Luke 19:11–17

The Parable of the Ten Minas

19:11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus28 proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem,29 and because they thought30 that the kingdom of God31 was going to32 appear immediately. 19:12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman33 went to a distant country to receive34 for himself a kingdom and then return.35 19:13 And he summoned ten of his slaves,36 gave them ten minas,37 and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 19:14 But his citizens38 hated39 him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man40 to be king41 over us!’ 19:15 When42 he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned43 these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted44 to know how much they had earned45 by trading. 19:16 So46 the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir,47 your mina48 has made ten minas more.’ 19:17 And the king49 said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful50 in a very small matter, you will have authority51 over ten cities.’

Read more Share

28	tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
29	map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
30	tn The present active infinitive δοκεῖν (dokein) has been translated as causal.
31	sn Luke means here the appearance of the full kingdom of God in power with the Son of Man as judge as Luke 17:22–37 describes.
32	tn Or perhaps, “the kingdom of God must appear immediately (see L&N 71.36).
33	tn Grk “a man of noble birth” or “a man of noble status” (L&N 87.27).
34	sn Note that the receiving of the kingdom takes place in the far country. This suggests that those in the far country recognize and acknowledge the king when his own citizens did not want him as king (v. 14; cf. John 1:11–12).
35	sn The background to this story about the nobleman who went … to receive for himself a kingdom had some parallels in the area’s recent history: Archelaus was appointed ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea in 4 b.c., but the people did not like him. Herod the Great also made a similar journey to Rome where he was crowned King of Judea in 40 b.c., although he was not able to claim his kingdom until 37 b.c.
36	tn See the note on the word “slave” in 7:2.
37	sn That is, one for each. A mina was a Greek monetary unit worth one hundred denarii or about four months’ wages for an average worker based on a six-day work week.
38	tn Or “subjects.” Technically these people were not his subjects yet, but would be upon his return. They were citizens of his country who opposed his appointment as their king; later the newly-appointed king will refer to them as his “enemies” (v. 27).
39	tn The imperfect is intense in this context, suggesting an ongoing attitude.
40	tn Grk “this one” (somewhat derogatory in this context).
41	tn Or “to rule.”
42	tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
43	tn Grk “he said for these slaves to be called to him.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one and simplified to “he summoned.”
44	tn Grk “in order that he might know” (a continuation of the preceding sentence). Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he” as subject and the verb “wanted” to convey the idea of purpose.
45	sn The Greek verb earned refers to profit from engaging in commerce and trade (L&N 57.195). This is an examination of stewardship.
46	tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the royal summons.
47	tn Or “Lord”; or “Master.” (and so throughout this paragraph).
48	tn See the note on the word “minas” in v. 13.
49	tn Grk “he”; the referent (the nobleman of v. 12, now a king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
50	* Lk 16:10
51	sn The faithful slave received expanded responsibility (authority over ten cities) as a result of his faithfulness; this in turn is an exhortation to faithfulness for the reader.

A service of Logos Bible Software