The Talents and The
Minas
By Gerry Watts
"Again, it will be like a man
going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his
property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to
another two talents, and to another one talent, each
according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had
received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and
gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two
more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in
the ground and hid his master's money (Gk. silver).
"After a long time the
master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.
'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained
five more.'
"His master replied, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's
happiness!'
"The man with the two talents
also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I
have gained two more.'
"His master replied, 'Well
done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's
happiness!'
"Then the man who had received
the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man,
harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not
scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the
ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, 'You
wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown
and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put
my money (Gk. silver) on deposit with the bankers, so that when I
returned I would have received it back with interest.
" 'Take the talent from him
and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has
will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have,
even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless
servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.'
(Matthew 25:14-30 NIV)
The two parables of the Talents and the Minas
carry a similar message,
though they are two distinct parables that were spoken at different times.
Essentially, they are two versions of the same truth. In fact, Jesus would've
repeated most of His teachings and parables numerous times throughout His
ministry, but we can only accept what has been specifically recorded in the
Gospel accounts under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And the instances that
have been recorded have been written in accordance with the wisdom and counsel
of God, for good reason.
The Parable of the Talents (quoted from Matthew
above) was spoken to the disciples during Christ's
Olivet Discourse, only days before He was going to die. It was given in the context
of Christ's Return at the end of this age, following on from the parable of
the Ten Virgins.
The Parable of the Minas (which can be found in
Luke 19:11-27) was spoken about a
week earlier while Jesus was in the region of Jericho, during His time at
Zacchaeus' house (Luke 19:1-10). It's interesting that this parable was given
on the occasion when a chief tax collector, a business man, one who was viewed
as a traitor to the Jews because he was working for Rome, showed the fruits of
repentance, in accordance with the Divine Law, by giving his money to the poor and paying restitution to those
whom he had cheated. Jesus described Zacchaeus as a true son of Abraham due to
his active faith, one who was receiving salvation that day.
The reason Jesus spoke the parable of the
Minas at that time was 'because he was near Jerusalem
and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.'
The fact of the matter was that the Kingdom of God was not going to appear
immediately in the way that the Jews thought it would. It had already arrived,
and was already in their midst! The spiritual Kingdom of God and of Christ
Jesus was set up in the 1st century AD, during the era of Jesus' ministry, and
it continues to the present day. But it did not arrive in the physical way
that the Jewish people were looking for - that is, as a military worldly
kingdom that would crush the Romans!
Jesus, as the true
King, the Man of noble birth, was going to travel to a distant country
(heaven) to receive His kingship (at the right hand of God) and then He would return at
a later time (the Second Advent) to settle accounts with His servants (at the
coming Judgment). In the meantime, His servants (the apostles and prophets and
disciples of Christ) are entrusted with His money and possessions to 'trade
and do business' as faithful workers to their Master.
The Parable of the Talents teaches the same
basic theme, but the emphasis is more on the rich Master going on a long
journey, while His servants are entrusted with His money and possessions, to
watch over His estate and business in His stead, while He is gone.
The emphasis of both parables, though, is that
of Christ, the Master/Prince, going away for a long time, while He entrusts
His servants with His estate, and to watch over His 'business' affairs.
Eventually, He will return to settle accounts with them all and to see what
they've done with what He gave them. The faithful ones will be greatly
rewarded with positions of authority and great blessing, while the unfaithful ones will be
rejected, and they will not have any share in His inheritance. Instead they
will be 'cast outside, in the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.' This is describing, somewhat metaphorically, the judgment
and chastening of the Second Death, described in Revelation.
Take note also that there is only one
Judgment Day for all concerned. The religious hypocrites and false
brethren (the wicked, unfaithful servants) are judged at the same time as the
faithful ones. The New Testament makes it clear that this will occur on the
Day of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Advent, when all mankind will be
judged at 'the Great White Throne,' the 'Bema Seat' of Christ.
"The
master of that servant (the unfaithful servant) will come on a
day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will
cut him to pieces (as in the lashes of a whip) and assign him a
place with the unbelievers."
(Luke 12:46 NIV)
Let us now take a closer look at these
parables, highlighting the main points of both. Let us consider the Talents
first.
The Master and His Servants
Jesus is, of course, the
Master/Householder of the parable Who was about to be going away for a long time.
So already there is a hint that Christ will be absent for a long time,
but for how long we are not told. Before He
left, via His ascension to the heavens after His death and resurrection, He
entrusted His property (i.e. the things that belong to the spiritual kingdom
of God) to His servants, the apostles, prophets and disciples
of the early church - and by extension, to the whole Church of God,
particularly those who are called to be teachers, pastors and
evangelists.
In the Old Testament, the nation
of Israel were considered to be God's servants (Leviticus 25:42) and Yahweh
was their Master and Redeemer. In the New Testament, there are numerous
references that reveal that all followers of Christ Jesus, whether Jew or
Gentile, are bond-servants (literally slaves) of God and of Christ, and Jesus
is the Lord or Master Who has redeemed us from the harsh enslavement of sin with the price of His own blood.
Therefore, we are not our own, for we were bought at a price - and a high
price at that - the Ransom price of Christ's precious blood, and we are now
servants of God and of Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Now servants are workers,
they work for their master. So Christ has given every one of His servants a
job to do within His spiritual kingdom. This is symbolised as talents of
silver. This money was given to His servants so that they could oversee His business affairs (most
likely the business of Olive Oil or Grapes). Both a talent and a mina were
various weights used for gold and silver coinage. In both parables, in the
Greek, the money
is referred to as silver, which is symbolic of redemption and
salvation.
Gold is symbolic of that which is divinely
pure and kingly, for there isn't any metal greater than gold. Silver is next,
which has to do with redemption. Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver to
obtain our redemption. Then there is copper or bronze, which symbolises God's
judgment upon sin. These things can be seen more readily in the layout of the
Tabernacle and the metals used for its construction and its furniture (see
Exodus 25-30).
In the Talents, the money is
distributed according to the servants' ability, therefore they don't all receive the
same amount, and they are not all expected to produce the same amount. This highlights
the different gifts and callings of God, for not everyone is given the same
gift or gifts. We are all called to various positions and circumstances in life, but
whatever we do, we should do it as serving our Master, in faithful obedience,
as the Spirit gives us strength and ability.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the
same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in
all men.
(1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV)
But to each one of us grace has been given as
Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."
... It was he who gave some to be apostles,
some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.
(Ephesians 4:7-13 NIV)
We have different gifts, according to
the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in
proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is
teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do
it cheerfully.
... Never be lacking in zeal, but
keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
(Romans 12:6-8, 11 NIV)
In the Talents, one servant is given 5
talents of silver,
one 2, and the other 1. This equals 8 talents of silver in total, which symbolises the
gifts of the New Creation in Christ (the number 8 symbolising new beginnings,
new creation and resurrection). The first two servants put their share of the Master's
money to work and they doubled what they were given, while the other does
nothing with his share and consequently hides it by burying it in the ground.
This act reveals the attitude of
the unfaithful servant towards his Master. He cares nothing about his Master's
affairs, and is therefore unfaithful and lazy. His wickedness is later
revealed through the excuses he gives to the Master, which are full of lies,
slander and hypocrisy.
The faithful servants have worked
hard in service to their Master by doubling their original amount of silver,
and this in turn has caused the Master's business (i.e. His kingdom) to grow.
Just like in the parable of the Sower, the good, faithful servants of God will
multiply their seed/crop 30, 60 or 100 times over.
But how is this done in a
practical sense? By following the commands of Christ and to be led by the
Spirit of God, in grace, by faith, seeking to be faithful in all things. Only
in this way can we bear the good fruit of the kingdom of God, and shine the
light of Christ's character into a dark world. The issue is not 'how many
souls we've saved' for only God can save anyone. The real question is, 'Have
we been obedient to our Master, seeking the true will of the Father,
progressively bearing the fruit (character) of our Lord?'
Likewise every good tree bears good
fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will
recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on
that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name
drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them
plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Matthew 7:17-23 NIV)
I always find these words of Jesus quite
shocking really, for He says that MANY Christians who call Him 'Lord' and have
used (or abused) the gifts of the Spirit, shall not receive the kingdom
inheritance due to their lawlessness and wickedness of bearing the wrong
fruit! No wonder Paul encouraged believers to 'work out your salvation with
fear and trembling' (Philippians 2:12-13). There is much teaching in the NT
that talks about obedience and faithfulness.
Only those who listen to the Master's words and
put them into practice (which includes acts of repentance where there has been
failure and sin) will survive the storms of judgment.
"Therefore everyone who hears these
words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds
blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its
foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash."
(Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)
"If anyone should be serving Me, let
him be following Me, and where I am, there My servant also shall be."
(John 12:26 CV)
God does not show favouritism or partiality, so
if we're blatantly going against His Word, He will deal with it sooner or
later. We cannot bury our talent of silver in the ground and think that our
Master will not notice. Ultimately, the Day of Judgment will bring it to
light, and we will all be rewarded accordingly, when we shall either be repaid with
wages in accordance with our acts (or works of service) - or otherwise we shall
forfeit it all in the flames of God's judgment.
The Rewards or Wages
After a long time, the Master of
the parable returned and settled accounts with His servants. To those who had
doubled His silver through their faithful works of service, He said, "Well
done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things;
I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's
happiness!"
This is talking of Christ's return
in the Day of the Lord, and the subsequent Judgment that will follow. As
already mentioned, take
note that all the servants in these parables are judged at the same time, whether
they are faithful or unfaithful. That is, ALL Christians, including those who
are not the true overcomers of the Sons of God, will be judged before Christ's
throne, along with ALL the rest of humanity. This is the event that Revelation
describes as The Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
At this time, each of us will be repaid
accordingly, being given wages (or not, as the case may be) in accord with our
acts and works of service.
"But I tell you that men will have
to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have
spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted (justified CV),
and by your words you will be condemned (convicted CV)."
(Matthew 12:36-37 NIV)
"For all of us shall be presented
at the dais (or Judgment Seat; Bema) of God, for it is written: I
am living, the Lord is saying, for to Me shall bow every knee, and every
tongue shall be acclaiming God! Consequently, then, each of us shall be
giving account concerning himself to God."
(Romans 14:10-12 CV)
"For all of us must be manifested in front of the Dais
(or judgment seat; Bema) of Christ, that each should be requited (or
repaid) for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or
bad."
(2 Corinthians 5:10 CV)
"...For the Lord Christ are you
slaving. For he who is injuring shall be requited (or repaid) for
that which he injures, and there is no partiality."
(Colossians 3:25 CV)
"Yet each will be getting his own wages
according to his own toil...Now if anyone is building on this foundation (Jesus
Christ)
gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will
become apparent, for the Day will make it evident, for it is being
revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work - what
kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it (Christ
the Foundation), he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned
up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as
through fire."
(1 Corinthians 3:8, 12-15 CV)
"Lo! I am coming swiftly, and
My wage is with Me, to pay each one as his work is."
(Revelation
22:12 CV)
Jesus often taught the principle
that he who is faithful in little will be faithful with much, and He always
encourages us to be faithful even in the little, seemingly unimportant,
things, having integrity of heart in all things and at all times - for God
always sees us, whether anyone else does or not. Let us take the following
words of Jesus with all seriousness.
"Whoever can be trusted with
very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with
very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not
been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with
true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's
property, who will give you property of your own?
"No servant can serve two
masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will
be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and Money."
The Pharisees, who loved money,
heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You
are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows
your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in
God's sight.
(Luke 16:10-15 NIV)
It's all about having the right
focus in life, and having the right spiritual priorities, for there is nothing
wrong with money and possessions in and of themselves, but if these things
become our main focus, then the light of our eyes becomes bad, filling us with
spiritual darkness. Like Paul, we must learn the secret of being content in
all circumstances.
"Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break
in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"The eye is the lamp of the
body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If
then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 6:19-23 NIV)
I am not saying this because I am in
need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I
have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I
can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:11-13 NIV)
Co-Reigning with Christ
The parable of the Talents indicates that the
rewards or wages for the servants will involve reigning over others as a part of sharing
in the blessings of Christ's inheritance ('I will put you in charge of many
things'). And the words of Jesus in Luke 16, quoted above, also indicates that
the true sons of God will be given true riches in the age to
come - and this will involve co-reigning with Christ as princes of the
universe! The meek will truly inherit the earth, as well as immortality and
incorruption! This all belongs to the promise of Age-abiding Life (i.e.
Eternal or Eonian Life).
In the parable of the Minas, this is
made even clearer, where it mentions cities. This promise of reigning with
Christ on a New Earth, when the Kingdom of God, and the Sons of the Kingdom,
will be fully manifested to all mankind, is mentioned throughout the New
Testament. Here are some examples.
"Or are you not aware that the saints
shall judge the world?...Are you not aware that we shall be judging
messengers, not to mention life's affairs?"
(1 Corinthians 6:2-3 CV)
For if, by the offence of the one, death
reigns through the one, much rather, those obtaining the
superabundance of grace and the gratuity of righteousness shall be reigning
in life through the One, Jesus Christ...even as Sin reigns in death,
thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness, for eonian life,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord."
(Romans 5:17, 21 CV)
"And to the one who is conquering
and keeping My acts until the consummation, to him will I be giving
authority over the nations; and he shall be shepherding them with an
iron club, as vessels of pottery are being crushed, as I also have
obtained from My Father...The one who is conquering, to him will
I be granting to be seated with Me on My throne as I, also, conquer,
and am seated with My Father on His throne."
(Revelation
2:26-28; 3:21 CV)
Now if we are children, then we are
heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share
in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present
sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed
in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to
be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by
its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and
brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
(Romans 8:17-21 NIV)
(For further study of these things, see The
Promise and Christ's Inheritance). Let us now consider the parable of the
Minas, which confirms much of the above.
The Minas
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. He
said: "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.'
"But his subjects hated him
and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our
king.'
"He was made king, however,
and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the
money (Gk. silver), in order to find out what they
had gained with it.
"The first one came and said,
'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.'
"The second came and said,
'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
"His master answered, 'You
take charge of five cities.'
"Then another servant came and
said, '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.'
"His master replied, '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 (Gk. silver)
on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with
interest?'
"Then he said to those
standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has
ten minas.'
" 'Sir,' they said, 'he
already has ten!'
"He replied, 'I tell you
that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has
nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 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 19:11-27 NIV)
Jesus is the Prince, the Nobleman,
who went to the distant country of heaven to be proclaimed King. The leaders of Israel
(the original subjects of the kingdom) objected to Him being made king, and
they sent a delegation after Him by persecuting and murdering His apostles and
servants. He nevertheless
was made Lord and Messiah, and one day He will return to settle accounts with
His servants whom He left in charge of His estate on earth (the spiritual
kingdom of God, the Christian Church).
The difference in this parable is
that there were 10 servants who were given 1 silver mina each.
This is emphasising the fullness of God's order and plan in this present age
through His people (as number Ten speaks of the perfection and completion of
Divine order in the earth), and through the fact that every servant is given the same
amount. This speaks of the gracious gift of salvation and blessing that all
followers of Christ can share in. But it is what we do with this gracious gift
of life that will count in the end.
The other big difference in this
parable is the
rewards of the faithful servants. We are only told about the judgment of three
of the ten servants, but they are a representative portion of the whole group,
to show us the principle of how ALL will be judged at
Christ's Return. The first one, who had multiplied his mina by ten, was given 10
cities to rule over, in accordance with his acts. The second, who had
multiplied his mina by five, was given 5 cities to rule over, in accordance
with his acts.
This is indicating that the sons
of God, who are Overcomers, will be ruling over rebuilt cities on a new earth,
as representatives of the kingdom of God and His Son, a government of a whole
new order, ruled by Christ Himself. This is also implying that the chastening
judgment of the Second Death, the ultimate Gehenna of Fire, the place of outer
darkness where the unfaithful servants and all others will be cast; that these
are all metaphors for the punishment that will be given to each, in accordance
with their acts, on the new earth!
Yet only the regenerated sons of
God will be experiencing the blessing of age-abiding (eternal) life, the
inheritance of an immortal, incorruptible spiritual body - let alone
everything else that comes from being a son of the living God through Christ
Jesus and the glory that goes along with that position!
(For further study of these
things, see The First and Second
Resurrections and the Judgment Day).
The Unfaithful Servant
Let us wrap this up on a more
sober note of why the third and final servant was rejected. The parable of the
Minas spells this out a little more clearly than the Talents.
In both parables, the unfaithful
servant uses the same excuse, and the result is the same. He is called a lazy,
wicked servant, one who, in the final analysis, is worthless or useless to the
Master. As a consequence of his sin, he is thrown outside into the darkness,
no longer being able to lay claim to being a servant of his Master. He does
not inherit the kingdom of the Master/King. Even the silver (salvation and
spiritual gifts) that was originally given to him is taken away from him, and
instead is given to the one who has the most. For the faithful servants who
have true riches will be given more, and will have an abundance. Whereas the
unfaithful servant will be stripped of what he was originally graciously
given.
1. He was lazy and worthless
because he cared nothing for his master. He didn't do anything truly worthwhile with his portion of silver, but he just went and hid it away. He didn't
work to increase his master's money, like the others, and do as he was told,
and he was therefore careless and lazy and disobedient.
2. He was wicked because he made up lies and
slander about his Master, and in a cowardly manner, used this as an excuse for
his own failure. He made out that his Master was extremely harsh, as well as
being a thieving extortionist - reaping where he had not sown, and taking out
what he had not put in himself! So he made out that he was afraid of his
Master and decided to just keep his money safe instead, rather than risk
making a mistake! This turned out to be his final mistake (or sin).
The Master judged the unfaithful
servant by his own words, saying that if he had believed that his Master was
so severe, then why didn't he at least put the money on deposit in the bank so
that it would earn interest - that is, he could earn some money by interest
without having to do a thing, which was the very thing that he was accusing
his master of doing (taking out where he had not put in)!
(By the way, in the
Law of Moses, usury or charging interest amongst brother Israelites was not
viewed too favourably at all, in fact, it was forbidden. There are those who
use this parable to endorse usury, but that is not the point of it at all. The
Master (Jesus) was judging the servant by his own wicked words.)
It is this very principle that Jesus
will use at the Judgment. For those Christians who have misused or neglected
their place in the spiritual kingdom of God, there will be fiery judgment and
punishment and great loss - the same fate as all unbelievers. Jesus often
spoke of this future punishment by using the language of the Law in a
figurative manner, particularly in reference to the whipping or flogging of
Deuteronomy 25:1-3. And in the same way as the Old Covenant flogging was
limited to no more than 40 lashes, so also the 'lashing' of the Lake of Fire,
the Gehenna of Fire, the Second Death (popularly called 'Hell') will be
limited, and will be administered 'in accordance with their acts.'
"The
master of that servant (the unfaithful servant) will come
on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware
of. He will cut him to pieces (as in the lashes of a whip) and
assign him a place with the unbelievers."
"That servant who knows his
master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master
wants will be beaten with many blows (lashes). But the one
who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten
with few blows (lashes). From everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with
much, much more will be asked."
(Luke 12:46-48 NIV)
While all the people were listening,
Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of the teachers of the law.
They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the
marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and
the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and
for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most
severely (lit. ...getting more excessive judgment)."
(Luke 20:45-47 NIV)
The parable of the Minas concludes
with the following sober words of Jesus, the Nobleman turned King.
"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."
These words have to be understood
in the light of Israel's rejection of their Messiah, and the consequences for
all their murderous acts of rebellion against Yahweh their God. All of this
was in accordance with the terms of the Old Covenant (Leviticus 26;
Deuteronomy 28). Here is the fearful pronouncement of judgment from the lips
of Jesus.
"You
snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell
(Gehenna)? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and
teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog
in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will
come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood
of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you
murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all
this will come upon this generation.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but
you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate."
(Matthew 23:33-38 NIV)
For further clarification of these
things, see also The Parable of the Vineyard Farmers
in this book (also known as the Parable of the Tenants).
These words of Christ in the
parable were sadly fulfilled in the Jewish War of 66-70 AD, when the vengeance
of God came upon the rebellious Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. The
rightful King dealt severely with His rebellious subjects as He took His 'rod
of iron' and smashed them to pieces like pottery. His forgiveness and mercy
had already been offered to them all, but, as a nation, they had rejected
their King and His messengers, so inevitably, Divine justice and vengeance had
to take its course for all the wickedness and murder they had done in the Name
of God.
These words could also have a
secondary application to the Day of the Lord Jesus, the Day of His Return in
power and glory - and great fiery wrath! For that Day is likened to Noah's
Flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The great Judgment Day is
coming, so may those who call themselves 'servants of the King' make
themselves ready for His Return, working wholeheartedly for their Master. Then
when that Day arrives, we shall hear the comforting words 'Well done, good and
faithful servant. Come and share in My inheritance.'