Believer’s Faithfulness
Pastor Chang Kim
Luke 19:11-27
The Parable of the Ten Minas
11 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. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15 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. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 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.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 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.’ 22 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? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and 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 the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’26 ‘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. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
Introduction: What is Christian’s responsibility here on earth? What would Jesus have us doing while we live on earth?
The story indicates that the King will ask each of us to give an account for what we have done with His gifts when He returns. We are called upon to do Christ’s work.
Gauge One’s Actions Toward Jesus vv11-14
11 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. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
Jesus gave this parable because the people with Him thought Jesus was going to install His kingdom immediately. Jesus here is correcting false notions of the nature and purpose of His trip to Jerusalem.
Before leaving, the future king in v13 entrusts his servants with gifts of which they were to be stewards.
Their duty as his servants was to make the best of what the prince gave them and opportunities to serve him.
In view of Jesus’ promise to return, we as believers are to make the best of our talents and opportunities to serve Him, to keep developing our gifts of love, faith, and hope.
John 19:15 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Gauge One’s Faithfulness vv15-21
15 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. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant![c] Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 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.’
Notice Jesus says he was rewarded for his faithfulness not for the success that came as a result of his faithfulness.
The unfaithful servant stood nervously before his master and confessed, in effect, :”Lord, I didn't do anything.” Modern Christians often tend to measure fidelity by what they do not do. “A good Christian doesn’t drink, cuss, steal, or get into trouble.” There’s some validity in that point of view. But faithful discipleship is more, so much more, than that.
2. Actions and Faithfulness Rewarded vv22-27
22 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? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and 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 the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘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. 27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
The fruitful are alive and reproducing. It is a powerful injunction that we are to leave more behind than we found. If we don’t, we have missed the message.
Verse 24 pronounces the judgment and the loss that occurs. His money was taken away and given to the one who had done the most for the king.
The one who is faithful in investing his life, be it time, tithe, or evangelizing will be given great reward. The one who is semi-faithful will be well rewarded. The one who is faithless will lose his reward altogether.
John Walvoord writes “In sharp contrast with the two rewarded servants who had expected the king’s return, the enemies of the king were put to death in the king’s presence. The analogy of this parable was clear to Jesus’ hearers. Jesus was going away to receive a kingship. When He returned, He would establish His kingdom. Until that time His followers were to fulfill the responsibilities, He gave them. On His return He would reward the faithful commensurate with their service to Him, and His enemies would be judged before Him.”
Conclusion: The kingdom of God has not yet been inaugurated on earth for Jesus is away in a distant land called heaven. The King will return one day.
As stewards of our own lives, are we increasing in Christ-likeness? Are we serving Christ as members of His body the church in an effort to reach others for His kingdom? If we are fruitful, we will be more tomorrow than we are today. May our aim be to hear those words of commendation from verse 17, “Well done, good servant.”
Discussion Questions
Who do we relate more with: the fist first two servants or the third one?
As stewards of our own lives, are we increasing in Christ-likeness?
Are we serving Christ as members of His body the church in effort to reach others for His kingdom?