This passage is so powerful! Before Jesus enters Jerusalem he tells his disciples what to expect in the parable of the ten minas. This parable is a hidden foreshadowing of the triumphal entry, as well as a warning.
The ten minas are really about stewardship. You guys have heard the verse, “live up to what you’ve already attained” right? It’s in Philippians 3:16. Well, this is what Jesus was talking about.
In the parable Jesus is the King. He has come to one land but is now leaving to claim his kingship in a distant land, which is Heaven. The servants represent us, his followers, and he is going to leave us with a responsibility with the promise to come back and see what we did with that responsibility. What do you think our responsibility is?
The first two servants bring in more than what they were given. They were both faithful and were given a reward appropriate to what they had done. The third however, is a different story. The third servant represents religious leaders, hypocrites and anyone who associates themselves with Jesus but don’t really follow him. This third “servant” is rebuked, called a hypocrite and stripped of everything he has. Harsh.
Okay, so here’s the parallel to the triumphal entry.
In those days Kings and Rabbi’s (Jesus was both of these) had the authority to request the use of a colt from anyone and that person was obliged to give it up. Strange, huh? Notice how Jesus, in verse 30, says that the colt has never been ridden? Well, the significance of this is that a King’s mount (colt, donkey, horse) was to be ridden only by the King himself. Nice. This is also a fulfillment of prophecy mentioned in Zechariah 9:9, further confirmation that Jesus is King. As Jesus enters Jerusalem he is welcomed with a King’s greeting: the lying down of cloaks, shouts of praise and the waving of palm branches (not mentioned here in Luke but in other gospels). And also note that the Pharisees are quite opposed to what is happening. They tell Jesus to rebuke his disciples. Jesus replies by telling them that if he did this the very stones would cry out. This is a stab at them hinting that even inanimate objects understand what is happening more than they do. Pretty cool, huh?
Can you find the link? Before reading on, take some time discussing this and see what you come up with.
In the parable of the ten minas it is believed there are three people groups. The first servants, who were given ten minas, were people who were totally devoted to their master and lived a life accordingly. The second group of servants knew their master and were faithful but didn’t fully understand. And the third group of servants, you know, the ones that didn’t like the master; they didn’t want him to be King.
Similarly, there are three groups of people in the triumphal entry. The disciples, the crowd and the Pharisees. The disciples knew and understood who Jesus was. They proclaimed him King. The crowd knew and kind of understood who Jesus was, believing he was a great prophet. And the Pharisees were opposed to Jesus and really just wanted him dead. Can you see how these three groups within each story relate? Cool.
What’s the point? Well, let’s focus on the ten minas story. Jesus, while he is waiting to come back, expects something of us. When he does come back he will judge us according to our faith and good deeds. With spiritual growth and blessings more is expected of us. James tells us to not only be hearers of the word but doers as well (James 1:22). The more we learn the more is expected of us. God has given each of us a mission, a purpose.
Process:
-Who are you in this passage of scripture? The disciples, the crowd or the Pharisees? Are you going to go out and produce fruit with what has been given to you or are you weary of Jesus and who he claims to be?
-What responsibility has been given you? Are you someone God can trust to do great things, as well as little things for him?
-Take some time, individually, and ask God what he requires of you. Write it down, pray about it and talk to a leader about it if you feel led to or if you have any questions.