Luke 19:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’

NIV: So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

NASB: And he called ten of his own slaves and gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with this money until I come back.’

CSB: He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

NLT: Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’

KJV: And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

NKJV: So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

This parable warns the surrounding crowd that their expectations are premature. They think they are marching on Jerusalem to establish Jesus' kingdom. He's telling them there will be a delay. He will first have to leave, and they have a decision to make before He returns.

In the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27), a nobleman must leave to receive a kingship from a higher authority. He selects ten servants and gives each of them a single mina, telling them to invest them wisely until his return; he expects them to make a profit. A mina is about the equivalent of four months of a laborers' wages.

Most of the servants do well. At least one makes ten minas from the one, and another makes five. They are given ten and five cities to rule, accordingly. One servant hides the mina, afraid that if he loses his capital, the nobleman will be angry. The nobleman is angry, anyway, that he didn't at least put it in the bank and make interest (Luke 19:16–23).

Unlike the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30), each servant receives the same amount: one mina. In a similar way, each member of the crowd has received the same treasure: all the proof they need that Jesus is the Messiah and the King of the Jews. His resurrection will confirm it. But will they be faithful with that information? Will they accept Him as their King and build His kingdom during His absence?

Luke 19:11–27 is the final passage of a series of stories about the kingdom of God. In a parable, Jesus explains that He cannot take the kingdom now; He must leave to receive it. His followers will be those who have understanding about His kingship: the gospel. Those who faithfully spread that message will be greatly rewarded. Those who plot against Him will be destroyed. This parable is about responsibility with the gospel; the similar parable of the talents is about responsibility with resources like time and spiritual gifts (Matthew 25:14–30). Next comes the triumphal entry (Luke 19:28–44).

Jesus approaches Jerusalem by way of Jericho. Along the road, he encounters Zacchaeus: an unusually short man and infamous tax collector. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' invitation and demonstrates humility and repentance. Jesus gives a parable explaining a believer's obligation to encourage the spread of the gospel. Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, upsetting local Pharisees. As He rides, Jesus weeps to think of the future destruction in store for the city. He once again drives corrupt businessmen from the temple grounds. His enemies are furious, but too afraid of the adoring crowds to take direct action.

Luke 19 finishes the "travelogue of Christ to Jerusalem" and introduces His first actions there (Luke 9:51—19:27). This long passage semi-chronologically records Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the theological reasons why He must go to the cross. It finishes here, in this chapter, with Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the parable of the ten minas. The chapter continues with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as its king—the triumphal entry. Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, its rejection of their Messiah, and its coming destruction in AD 70. He also cleanses the temple and teaches there. In the next segments, Luke covers the last hours of Jesus' earthly life (Luke 22—23) as well as Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.