Hello, my wonderful young friends! Today I want to share with you The Parable of the Ten Minas, an exciting story Jesus told about a nobleman who gave his servants money to invest while he was away. This story comes from Luke 19:11-27 and teaches us important lessons about being faithful with what God gives us.

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Jesus told this parable as He was traveling to Jerusalem for the final time, shortly before His crucifixion. The people walking with Him thought God's kingdom was going to appear immediately, but Jesus wanted to help them understand that there would be a time of waiting and working before His return.

Through this story about servants, a nobleman, and different ways of handling responsibility, Jesus teaches us how to live while we wait for Him. Let's discover what happens in this fascinating parable!

The Parable of the Ten Minas

Chapter 1: The Setting and Background

Jesus was getting closer to Jerusalem, where He would soon face the cross. The crowds following Him were growing excited, believing that God's kingdom would appear immediately when they reached the holy city. They expected Jesus to overthrow the Romans and establish Himself as king right away.

The Bible tells us in Luke 19:11, "While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once."

Jesus knew His followers had misunderstood the timing and nature of God's kingdom. They were expecting an immediate political revolution, but God's plan was different. Jesus would first offer Himself as a sacrifice for sins, then return to heaven, and only later would He return to establish His kingdom in fullness.

To help them understand, Jesus told this parable about a nobleman going away and then returning—clearly representing Himself and His plan to depart before returning as king. As parables.org.uk explains, this story was likely "anchored in familiar, local history" since in that time regional leaders had to "go to Rome, to Caesar, to receive kingship."

Chapter 2: The Nobleman's Journey and Instructions

Jesus began His story: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back'" (Luke 19:12-13).

A mina was a valuable Greek coin worth about three months' wages for a laborer. So this was a significant amount of money, though not an enormous fortune. Each servant received one mina—the same amount—revealing that the focus of this story wasn't on different levels of gifting but on what each person did with the same opportunity.

The nobleman's instructions were clear and simple: "Put this money to work." He expected his servants to be productive with what he had entrusted to them during his absence. They weren't told exactly what business ventures to pursue—the nobleman left that to their judgment and initiative. But they understood their responsibility to increase their master's wealth.

This part of the parable reflects how Jesus entrusts us with gifts and opportunities during His "absence" (the time between His ascension to heaven and His future return). He gives each of us resources to use for His kingdom's purposes and expects us to be productive with them.

Chapter 3: Different Responses to the Same Opportunity

While the nobleman was away seeking his kingship, a division appeared among his subjects. Some were loyal, but others resisted his authority.

"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king'" (Luke 19:14).

This element of the story reflected the reality of Jesus' own experience. Many rejected His rightful authority, saying essentially, "We don't want this man to rule over us." This rejection, however, didn't prevent the nobleman from receiving his kingship, just as rejection by some doesn't prevent Jesus from being the rightful king.

Meanwhile, the servants with the minas had to decide how they would respond to their master's instructions. Would they be faithful or unfaithful? Would they work diligently or lazily? Would they demonstrate loyalty or disloyalty? Each servant made individual choices during the master's absence that would determine how they would be received upon his return.

The parable doesn't describe their activities during this time, leaving us to imagine the different ways they might have invested the money. Some perhaps started small businesses, others might have traded goods, while still others might have found safe ways to earn interest on the funds. The unfaithful servant, however, simply hid the money away.

Chapter 4: The King's Return and Reckoning

After securing his kingship, the nobleman returned home ready to settle accounts with his servants.

"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it" (Luke 19:15).

Now came the moment of accountability. Notice that the king didn't just want the money back—he wanted to know "what they had gained with it." The emphasis wasn't on safekeeping but on productivity and increase.

The first servant reported: "'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities'" (Luke 19:16-17).

This servant had shown remarkable productivity, generating a 1,000% return! His one mina had become ten. The king was delighted with this faithfulness and rewarded the servant with authority over ten cities in his kingdom. This was an exponentially greater reward than the original investment.

The second servant reported: "'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities'" (Luke 19:18-19).

This servant had also been productive, though less so than the first, generating a 500% return. The king rewarded him proportionally with authority over five cities. There was no criticism for earning less than the first servant—the king recognized and rewarded faithfulness based on what had actually been accomplished.

Chapter 5: The Unfaithful Servant

The third servant presented a very different report: "'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow'" (Luke 19:20-21).

Unlike the others, this servant had made no effort to invest the money. He simply hid it away, returning exactly what he had received. But notice how he justified his inaction—by criticizing his master's character! He claimed the master was hard and unfair, taking what wasn't his.

The king responded sternly: "'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'" (Luke 19:22-23).

The king pointed out the servant's illogical reasoning. If he truly believed his master was demanding, that should have motivated him to at least deposit the money where it would earn basic interest—a simple action requiring minimal effort. The servant's excuse revealed not prudence but laziness and disrespect.

The consequences were severe: "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas'" (Luke 19:24).

When those nearby questioned this decision, saying, "'Sir, he already has ten!'" the king explained his principle: "'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away'" (Luke 19:25-26).

This reveals a crucial spiritual principle: Using what God gives us faithfully leads to receiving more, while neglecting to use what we've been given leads to losing even that.

Chapter 6: Judgment on the Rebellious

The parable concludes with a sobering statement about those who had rejected the nobleman's right to rule:

"But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me" (Luke 19:27).

This stark ending reminds us that the parable isn't just about stewardship but also about recognizing Jesus' legitimate authority. Those who utterly reject Christ's kingship face severe judgment. While this aspect of the parable can be difficult to discuss with children, we can explain that there are serious consequences for completely rejecting Jesus as King.

This concluding statement would have surprised Jesus' listeners who were expecting immediate political victory. Instead, Jesus was teaching that He would go away, return with kingly authority, reward His faithful servants, and judge those who rejected Him. This parable gave a very different timeline and focus than His followers were anticipating.

Chapter 7: The Message for Us Today

This parable has powerful implications for us as we wait for Jesus' return. Like the servants in the story, we've each been entrusted with resources, abilities, and opportunities that belong to our Master. Whether it's our talents, time, material possessions, or spiritual gifts, God expects us to invest them wisely for His kingdom.

The faithful servants didn't just preserve what they were given; they multiplied it. Similarly, God calls us to be productive, not passive—to increase the impact of what He's given us. This might mean developing our talents, using our resources to help others, or finding ways to share God's love more widely.

The parable also teaches us about accountability. One day Jesus will return, and we'll give an account for how we've used what He entrusted to us. This isn't meant to frighten us but to focus our attention on what really matters—being faithful with whatever God has given us, whether large or small.

Finally, the story reminds us about the relationship between faithfulness and reward. God notices and rewards those who faithfully serve Him, even in small matters. The servants didn't earn their master's money—it was entrusted to them. But their faithful service with what belonged to him resulted in generous rewards. In the same way, our faithful service with what God has given us leads to greater opportunities to serve in His kingdom.

What Can We Learn from This Story?

1. God entrusts us with gifts and expects us to use them - Just as the king gave minas to his servants, God gives each of us abilities, opportunities, and resources that He expects us to use for His purposes.
2. Faithfulness with small things leads to greater responsibility - The servants who faithfully used their minas were rewarded with authority over cities. When we prove trustworthy with what God gives us, He entrusts us with even more.
3. Fear and wrong views of God's character lead to unfaithfulness - The third servant's fear and misconception about the king prevented him from being productive. Understanding God's true character encourages us to serve Him boldly.
4. Our actions now have future consequences - How we respond to what God gives us today will affect our future rewards when Christ returns.
5. There are serious consequences for rejecting Jesus as King - The parable reminds us that everyone must decide whether to accept or reject Christ's authority, and that decision has eternal significance.

Fun Activities for Kids

1. Kingdom Investment Game
   Give each child five "mina" coins (chocolate coins or paper coins). Throughout your class or gathering, provide opportunities for them to "invest" their coins in different kingdom activities (like helping others, sharing, memory verse practice, etc.). At the end, see how they've multiplied their original "investment" through good choices. This helps them understand using what God gives them wisely, as parables.org.uk emphasizes.
2. Talent Show Preparation
   Have children identify gifts and abilities God has given them (singing, drawing, encouraging others, etc.). Help them prepare a simple presentation of how they can use that talent for God's kingdom. This connects their personal gifts to the minas in the story.
3. Faithful Servant Crowns
   Create paper crowns with the words "Well done, good and faithful servant" written on them. Children can decorate them and list on each point of the crown different ways they can be faithful with what God has given them (being kind, sharing toys, helping parents, etc.).
4. Mina Multiplication Craft
   Start with a paper "mina" and help children create a folded paper display showing how one gift can multiply. On each fold, they draw or write different ways one gift can grow when used well (e.g., sharing one cookie becomes many smiles, reading Bible stories to one friend might help many learn about Jesus).
5. Waiting Well Calendar
   Create a simple calendar for the upcoming week. Help children plan specific ways they can "put their minas to work" while waiting for Jesus to return. Each day should have a concrete action they can take to use their gifts for God's kingdom.

If you enjoyed "The Parable of the Ten Minas," I think you'll also love "The Parable of the Talents" from Matthew 25:14-30! It's a similar story where a master gives different amounts to three servants - five talents, two talents, and one talent. While the first two servants double their master's money, the third buries his talent in the ground. Check it out next time for another wonderful Bible adventure about using what God gives us!