Luke 19:11-17

The Parable of the Ten Minas

by Pastor Jim Lincoln on October 14, 2007

"While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, "A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and [then] return." Luke 19:11-12 NASB

Every generation has its prophets predicting Jesus' immediate return. In the sixties they argued the European Common Market and the Soviet Union's global power was the evidence. Today it's Iran. My favorite has to be the book published in 1988 titled, "88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 88". When He didn't come in 88, the author re-wrote his book the next year entitled "89 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 89." Thankfully his series ended there.

To be reminded that Jesus is coming back and that God will indeed make good on His promises to put all things to rights is always a good thing. In this we rejoice and hope. However, when we start predicting when these things will take place we get distracted from Jesus' message to us about how to live in such times. The problem is not in declaring Christ's return and the fulfillment of God's promises. That's unshakable. The problem is that predicting the time with that kind of precision ruins our credibility and cheapens our words. How many times can a person cry out, "Fire!" when there isn't one and remain credible?

In the parable of the minas Jesus shows us that we need to exert less energy predicting the day and the hour of these things and more, thinking about how to live and prepare for the time that God is choosing. Jesus reveals that there are more critical issues than making these precise predictions.

Now, we're not the first ones to get caught up in predicting the future. This was the situation the disciples found themselves in Luke 19:11. While they were listening to Jesus He told them a parable. Notice the purpose, "Because He was near Jerusalem and the people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. "

He was speaking these words in Zacheaus' house in Jericho only 17 miles from Jerusalem. That's about a six-hour walk and would be the last leg of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. He was literally only hours away from Jerusalem and the cross.

As the capitol, Jerusalem was the center of culture and commerce. It's also the city where kings were enthroned and a focal point of Old Testament Biblical prophecy. Luke says that the people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. It was an easy mistake. Jeremiah 3:17 says,

"At that time they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart."

The Scriptures were full of references to Messianic Kingdom's connection to Jerusalem. And the disciples knew that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the Living God (Luke 9:18).'" Even the people had connected the dots and were hailing Jesus as the Messiah. But what that meant and how Jesus would bring about His kingdom was unclear. Jesus often said things they just couldn't receive. In Luke 8:44 He said, "Let these words sink into your ears for the Son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." But of course they didn't understand that. We also read the Bible from the perspective of our own self-interest. We simply assume God's will must be to our immediate self-interest.

Their mental picture of the kingdom of God was also flawed. They were expecting Jesus to establish an earthly political kingdom or reality that would immediately usher in a time of world peace and prosperity. They expected to rule the world immediately with Christ from Jerusalem. James and John got their mother to ask Jesus if they could rule; one at His right hand and the other at His left hand.

They thought Jesus was about to immediately inaugurate a time of unrivaled peace, victory, prosperity, and defeat all the enemies of the Lord at once. And of course they assumed they were ready to rule with him as well. That was a big assumption.

So, Jesus sets out to correct them. Their preoccupation with the timing is an error. He moves them away from timetables and countdowns and date setting. He teaches them instead what the kingdom of God is like, what the King is like and what they are to do.

What does Jesus say about the kingdom here? Three things:

1. There is going to be a period during which Jesus will reign in absentia.
2. During this time His servants will be entrusted with assets and responsibilities to use for His glory/benefit.
3. Upon His return, He will honor his servants for their faithfulness and hold us all accountable to His Sovereign rule.

Now I know that is not as exciting as predicting how the latest political headlines will trigger Armageddon. But they are the words of Jesus and they are just as critical for us today as they were for them.

First, in His Kingdom there will be a period where Jesus will rule in absentia? Look at v. 12

"A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and he gave them ten minas (pounds). Put this money to work until I return. But His subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him saying, "We don't want this man to be our king."

In that day, a local king would have to go to Rome to be appointed by Caesar. Likewise, our senators from Oregon have to go to Washington to be confirmed into office. For a while he leaves the state.

Jesus' parable is really about His own ascension and confirmation in heaven, where He is now seated at the right hand of God on high. He is no less the King. But for a while, He reigns in absentia.

Again, this was not at all what they were expecting. The idea that He wouldn't immediately establish a political kingdom based on political power was inconceivable to them. They expected the kingdom to be established "at once."

So it was critical for them to know this as they faced many adversaries and apparent opponents of Christ's rule and reign. It was critical for them as they suffered rejection, persecution and even death for their faith. We too, need to know that Jesus reigns. However, for a period unknown to us, He reigns in absentia.

That's the test of our faith: Does He reign when wicked men seem to have the upper hand? Does He reign when sickness prevails in a person's life? Does He reign when matters of life and death seem so random to our senses. Yes, He does! But, His absence is only temporary.

His second lesson about the kingdom is that He will entrust His servants with assets and responsibilities while He is absent.

In v.13 He gave each of his slaves a mina. A mina was a Greek coin, equivalent to a Roman drachma. Older translations used the word pound. It was a small amount of money; maybe a few weeks' wages. Notice that each of the servants receives the same: one coin.

What does the mina represent? The mina represents the assets and opportunities God gives us to advance His kingdom. The one mina would have to be the gospel, perhaps the gift of the Holy Spirit, His word, His promises and commandments. It includes the opportunities we have to build each other up in the Lord. It's the opportunity/responsibility we have to become salt and light in the world: ambassadors for Christ.

We're familiar with the general principle here; the investor provides capital and the individual worker provides labor. Together capital and labor work in partnership to produce goods and services. So, Jesus' parable is a picture of the master and the servant working together.

Notice the Master's words to his servants, "Do business with these until I come back." Some translations say, "Trade, invest, or buy and sell." The Greek word Jesus uses is the word, pragmatimi. From it we get our word pragmatic. It conveys the idea of being useful and practical, resourceful and energetic.

In His absence, Jesus expects His servants to work, to be busy using the assets He has given them. Now, it's not teaching that we merit our salvation by our clever investments and work. Salvation is always a gift of God to be received by faith. But although we're never saved BY works we are never saved WITHOUT them. Salvation changes you. It changes your heart toward God. By necessity it changes what you value, prize, love and prize in your heart. And what changes your heart always change your behavior. The Bible tells us that we are, "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works."

But, what does this busyness and energy look like among us? Well, it shows up in all the ways that you pay attention to the mina, value it, prize the gospel, spread it, enjoy it and help others grow in it. It shows up in the fact that you recognized who gave it to you! It must be spent, used, spread, and shared in every way that we can love God more and others as ourselves. It shows up when we take it into the world like salt preserving the culture and giving it flavor. It shows up when we bring the light of the gospel into the dark places of hopelessness, selfishness, condemnation, and sin.

Jesus is talking here about hard work. I've been told that today the average amount of time you must spend with someone before they will even come to church with you is six to eight hours. This is about spending time with them, having lunch with them, and talking with them. It's about sharing some time over coffee.

Most often we use these assets in small and seemingly insignificant ways: a daily time of prayer and Bible reading, a phone call to a person who may be lonely or to a state senator. It shows up in honoring one another. In today's youth culture, where everyone wants to be young, appear young, think young, older people become invisible. Ninety-nine percent of all church plants target youth. If you are old, you are practically invisible. They just don't see you. They don't want to be old. They don't want to be reminded about what is inevitable. They don't think old people have much to offer in the kingdom. That asset/mina to love, honor and invest in the lives of older people remains wrapped up on a handkerchief and tossed aside. Our older saints are treated as inconsequential minas whereas the youth are treated as the better investment of our time energy and love.

Zacheaus shows us a way to use the assets of grace. It was in his home where Jesus gave this parable. Zacheaus was a man motivated by greed. He was a chief of tax collectors. He made his fortune by systematically defrauding other people. And yet, in v. 19 look at his response to Jesus. He said,

"Look Lord here and now I give half my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anyone I will repay them back four times the amount."

In place of selfishness and greed he uses the assets of kindness, concern for others, and generosity. Instead of denial we see the asset of an accurate recognition of how he has lived his life and a true desire to change. And all of this on the first day of his conversion!

God gives all of us the precious asset of the gospel, His word, His Spirit, His mind and wisdom to serve Him. And he gives each of us the asset of a circumstance, a background, gifts and talents to use for His glory and the advance of His cause to serve Him.

Do we stuff our assets in a napkin? Are we slow to sense the opportunities God puts right in front of us? Perhaps they don't fit our pre-conceived business plan or our mission statement. Maybe they don't seem big enough for our big plans. Let me say that the elderly don't seem to fit anyone's business plan anymore in the kingdom of God.

Servants and Subjects: Notice there are two groups in the parable. There are servants and there are subjects. He says that his subjects all hated Him. Some chafe at those words. Most would say, "No, I don't hate God." No one thinks they hate Jesus. What they do is define Him after their own image and then they say they like Him. But remember, Jesus is speaking.

Notice what they say, (14) "We do not want this man to be our king." This is what Jesus means. By nature we don't want anyone to tell us what to do, how to think, what to believe, how to live, how to use our money, time, or our sexuality. We assume that's our business. We say we like Jesus or even love Jesus. Yet, when He lays claim as the LORD of our life telling us what to think, believe, and do, we hate it.

Before I became a Christian I would have never thought that I hated Jesus. But I'll tell you this. I didn't want anyone telling me what to do or how to live. I didn't want to have this man be my King. Jesus will have none of this and He rightly exposes this attitude for what it really is, hatred. Beloved, Jesus equates those who spurn His authority as his "enemies" (27). Will you believe what Jesus says or is your wisdom greater than His?

Jesus makes two distinctions: Subjects and servants. You are either one or the other. Which one are you?

Finally, upon His return, the master honors his true servants for their faithfulness.

Just as this master (in his absence), tests the faithfulness of His servants to validate if their faith in Him is the real thing, so Jesus (in His absence), tests the faithfulness of His servants to prove the reality of their faith. Luke 19:15

"He was made king and returned home then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money to find out what they had gained with it. The first one came and said, '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, you take charge of five cities.'"

The faithful servant is honored and given greater responsibilities to serve. He receives his master's praise. He's treated his assets as valuable things that should be used, and invested.

Valuing that which seemed small made it possible for him to value more. So, he's given more assets to manage. His reward is to take care of lots of people (ten and five cities). Now, does that sound like a reward to you? Because my heart and love remain so small I can't imagine giving myself to ruling cities. That sounds exhausting to me. I'm not sure I have enough love to even want to provide care and leadership to ten cities. However, the rewards here are more selfless service, love, and care to be given to more people.

So, the way you handle the assets of the kingdom you've been given will validate the true condition of your heart and if you are growing into a capacity to love God and others more.

Look at verse 20. Not all those who claim to be servants really are. Not all of his servants are honored. Another servant comes and says,

'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 what you did not put in and you reap where you did not sow'. 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 where I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money on deposit so that when I came back I could have collected it with interest. Then he said to those standing by, 'Take this 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."'

Now, at first you might think this was a noble man who acted with fear and respect. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is a wicked person who is spinning a tale to make him look good. Look at his reason for not using the money. "I knew you were hard/exacting." He's complaining that the master's standards are too high and therefore too unreasonable. He also, accuses him of unjustly benefiting from the labor of others. "You reap where you did not sow." His implication is that the master isn't fair.

Notice the master doesn't correct him on this point. He judges him by his own words. "You knew that I am a hard man that I take what I didn't sow." So, he doesn't correct him even though his words distort the truth about him.

He does reveal his hypocrisy. He says that if you were to put the money on deposit, you would have fulfilled your duty to put your money to work without having to exert yourself at all. How much labor does it take to put some money in a five year CD? But he doesn't correct his view that he does have high standards and the master does expect to benefit from the service of others.

Here's this servant's problem. He says, "Your standards are too high, you are exacting. You expect me to give you what is mine (my time, my energy, and my resources) to your cause. I can't measure up to your ridiculous standards. You are way too demanding." Yes, His standards are high but the Master is gracious. He graciously accepts our attempts. And He supplies the power and strength to those who want to serve Him.

And yes, He does reap the fruit of our labor and energy. However, He provides all the capital of His power, enablement, the Holy Spirit, gifts, and opportunities. We provide our labor. Can you see what the wicked servant has done? He says, my paraphrase),

"Yes, the mina is yours. But you are mean and unjust. That's why I didn't risk investing it. You are so unrealistic, demanding, and unjust. You put me in a no-win position. That's why I didn't use it."

He has made excuses and accusations when in reality he doesn't care at all about the masters business. And underneath his excuse is the thought that the little mina isn't really worthy of my time and energy. So, he puts it in a little napkin and tosses it aside. Jesus says that he was a wicked servant. The master takes his mina away and gives it to a real servant not a wicked pretender.

The final verse 27 is hard. Some leave this verse off altogether¹. But to do so is to make ourselves the judge of the Lord's words. He said these things too. "Those enemies of mine, who did not want me to be king over them bring them over here and slay them before me."

Historical Context: In that day, Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great, went to Rome to ask for his father's kingdom. Simultaneously, some citizens of Judea sent a delegation to Augustus Caesar and threatened open rebellion if Archelaus was anointed king of Judea. In 4 BC, after he was appointed as king and upon his return, Archelaus killed three thousand Jews as they gathered to offer their Passover offerings. Roman rulers killed those who attempted to usurp and supplant their authority.

The consequences of rejecting Christ as your King are even more severe because eternal destinies are at stake. Beloved, do you know what the gospel saves you from? It saves you from God. It saves you from His just and righteous indignation based on the reality that we have all attempted to supplant His authority in our lives. We owe Him everything. To spurn His authority and presence puts you out of His presence forever. That's what hell is. So, believe the gospel and flee the wrath of God to come.

So, what does Jesus tell us about the kingdom? Forget about predicting dates. It will distract you from what Jesus says.

Remember, we are servants of the King. Jesus is the king and even though He reigns in absentia now, there will be a day when he will return. Remember that God has given us precious assets and responsibilities. Our mission as a nation will collapse if all it's about is free markets, personal freedoms, and entertainment. We know in our hearts that mission is insufficient. God has given our country enormous assets and opportunities and we are to be stewards of them and not merely consumers of those gifts. The same goes for the church. Are we faithful with the small things? Or must we be in charge of ten cities before we find our work significant or valuable?

Then we must recognize that God will honor faithfulness. And we should be warned that our excuses may be smokescreens for not wanting to be His servant at all. Salvation is by His grace. However, salvation saves you by giving you a new heart whereby you stop blaming God and accusing God but instead, serve Him. This is Jesus' message about the end times. He doesn't tell us when. Instead, He tells us how to serve Him until he comes again. And, beloved, He will. He has given us His word on it.