The Parable of Ten Minas: Luke 19:11-27
by Owen Borville
July 21, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Ten Minas describes man's relationship with God and how man should use his God-given talents to be a faithful servant. The parable is included in Luke 19:11-27:
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
The Parable of the Minas described in Luke 19 is similar to the Parable of the Talents described in Matthew 25:14–30. Jesus told the Parable of the Minas because his disciples thought that the Kingdom of God would appear very soon or immediately. Therefore, the parable and its message let the disciples know that the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven was not immediate and that the followers of God would need to work for a while before the future coming of the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Minas, the nobleman represents Jesus Christ, the journey represents Christ's ascension to heaven and his return to Earth. The given money by the nobleman to the servants are the spiritual gifts, talents, and tools that God gives us, his followers, in order to serve Him. The evaluation of each servant's work is the judgement of God based on their faithfulness. The first two servants were rewarded for their faith while the third servant was condemned for his lack of faith and his unwillingness to use the talents given to him. The third unfaithful servant did not use the spiritual tools and talents that God gave him or made available to him in order to serve and to be a faithful servant. The parable is a powerful lesson about the teachings of God and the role that God expects His followers to have in this world. The parable teaches that the faithful servants of God must use all of the tools given to us in order to promote the faith and to be faithful servants. Not using these talents, or minas, is a sign of lack of faith, just as the third servant exemplified and was condemned. The parable also describes how the citizens refused to follow the nobleman and how they would be destroyed. These citizens represent those of Jesus' time on Earth that would not follow him and refused to anoint him as Messiah and King. Just a many refused to follow Jesus during his first coming on Earth, many will also refuse to serve him the second time around and these will be condemned and punished.
by Owen Borville
July 21, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Ten Minas describes man's relationship with God and how man should use his God-given talents to be a faithful servant. The parable is included in Luke 19:11-27:
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
The Parable of the Minas described in Luke 19 is similar to the Parable of the Talents described in Matthew 25:14–30. Jesus told the Parable of the Minas because his disciples thought that the Kingdom of God would appear very soon or immediately. Therefore, the parable and its message let the disciples know that the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven was not immediate and that the followers of God would need to work for a while before the future coming of the Kingdom of Heaven or Kingdom of God. In the Parable of the Minas, the nobleman represents Jesus Christ, the journey represents Christ's ascension to heaven and his return to Earth. The given money by the nobleman to the servants are the spiritual gifts, talents, and tools that God gives us, his followers, in order to serve Him. The evaluation of each servant's work is the judgement of God based on their faithfulness. The first two servants were rewarded for their faith while the third servant was condemned for his lack of faith and his unwillingness to use the talents given to him. The third unfaithful servant did not use the spiritual tools and talents that God gave him or made available to him in order to serve and to be a faithful servant. The parable is a powerful lesson about the teachings of God and the role that God expects His followers to have in this world. The parable teaches that the faithful servants of God must use all of the tools given to us in order to promote the faith and to be faithful servants. Not using these talents, or minas, is a sign of lack of faith, just as the third servant exemplified and was condemned. The parable also describes how the citizens refused to follow the nobleman and how they would be destroyed. These citizens represent those of Jesus' time on Earth that would not follow him and refused to anoint him as Messiah and King. Just a many refused to follow Jesus during his first coming on Earth, many will also refuse to serve him the second time around and these will be condemned and punished.
