The Parables of the Minas and Talents.
The Parable of the Minas and Talents is about using the gifts, talents and abilities we have and is explained here by Stephen March.
Two Similar Parables
On this episode of Secrets of the Kingdom, we are going to look at two parables that are very similar, sometimes mistaken to be just different accounts of the same story. However, it is not the same story, and though the differences are subtle, they are important to determining the lessons from each parable. In Luke 19, Jesus is in the city of Jericho with his disciples. It was the last place he visited before he went to Jerusalem for what we would sometimes call the passion week, that is, the week leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus Teaches
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. He said therefore,
A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 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. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 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.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 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.’ 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? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘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. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’
Luke 11:19-27
The Context First
I really like when the context is given to us at the beginning. Jesus was with his disciples on the way to Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. The Bible doesn’t say exactly what they thought, would Jesus be crowned king upon entering the city? Would he somehow drive out the forces of Rome and rise to power? We don’t know, all we know is that they thought it was going to happen now. Jesus on the other hand, knew something different, but very important, was about to happen in Jerusalem.
The Parable Has Two Lessons
This parable has two lessons in it for the disciples, one was about what was to take place in the very near future, and the other was a practical lesson for them. In this story, Jesus is pictured in the nobleman, and five important truths are revealed. First, Jesus was going away. This would immediately refute the disciple’s idea that the kingdom was about to appear, and probably also cause some confusion about where he was going to go.
The second truth was that Jesus was going to leave behind his servants to carry out his work in his absence. This too would have been a scary lesson for Jesus’ followers, as it means that not only was he going away, but he was going without them, without the men and women who had been following him for three years now. They were about to lose their teacher, their master, but were expected to carry on his ministry while he was away.
The third truth is that the citizens of this world will reject Jesus, they will choose not to submit to him.
Fourth, Jesus will return. Not Jesus the man, but Jesus the king. Note in the parable a nobleman left but he returned as king, having received the kingdom. Finally, the last truth Jesus is revealing to them is that when he returns, there will be a judgment. We can also see that the judgment will be different for his followers than it will be for those who denied his authority.
A Prophetic Revelation
This was a prophetic revelation Jesus was giving through this parable. Let’s put this into the context of the completed Bible that we have today. Jesus was going away. There are two aspects to this thought, first, he was going to death. About a week from the time he spoke this parable, he would be handed over by the religious authorities to the Romans, who would have him crucified outside of the city. More specifically to this parable though, is that Jesus would rise from the grave, and then 40 days later would ascend into heaven.
Ministry Carried Out
Next, his servants were to carry out his ministry.
In Acts chapter 2, we see the church formed, and from then on, right until today, the mission of the church is to spread the gospel and make disciples, revealing and extending the love, mercy, and grace of God to all people. Despite the best efforts of the church, many people rejected this truth and still do, even becoming hostile to the teachings of Christ.
Whereas some people do believe, and submit to Christ’s authority, the majority of people in the world say “we will not have this man to reign over us.” The Bible also tells us that Jesus is coming again, not as a baby, lying in a lowly manger, not in weakness and frailty, but in power, and authority, and glory. The Jesus that returns will be seen as the King of kings, and the Lord of lords.
There Will be a Judgement
Finally, the Bible tells us that in that day there will be a judgment. Those who believed and followed Christ will give an account of the work they did for him since being saved, and they will receive a reward based on that. Those that rejected him will also be judged, based on all their works good and evil, and will receive the due penalty for their sins, eternal separation from God. That’s the prophetic teaching from this parable, so what’s the practical lesson.
The Time is Now
Well for starters, if we are not a believer in Christ, the time is now to accept his authority, his Lordship, and become his follower, his servant. If we are a believer, what are we doing with the new life we have received in Jesus? Are we living godly lives for Him? Are we honoring the name of Christ that we now carry with us and in us?
The Gift of Grace
This is what the minas in the parable represented, the gift of grace and the Holy Spirit that we have received through faith in Jesus. How are we using these for God’s glory? It’s an important question because we will have to give an account for ourselves. The best part about this, is that from the parable we see that living for Christ isn’t entirely up to us. In the story, the master gave the servants the minas to use. He provided them with everything they needed to do his work. Likewise, when we believe, we are given everything we need to live a holy life for God. He doesn’t make us try to do it by ourselves.
Every Servant Received the Same
Notice also that every servant in the passage in Luke received the same amount. It is the major difference between this version of the parable and the one told by Jesus in Matthew 25. That is how we can know that this passage in Luke is teaching us about using the life we have been given to glorify God, and do his will, it is the universal gift that all people who believe in Jesus receive. The passage in Matthew varies, as it makes no mention of a kingdom, and when the man in that parable goes on his journey, he leaves one servant with five talents, another with two, and the third servant with one talent.
Using What We Have
This second telling of the story, which took place in Jerusalem about a week later, is a lesson in using the different abilities, talents, resources that we have been gifted toward the Lord’s purposes. Some people will have more gifting than others, or different types of gifts, but the idea is that whatever we do have, we are to use it for God’s work, for His profit and glory.
Several of the New Testament letters talk about believers using their Spiritual gifts for the building up of the church, for encouraging others. This is important, as that is why the Holy Spirit gives us these special gifts, but the practical application of the parable in Matthew 25 goes beyond that, to speak of how we use our material blessings as well for good, and for helping those around us in Christian love.
If we are a believer in Christ, God wants us to use everything we have, even our very lives, to make Jesus known in the world, and to bring glory to God. We will have to answer to God for how we used all the time, materials, and special gifting He gave us, so let’s do it in a way that will cause Him say to us, “Well done, faithful servant.”
What have you learned from the Parable of The Tax Collector and The Pharisee? What is your response to Jesus’ parables? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Stephen March
Stephen March is the President of FBH International and HopeStreamRadio. He graduated from the Broadcasting Program at Niagara College in 2001, and has previously worked in television production and post-production.
Stephen lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with his wife Corinne and their four children.
Read and hear more from Stephen March on his contributor’s page. Stephen currently has 5 Programs on HopeStreamRadio:
- Please Forgive Me
- Isolation Chronicles
- Faith By Hearing – The Twelve
- Bibles and Baseball
- Bible Tech Talk
More Podcasts Below:
More Blogs:
Palm Sunday, The Coming King, and the Last Week of Christ
Images courtesy of:
Parable of the Talents – James Tissot
Talents – Lumo Project
Serving – blueocar
Piano – StockSnap
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