06/15/2026
"As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” Luke 19:11-27
Make the best use of what you have, because it has been given to you by a great and generous king. Whatever we have been given, we should offer it back to Jesus.
Note that this parable is not being told in isolation. We are given its context. The disciples believe Jesus is going to ride into Jerusalem and God's kingdom is going to immediately appear. They thought their work was finished. The parable was given to point to what we who follow Jesus are to do while we wait for the coming kingdom. There's also a historical context. Those who heard were reminded of Archades--the despised ruler of the region who the Jews prevented from being declared king. Jesus's story implies to the hearers that the REAL king has arrived, but that there is a much longer journey ahead than just his initial coming to Jerusalem.
The parable tells us to actively tend to the king's business as we await him, and to make much of what he has given to us. Three groups emerge in the parable. The first hate the king despite him being righteous. These are the people who should turn and surrender their lives to the king while he is still away. The other two groups show the faithful in action. The servants who are given ten and five minas (a mina was about 3 months wages) are given incredible returns on their investments. But the other servant, who does not steward the mina he is given, is fearful and fruitless. He produces nothing. His fear isn't a righteous fear of the king. It is instead the fear of having to bow down to someone other than himself. And for that, the grace is taken away, and he is destroyed. Grace is free but priceless. If you do not steward the grace you are given, it will be given to someone else. We awake each day given air to breathe. We should steward this righteously, asking God what he would have us do. When the king returns, may he find us stewarding what we have been given.
