Parable of the Minas.

(Luke 19:11-28 and Mat. 25:14-30).

While in the house of Zacchaeus, the Lord told a parable about the 10 Minas, which contained many similarities to the parable on talents outlined, as outlined by Evangelist Matthew. With all their great similarities, there is a substantial difference between the two; with that, as can be seen from the Gospel by Matthew, the parable on talents was told by the Lord significantly later, in relation to His discourse on His Second Coming, the end of the world and Judgment Day. Nonetheless, the basic idea of both parables are one and the same, allowing them to be examined on a parallel basis. In the parable on Minas, the narrative speaks of a person of high birth, who travels to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return. Evidently, this example is taken from the prevailing conditions regarding monarchal rule in Judea. The Jewish kings had to travel to Rome to receive their authorization to rule. Archelaus, son of Herod the Great had to do this, and Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, had to carry this out as well. In the parable about talents, the narrative is simply about an individual who goes off to a foreign land. In both parables, the individual is understood to be Christ, for Whom many Jews (at the time) were waiting for the commencement of the glorious kingdom of the Messiah.

In the parable on Minas, the master gives his ten servants one mina each, ordering them to put this silver into use. Mina was worth 100 Drahmas, or approximately 25 dollars. In the parable on talents, the master upon leaving, handed over all his property to his servants in varying portions — each according to his ability to manage it. Each talent approximated 60 Minas. Of course in both instances, servants meant disciples and followers of Christ. They receive various abilities from Him, as well as different outward blessings, which they have to utilize and multiply for God’s glory, for the benefit of their neighbor and for the salvation of their soul. Further on in the parable on Minas, we find a situation which doesn’t exist in the parable on talents. The servants developed a hatred toward their noble master and sent representatives after him to advise: “We don’t want him to rule over us.” This characteristic reminds us of the recent episode of Archaleus’ travel to Rome. The Jews that disliked him, sent a delegation of 50 people to Rome, asking that he not be confirmed as their ruler — although this proved to be useless.

In relation to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah. However, this was ineffectual as He remained for them, as well as for the whole world, King and Judge, Who will demand an account from His servants and punish those who refused to acknowledge His authority. The return of the master in both parables is to be understood as the Second Coming of Christ, when every person will be obliged to give an account at Judgment Day, as to how he utilized his God-given talents and outward abilities. Those who have increased their Minas and talents, will be worthy of praise and will receive a reward commensurate to their efforts. He who hides his Mina or talent, will be punished as a “wicked and lazy servant” for being unwilling to labor over his God-given gifts of goodness, in which God’s grace remained unproductive. The servant’s accusation of the master being a cruel person is the sinner’s usual self-justification. Having lost the feeling of sonship with God, he presents God as cruel and unjust. He who creates good with his gifts increases them; the negligent and indifferent person will be deprived of even that which he has. That’s why, “to everyone who has , more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” The parable on Minas, concludes with a threat of grave punishment to the Jewish people for not acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Ending His sermon, the Lord traveled in the direction of Jerusalem.