What is the meaning of the Parable of the Ten Minas?

Response

Christ uses the Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19:11–27 to teach about the forthcoming kingdom of God on earth. The context of the parable is Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Many individuals in the crowd along the road believed that He was going to Jerusalem to immediately establish His earthly kingdom. However, He was actually going to Jerusalem to fulfill His destiny by dying, as He had mentioned in Luke 18:33. Jesus utilized this parable to dispel any optimistic speculations that the time for the kingdom had arrived.

In the parable, a nobleman departs for a distant land to receive kingship. Before his departure, he distributed ten minas to ten of his servants (Luke 19:12-13). A mina was a substantial amount of money (equivalent to about three months’ wages), and the future king instructed, “Put this money to work . . . until I come back” (verse 13).

However, the man’s citizens “hated him” and sent a message declaring their refusal to accept his kingship «But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. », (Luke 19:14). Upon being crowned king, he returned to his homeland and began to rectify matters. Initially, he summoned the ten servants to whom he had entrusted the minas. Each one gave an account of how they had utilized the money. The first servant demonstrated that his mina had generated ten more. The king commended him, saying, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities” (verse 17). The following servant’s investment had produced five additional minas, and he was granted authority over five cities (verses 18–19).

Subsequently, a servant arrived and confessed that he had simply hidden his mina in a piece of cloth «And another came, saying, LordBehold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin” (Luke 19:20). The servant’s explanation was: “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” (verse 21). In response to being described as “hard,” the king displayed firmness, labeling him a “wicked servant” and ordering his mina to be given to the one who had earned ten (verses 22 and 24). Some onlookers remarked, “Sir… he already has ten!” to which the king replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away” (verses 25–26).

Subsequently, the king directed that his enemies—those who had rebelled against his authority—be brought before him. In the king’s presence, they were executed: “But those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and kill them in front of me” (Luke 19:27).

This parable by Jesus imparts various teachings about the Millennial Kingdom and the period leading up to it. As Luke 19:11 suggests, Jesus’ fundamental point is that the kingdom would not manifest immediately. There would be an interim period during which the king would be absent before the kingdom’s establishment.

The nobleman in the parable symbolizes Jesus, who departed from this world but will return as King one day. The servants entrusted with a task represent Jesus’ followers. The Lord has assigned us a valuable mission, and we must faithfully serve Him until His return. Upon His comeback, Jesus will evaluate the faithfulness of His people (see Romans 14:10-12). There is work to be done: “I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work”No man can work.” (John 9:4), and we must utilize what God has provided us for His glory. There are assured rewards for those who are loyal in their responsibility.

The adversaries who turned down the king in the parable symbolize the Jewish nation that declined Christ while He was on earth—and all who still reject Him today. When Jesus comes back to establish His kingdom, one of the initial things He will do is completely conquer His adversaries (Revelation 19:11-15). It is not beneficial to oppose the King of kings.

The Parable of the Ten Minas is akin to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14–30. Some individuals assume they are the same parable, but there are adequate distinctions to justify a differentiation: the parable of the minas was narrated on the route between Jericho and Jerusalem; the parable of the talents was narrated later on the Mount of Olives. The audience for the parable of the minas was a large crowd; the audience for the parable of the talents was the disciples alone. The parable of the minas involves two categories of people: servants and adversaries; the parable of the talents involves only professed servants. In the parable of the minas, each servant receives an equal amount; in the parable of the talents, each servant receives a distinct amount (and talents hold greater value than minas). Additionally, the outcome differs: in the parable of the minas, the servants report ten-fold and five-fold profits; in the parable of the talents, all the faithful servants double their investment. In the former, the servants were given identical gifts; in the latter, the faithful servants displayed identical faithfulness.