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‘The Parable of the Ten Minas’ and the judgment of believers

The parable is found in Luke 19.11-27. It describes a nobleman giving his 10 servants to do business with until he returns. On his return he calls his servants to give an account of how they used what he had given them. Two servants are rewarded and one is condemned. The parable finishes with the command to bring “these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, … here and slaughter them before me.” (Luk 19:27 ).

Note that there are three categories of people:

  1. There are servants who are rewarded.
  2. There are servants who are condemned.
  3. And there are others who are executed.

It seems to me that these three categories equate to:

  1. Believers who obeyed Jesus
  2. Believers who didn’t obey Jesus
  3. And unbelievers.

Luk 19:11-27 ESV  As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.  12  He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.  13  Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’  14  But 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! Because you have been faithful in a very little, 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 a handkerchief;  21  for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’  22  He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was 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 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 as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”

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