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 (A)they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, (B)“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling (C)ten of his servants,[a] he gave them ten minas,[b] and said to them, ‘Engage in business (D)until I come.’ 14 But (E)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![c] Because you have been (F)faithful in a very little, (G)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 (H)a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are (I)a severe man. You take (J)what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, (K)‘I will condemn you with your own words, (L)you wicked servant! You knew that I was (M)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 (N)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 (O)as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and (P)slaughter them before me.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 19:13 Or bondservants; also verse 15
  2. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer
  3. Luke 19:17 Or bondservant; also verse 22

The Parable of the Ten Minas

11 As(A) they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem,(B) and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away.(C)

12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king[a] and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas,[b] and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’

15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten more minas.’

17 “‘Well done, good[c] servant!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful(D) in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.’

18 “The second came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19 “So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’

20 “And another came and said, ‘Master, here is your mina. I have kept it safe in a cloth 21 because I was afraid of you since you’re a harsh man: you collect what you didn’t deposit and reap what you didn’t sow.’(E)

22 “He told him, ‘I will condemn you by what you have said, you evil servant! If you knew I was a harsh man, collecting what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow, 23 why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’ 24 So he said to those standing there, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’

26 “‘I tell you, that to everyone who has, more will be given; and from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.(F) 27 But bring here these enemies of mine,(G) who did not want me to rule over them, and slaughter[d] them in my presence.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 19:12 Lit to receive for himself a kingdom, or sovereignty, also in v. 15
  2. 19:13 = Gk coin worth a hundred drachmas or about a hundred days’ wages
  3. 19:17 Or capable
  4. 19:27 Or execute