Parable of the Minas

Key Question today

How does God expect us to use the resources and opportunities he entrusts to us while we await His return?

Setting the stage: Jesus has healed the blind man, and brought salvation to a chief tax collector showing grace has no boundaries as is approaching Jerusalem for the final time before being handed over. Maybe read some of what we have before to help us set the stage

Luke 18:31–33 NASB95

31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.”

The plot: The people were listening to Jesus and were expecting the kingdom of God to come immediately, well, Jesus is going to address that in the form of a parable. I gave you the key question already, lets see how do we answer the question as we go this morning as we work our way through the passage.

Our Parable Passage

Luke 19:11–12 NASB95

11 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. 12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.

Luke 19:13–14 NASB95

13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ 14 “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

Luke 19:15–16 NASB95

15 “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done. 16 “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’

Luke 19:17–18 NASB95

17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’

Luke 19:19–20 NASB95

19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;

Luke 19:21–22 NASB95

21 for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?

Luke 19:23–24 NASB95

23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

Luke 19:25–26 NASB95

25 “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

Luke 19:27 NASB95

27 “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”

Anything stand out to you in this passage?

OK, good challenging question, who is the “they” in (v.11)? and how do you know?

The they is found back in (v.7) oh wait it is they there too, so it is the crowd (v.3)

What assumption are “they” making in (v.11), and why?

The kingdom of God was going to appear immediately because He was nearing Jerusalem and they believed he was the King

How did Jesus want to correct there misunderstanding (vv.11-12)?

With a parable (v.11) about a nobleman who was going off to receive a kingdom and return (v.12)

How did the citizens feel about the nobleman in the parable (v.14)? and did they tell him so?

They hated him, and yes they told him so.

When the nobleman returned what did he demand (v.15)?

In own words to give an accounting of what they did with the masters money (minas)

Was the master pleased with the first servant (v.17)?

Yes, well done good and faithful servant

Was the master pleased with the second servant (v.19)?

Yes, though does not use the word, it is implied

Was the master pleased with the third servant (vv22-23)?

No, he is not, he is chastised.

What instructions does Jesus give to the bystanders (v.24)?

Take the one mina from the one who put the one in a handkerchief and give to the one who had ten.

Then Jesus goes on to explain why (vv.26-27)

The Kingdom is but yet to come

Are you familiar with the term saved and being saved, or we are in the kingdom with a kingdom to come?

We will come back to that in just a minute, first

We have a nobleman, a master who calls ten servants together and gives them 10 minas, one mina each, he gives instructions, put this to work until I come back.

What does that mean, are the instructions pretty clear?

The crowd expected Jesus to establish His kingdom, as did the apostles, right away, but the parable shows a delay in the kings return.

So with the instructions and the delay it is clear they were to use the resources given. Key point here is Jesus was telling His followers they have responsibilities to use the resources, the time, the gifts, the talents given, to invest them until His return, not to be idle.

We live in the already but not yet period, called to be faithful while awaiting Christ’s return.

Stewardship of God’s gifts

The nobleman, the master trusts each slave, servant with the same amount, one mina each, gives the same instructions, and has same expectations to use it productively.

Do you think the Lord has any expectations of us? Can you think of any bible verse where Jesus may give us instructions?

Mt28:20, Eph2:10, come on, can you think of others?

The mina represents God-given resources, what God given resources has God given you, given us?

We know He has given us time, talents, spiritual gifts, opportunities, and the gospel message.

Application: God calls us to faithfully use what He has given us for His glory and for the advancement of the kingdom.

Faithfulness rewarded

The first two servants are rewarded for their faithfulness (ten and five minas). Their reward was proportional to their faithfulness, showing that God values effort and obedience over equal outcomes.

These faithful servants demonstrated diligence in the absence of the master. The rewards were proportions to faithfulness and not on results alone. The reward was authority since they demonstrated authority.

A good question we can ask is how can we measure faithfulness in our daily lives? Not someone else’s faithfulness, but our own.

Fear and neglect (consequences)

Fear and misunderstanding of the nobleman lead to inaction, resulting in the loss of his mina.

His excuse revealed his distorted view of the master as harsh and it paralyzed him from doing anything with the entrusted mina.

Fear, laziness, or a wrong view of God can hinder our service, God expects us to act in faith, not in perfection.

What fears or misconceptions about God might prevent us from serving God boldly?

Accountability

We have seen the Lord use this parable to show a king (Jesus) going off to receive His kingdom and returning (in future) and His servants given mina (gifts, talents, etc) and told to put them to work for they will give an accounting when He, the King returns.

We know that the unfaithful servant, safeguarded his mina, and it was taken from him and faced severe judgement before Christ.

The enemies who reject the nobleman’s rule face severe judgment, pointing to the ultimate accountability before Christ.

Application: All will give an account to God for how they responded to His call and used His gifts.

Question How does the reality of future judgment motivate us to live faithfully now?

Just so there is no misunderstandings theologically speaking

The kings identity: The nobleman represents Jesus who has ascended to heaven to receive His kingdom and will return to judge

The kingdom’s nature: The parable emphasizes the kingdom of God is both present (through faithful service now) and future (at Christ’s return)

Grace and responsibility: While salvation is by grace through faith, believers are called to be active, responsible stewards of Gods gifts, for faith without works is dead.

Practical Application

Evaluate your stewardship

How are you using your time, talents and resources

Overcome fear with faith

Trust in God’s goodness and take risks and serve Him

Live with eternity in mind

Recognize that our actions now have eternal consequences

Share the gospel

The mina can symbolize the message of Christ, use opportunities to share it.

(prayer) (Exit)