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.’ 19:18 Then52 the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19:19 So53 the king54 said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 19:20 Then another55 slave56 came and said, ‘Sir, here is57 your mina that I put away for safekeeping58 in a piece of cloth.59 19:21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe60 man. You withdraw61 what you did not deposit62 and reap what you did not sow.’ 19:22 The king63 said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words,64 you wicked slave!65 So you knew, did you, that I was a severe66 man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? 19:23 Why then didn’t you put67 my money in the bank,68 so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ 19:24 And he said to his attendants,69 ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’70 19:25 But71 they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’72 19:26 ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more,73 but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.74 19:27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king,75 bring them here and slaughter76 them77 in front of me!’ ”