Amy C Walters

The Parable of the Ten Minas | Luke 19:11-27

In this parable, the servants of the nobleman are in a precarious situation. They’re supposed to keep serving the nobleman until he returns as a king, but they live among people who hate the king. But the king does return, leaving a hopeful lesson to Jesus’ followers as he approaches Jerusalem.

The Parable of the Ten Minas is similar to the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25. However, one of the major differences between the two relates to the king. In the Parable of the Talents, the main character is just described as a “man going on a journey” (Matthew 25:14). But in this story, it’s a nobleman who returns as a king, and many of the citizens hate him. 

Jesus is in Jericho when he tells this parable (Luke 19:1). Jericho was also home to the winter palace of Herod the Great. In fact, Herod died there, according to the ancient historian Josephus. In his will, Herod left rulership of the region of Judea to one of his sons, Archelaus. 

Archelaus traveled to Rome, a distant country, to be made king by Caesar Augustus. But while he was traveling there, a large delegation of people who hated him also went to Rome to oppose him.

This parallels several of the details that Jesus includes in this parable: a nobleman traveling to a distant country, hoping to return a king, but opposed by people who hated him. Jesus is likely pulling those details from current events to help grab his audience’s attention.

But Jesus’ parable has a few really important twists on the historical account of Archelaus. First of all, Jesus himself is completely unlike Archelaus, the wannabe king. One of the reasons that Archelaus was opposed by the people is because he did some horrible things. He once canceled Passover, as punishment for unrest. Also, under his leadership, over 3,000 Jewish people were killed. 

So why would Jesus, our good king, create this connection to the story of such a wicked ruler? I think maybe one of the reasons is to highlight the hatred toward them both. Remember, one of the reasons that Jesus tells this parable is because he’s near to Jerusalem. He has been looking ahead to Jerusalem since Luke 9:51. When Jesus first enters Jerusalem in the Triumphal Entry, he is warmly welcomed. But in less than a week, those same crowds go from celebrating him to calling for his death. They hated him. Just like the citizens in this story who hated the king.

This parable includes a group of people who were servants to the nobleman king. It’s important not to confuse the servants with the citizens–they are different groups. The servants were charged with continuing to serve the king and do his work while he was gone. But, while the king is gone, these servants are in hostile territory. They live among people who rebel against the rule of the king.

How would it feel for the servants to live in that kind of environment? It would probably be scary to have all these enemies around them who hate the king that much. What might they do to the servants?

It would be really challenging. These servants are supposed to multiply what the king has entrusted to them. The rebels are probably opposing them in that work. It would make their task more difficult. 

It would be really tempting for the servants to hide and lay low until the king comes back. In fact, the servants may even start to despair of the king ever returning.

But the king does come back. And here again, we see another major plot twist from the Archelaus story. Archelaus ultimately was not named a king. He was given a different title of ethnarch, which means a ruler over a specific people group, but not king. 

And yet in this parable, the nobleman was made a king. And when he returns as king, he has victory over his enemies. The hatred of his enemies in no way stops him from taking the rule that is rightfully his. So this is a happy ending for the king and for his servants. 

Jesus’ followers are soon going to see him undergo an unjust trial and an execution. Their king is going to be killed. How might that feel for his disciples? 

It would be scary. If they do that to our king, what are they going to do to us, his followers?

It would be disheartening. We had placed all of our hopes in him. What now? 

It would be confusing. How could this happen? Things were looking so good. 

It would be disorienting. What do we do now? What happens next? Is there any hope left? 

How then might this parable help Jesus’ followers face that pain and fear and confusion? Maybe it would give them faith that it’s not over yet.

And maybe it would give them hope because Jesus is the master of plot twists. And maybe they would take courage knowing that their king would return. 

And that is our key truth for today: Take courage, the king will return. 

We too live in rebellious times and in rebel territory. We live among people who hate Jesus and the things that he taught and the things things that he stood for.

Remembering this parable should have the same effect on us that it was meant to have on Jesus’ followers in those dark days just after his death. Jesus will come back, and his enemies will not be able to stand before him or against him. It doesn’t matter what they try, Jesus will succeed in ruling over everyone and everything as king. 

Just as Paul tells us in Philippians 2:10-11 that “at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That is what’s coming. Jesus will have the victory even if right now all we see is hate.

Today as you go, take courage knowing that Jesus will return and will reign. Spend some time in prayer confessing to him any struggles you have in remembering it, in believing it, in living in a way that is consistent with his imminent return. Ask him for courage to keep serving even while he’s gone, even in hostile territory. And then look forward to his return and his reign. Spend some time reveling in what that victory will look like. Because the King will return.