11 Now as
they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near
Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman
went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten
minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him,
saying, ‘We will not have this man to
reign over us.’ 15 “And so it
was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these
servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might
know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned
ten minas.’ 17 And he said to
him, ‘Well done, good servant;
because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned
five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said
to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which
I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect
what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was
an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not
sow. 23 Why then did you not put
my money in the bank, that 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 him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and
from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to
reign over them, and slay them before
me.’ ”
Commentary
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
After declaring that salvation has come to Zacchaeus, a man whom the multitudes had condemned, thus correcting their misjudgment of him, Jesus now tells them another parable. For as the Scripture states He was near Jerusalem; and thus, His time would soon be upon Him; as well the multitudes thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately, and thus they likely thought that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He would begin His Reign as its true King. However, as we now know there are several things that must take place before that happens. The first being His rejection by them, before His Crucifixion death, and then His Resurrection from the dead three days later.
Vs. 12-13 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ now tells them a parable saying, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” Vs. 12
The Lord Jesus then is the certain nobleman and his going into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return is describing Jesus’ own first going back to God the Father after His Crucifixion death, Resurrection from the dead and then His Ascension back to God in heaven to receive His heavenly Kingdom and Throne from His Father, before He returns; after His Father has made all His enemies His footstool; to set up His earthly Kingdom and Reign in the New Jerusalem. And so Jesus by way of parable is broadly outlining these events, for here He is not describing them in detail, (for that see) but rather He is going to make the point that when He is away He wants us as His Holy Spirit equipped and abled servants to ‘Do business till I come.’ That is be about doing the work of the Gospel and His church down here until He comes! And so, in the parable the nobleman is the Lord Jesus Christ we are the servants who are given ten minas, that is one mina a piece. Now a mina is a piece of money whose value is not the issue here, rather it is simply to represent all that we all have in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus it represents the full potential that we all are given to be fruitful servants of the Lord. For it is not our innate abilities or inabilities that has any bearing rather it is the Lord Jesus Christ working through us all when we step out in faith that makes us all His fruitful and useful servants.
Vs. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
In this brief verse the Lord Jesus Christ now describes not only His own upcoming rejection by those there in Jerusalem. But also, His Word carries over from there into every generation, and to every person, where the Lord Jesus Christ and His offer of eternal salvation through Him and His finished Work alone is rejected.
Vs. 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”
The Lord Jesus now returns to the main thrust of His parable and that begins with nobleman having received his kingdom, He now returns and commands that the servants to whom He entrusted His money (i.e. His Gospel and the work of it) be brought to Him so that He might know how much each one had gained by trading.
Vs. 16-17 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
And so, it was the first servant came saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ To which the nobleman responded, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ Notice that the reward given though seemingly directly proportional to the amount earned is in fact exceedingly far greater then the amount earned, because as Jesus says the servant was first faithful in very little, that is they were not given authority over ten cities in their lifetime, which would be like ruling ten nations today. And so, though they were given great treasures in His Gospel, they were given very little authority on earth and yet through the Lord Jesus Christ’s Gospel and all that it entails, they accomplished much for the Kingdom of God. And so here they are being exalted and abundantly rewarded with the privilege of ruling over ten cities for what they accomplished, though very likely during their sojourn down here they were only treated with great disdain and contempt as the Lord Jesus Christ’s faithful and obedient servants (in this consider John 15:18-25; 1 Cor. 4:6-12).
Vs. 18-19 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
And again, the second servant is brought forth an he now comes forth saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ To which the nobleman responds to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ Again, seemingly directly proportional to what he earned, and yet if you compare the value of five minas by ancient currency standards to being rewarded with the privilege of now ruling over five cities or city states (i.e. nations) the reward far and away exceedingly surpasses the amount earned!
Vs. 20-21 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
The Lord Jesus Christ now mentions the final servant who likewise received one mina from the nobleman. However, when that servant is brought to him, he only seeks to return to the nobleman the mina that was entrusted to him, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
And thus, instead of doing business with what was entrusted to him, he only hid it away, kept in a handkerchief hidden away somewhere. Just like those who keep their Bibles, and all of the truths contained within them, nicely tucked away in closets, or on shelves, or in dresser drawers etc. Never even bothering to try to share the great Gospel truths contained within them all. And yet all the Word of God needs to be fruitful, is to be declared and heard! Now the servant in returning the mina to the nobleman also offers up an excuse for not doing any “business” with it, saying, “…For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ Thus, not only did that servant not even try to do anything with the mina given him, but now he offers up the excuse that the fault is with the nobleman! That he feared him, calling him an austere man who collects what he did not deposit and reaps what he did not sow. And yet as we have already seen in how the nobleman so graciously and generously and abundantly rewarded the other two servants, who did what they could with the opportunities that they had, that that servant’s assessment of him can only be described as utterly unjust, and thus one born out of unbelieving and wicked heart!
Vs. 22-23 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
Having heard that servants excuse and harsh assessment of him. The nobleman now tells him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.’ Thus, by that wicked servant’s own assessment of him so now the nobleman will judge him. That said the nobleman now asks the wicked servant if he himself didn’t want to do anything with the mina given him, ‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ For that would’ve taken no effort on his part, but even in that the wicked servant by not doing so clearly shows that he did not want to have anything to do with serving the nobleman’s interests.
Vs. 24-27 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
Having dealt with the wicked servant, the nobleman now commands that the mina that was given him but that went unused, now be given to his servant who made minas from the one given him (vs. 24). However, upon hearing that those who were commanded to do so initially are shocked, for they say to him, but, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’ (vs 25). However, in verse twenty-six we see in his response the unchangeable verdict of God that, “…to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Thus, those who use the gifts and talents and opportunities given them will always be given more of the same, to become more fruitful and even multiply more, and ultimately they will receive more rewards in heaven, while those who do not, who think to keep what they have, but do not use them for the Kingdoms of God’s service will only be stripped of whatever “faith” and such things that they had in the end. Having then revealed that great Spiritual principal that requires our own ongoing participation in order for it to be positively enacted in our own lives, the Lord Jesus Christ now says by way of the nobleman in His parable, “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” Thus, returning to verse fourteen and the citizens who did not want Him to reign over them, the Lord Jesus Christ now reveals in His parable that all who do not want Him to reign over them will only be slayed before Him in the end!
Commentary
11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
After declaring that salvation has come to Zacchaeus, a man whom the multitudes had condemned, thus correcting their misjudgment of him, Jesus now tells them another parable. For as the Scripture states He was near Jerusalem; and thus, His time would soon be upon Him; as well the multitudes thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately, and thus they likely thought that when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He would begin His Reign as its true King. However, as we now know there are several things that must take place before that happens. The first being His rejection by them, before His Crucifixion death, and then His Resurrection from the dead three days later.
Vs. 12-13 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’
Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ now tells them a parable saying, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” Vs. 12
The Lord Jesus then is the certain nobleman and his going into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return is describing Jesus’ own first going back to God the Father after His Crucifixion death, Resurrection from the dead and then His Ascension back to God in heaven to receive His heavenly Kingdom and Throne from His Father, before He returns; after His Father has made all His enemies His footstool; to set up His earthly Kingdom and Reign in the New Jerusalem. And so Jesus by way of parable is broadly outlining these events, for here He is not describing them in detail, (for that see) but rather He is going to make the point that when He is away He wants us as His Holy Spirit equipped and abled servants to ‘Do business till I come.’ That is be about doing the work of the Gospel and His church down here until He comes! And so, in the parable the nobleman is the Lord Jesus Christ we are the servants who are given ten minas, that is one mina a piece. Now a mina is a piece of money whose value is not the issue here, rather it is simply to represent all that we all have in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus it represents the full potential that we all are given to be fruitful servants of the Lord. For it is not our innate abilities or inabilities that has any bearing rather it is the Lord Jesus Christ working through us all when we step out in faith that makes us all His fruitful and useful servants.
Vs. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’
In this brief verse the Lord Jesus Christ now describes not only His own upcoming rejection by those there in Jerusalem. But also, His Word carries over from there into every generation, and to every person, where the Lord Jesus Christ and His offer of eternal salvation through Him and His finished Work alone is rejected.
Vs. 15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.”
The Lord Jesus now returns to the main thrust of His parable and that begins with nobleman having received his kingdom, He now returns and commands that the servants to whom He entrusted His money (i.e. His Gospel and the work of it) be brought to Him so that He might know how much each one had gained by trading.
Vs. 16-17 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’
And so, it was the first servant came saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ To which the nobleman responded, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ Notice that the reward given though seemingly directly proportional to the amount earned is in fact exceedingly far greater then the amount earned, because as Jesus says the servant was first faithful in very little, that is they were not given authority over ten cities in their lifetime, which would be like ruling ten nations today. And so, though they were given great treasures in His Gospel, they were given very little authority on earth and yet through the Lord Jesus Christ’s Gospel and all that it entails, they accomplished much for the Kingdom of God. And so here they are being exalted and abundantly rewarded with the privilege of ruling over ten cities for what they accomplished, though very likely during their sojourn down here they were only treated with great disdain and contempt as the Lord Jesus Christ’s faithful and obedient servants (in this consider John 15:18-25; 1 Cor. 4:6-12).
Vs. 18-19 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’
And again, the second servant is brought forth an he now comes forth saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ To which the nobleman responds to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ Again, seemingly directly proportional to what he earned, and yet if you compare the value of five minas by ancient currency standards to being rewarded with the privilege of now ruling over five cities or city states (i.e. nations) the reward far and away exceedingly surpasses the amount earned!
Vs. 20-21 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
The Lord Jesus Christ now mentions the final servant who likewise received one mina from the nobleman. However, when that servant is brought to him, he only seeks to return to the nobleman the mina that was entrusted to him, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
And thus, instead of doing business with what was entrusted to him, he only hid it away, kept in a handkerchief hidden away somewhere. Just like those who keep their Bibles, and all of the truths contained within them, nicely tucked away in closets, or on shelves, or in dresser drawers etc. Never even bothering to try to share the great Gospel truths contained within them all. And yet all the Word of God needs to be fruitful, is to be declared and heard! Now the servant in returning the mina to the nobleman also offers up an excuse for not doing any “business” with it, saying, “…For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ Thus, not only did that servant not even try to do anything with the mina given him, but now he offers up the excuse that the fault is with the nobleman! That he feared him, calling him an austere man who collects what he did not deposit and reaps what he did not sow. And yet as we have already seen in how the nobleman so graciously and generously and abundantly rewarded the other two servants, who did what they could with the opportunities that they had, that that servant’s assessment of him can only be described as utterly unjust, and thus one born out of unbelieving and wicked heart!
Vs. 22-23 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
Having heard that servants excuse and harsh assessment of him. The nobleman now tells him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.’ Thus, by that wicked servant’s own assessment of him so now the nobleman will judge him. That said the nobleman now asks the wicked servant if he himself didn’t want to do anything with the mina given him, ‘Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ For that would’ve taken no effort on his part, but even in that the wicked servant by not doing so clearly shows that he did not want to have anything to do with serving the nobleman’s interests.
Vs. 24-27 24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”
Having dealt with the wicked servant, the nobleman now commands that the mina that was given him but that went unused, now be given to his servant who made minas from the one given him (vs. 24). However, upon hearing that those who were commanded to do so initially are shocked, for they say to him, but, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’ (vs 25). However, in verse twenty-six we see in his response the unchangeable verdict of God that, “…to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” Thus, those who use the gifts and talents and opportunities given them will always be given more of the same, to become more fruitful and even multiply more, and ultimately they will receive more rewards in heaven, while those who do not, who think to keep what they have, but do not use them for the Kingdoms of God’s service will only be stripped of whatever “faith” and such things that they had in the end. Having then revealed that great Spiritual principal that requires our own ongoing participation in order for it to be positively enacted in our own lives, the Lord Jesus Christ now says by way of the nobleman in His parable, “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” Thus, returning to verse fourteen and the citizens who did not want Him to reign over them, the Lord Jesus Christ now reveals in His parable that all who do not want Him to reign over them will only be slayed before Him in the end!
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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