Parable · Luke 19:11-27

The Ten Minas

A nobleman leaves money with ten servants before traveling to be made king.

Also called The Pounds, The Nobleman

The point

Luke version of the Talents, but with a political subplot the Matthew version does not have.

11While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.

12So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.

13Beforehand, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Conduct business with this until I return,’ he said.

14But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’

15When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.

16The first servant came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten more minas.’

17His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

18The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities.’

20Then another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.

21For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

22His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

23Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

24Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

27And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”

Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter

Using this at church

For a newsletter or sermon notes

The parable of the Ten Minas, explained in plain words. A man about to be made king leaves money with ten servants. https://freescripture.org/parables/ten-minas/

Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church