king!” (Luke 19:14) There are so many who do not want Jesus to be their king, their Lord. And yet he is King. He is Lord. He is King of kings and Lord of lords!

Even if he were a hard, severe, unfair ruler, he would still be king, and we would still have to deal with him as such. But Jesus is so different from how the third servant described the master. Jesus 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 finally addresses the fate of the subjects: “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 that kind of thinking. Yes, the kingdom will come fully when Christ returns. But in the meantime, we are to work, we are to serve, we are to use the lives God has given us for 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, does he? That’s because the more important question is this: “What about you? How are you doing? Are you bearing fruit for Christ? 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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