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The Parable of the Ten Minas

Location and setting… Jericho, very probably Zacchaeus’s house

Lk 19:11–27. 11 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. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 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. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 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.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 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.’ 22 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? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘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. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

Explanation for the Parable… “because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.”

Lk 19:38 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Deliver them from their Roman oppressors

Jerusalem to the Jews was the seat of power

The new King of Judea would launch his revolt against Rome by beginning in thier capital city.

He named Himself the Son of Man… The Shepherd, seeking and saving the people of God

Lk 19:10 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Son of Man in Ezekiel… God says He will seek and save his people

Eze 34:12 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

Jesus’s other title Son of David…

Eze 34:24 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

The implication of his titles… King, Savior, God

They seemed to understand the first two, but they missed the the third

Jesus begins His parable with the nobleman leaving… If Jesus is addressing their belief He is about to begin His Kingship why does He tell them a parable about a nobleman leaving his country to receive a kingdom?

12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

Roman Empire… Judea was ruled by the Roman Empire.

Emperor ruled. Augustus (Jesus’s birth) and then Tiberius (Jesus’s ministry)

Conquered lands were vassals states.

Rulership was appointed by the Roman emperor.

During the time of Jesus birth Herod the “Great” was the king of the land

Samaritan/ Idumean appointed as King to the land of Isreal

Mt 2:13.13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Mt 2:16.16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Herod's attempt to destroy his rival...

Herod dies and the nation of Israel is divided between his three children… 3 Successors

Mt 2:19–20.19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”

Herod Archelaus

Herod Antipas, the ruler over the area of Galilee

Philip the Tetrarch

To be the King you needed the Emperors blessing… Herod Archelaus was named in his fathers will to be king over the largest past of Israel (Judaea, Idumaea, and Samaria) and the rest was divided between the other two children

Archelaus went to Rome (4 bc). .. He was made only slightly higher than his brother and denied kingship

It was for fear of Archelaus that Jesus’s parents returned to Nazareth, the territory of Herod Antipas, away from Archelaus

Mt 2:21–23.21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Archelaus slaughtered 3,00 jews during Passover

Herod Archelaus Deposed in 6 AD. Recalled to Rome he was exiled to France for mishandling the Jewish people.

That's how Pontius Pilate comes to be in charge during the time of Jesus’ ministry in Jerusalem.

They oppose the new king… In Jesus’s parable a delegation of people opposes the new king.

14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

This exact thing happened to Archelaus…

History also says he slaughtered those who opposed him…

27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

Jesus signals He is going to leave… His crucifixion and return

Jesus leaves 1 Minas pers servant…

13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’

Minas versus Talent

The length of time expected to travel to Rome… 3 months

Engage in business… Means occupy

He returns… Can I point out the King in the story returns. There will be a day when our Lord returns. It is not if it is when.

15 When he returned, having received the kingdom,

He will come in the fullness of the authority God the Father has granted Him…

There is an expectation of increase...

(...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 1st servant...

‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’

The second servant…

‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’

20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 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.’

What is your view of God?

What is your view of the graciousness he has been in your life”

Theft...

His not ours…

22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant!

23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

Banks then...

Didn't think enough of what had been given to him to entrust it with another.

24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘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.

Closing

What is the minas…

1 Co 2:1–5 2 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

The minas was enough to live on. The master was gone for 3 months and you received 3 months of wages. Invested wisely, it was more than enough.