Preacher: Venerable Dr. Jeffery Anyeneh
Sermon: Luke 19:11-16

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, 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 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 they have will be taken away.

Luke 19:11-26 (NIV)

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Introduction:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

As we gather today, we come to a parable that Jesus told as He was nearing the end of His journey to Jerusalem—where He would ultimately face the cross. This parable, found in Luke 19:11-26, speaks directly to the theme of responsibility, stewardship, and readiness for the Kingdom of God.

On the surface, it is a story about a nobleman, his servants, and the distribution of minas (a form of money). However, beneath this earthly image lies a deeper message about how we are to live in anticipation of the return of our King—the Lord Jesus Christ—and how we are to faithfully use what He has entrusted to us.

Let us take a moment to delve into this story and understand its significance, not just for those who first heard it, but for us today as well.

The Setting and the Parable’s Context

Luke tells us that Jesus told this parable because the people “thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.” (Luke 19:11). They were expecting an immediate political and earthly kingdom to be established when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. Many believed that Jesus was the Messiah who would bring about a dramatic, earthly reign, throwing off the yoke of Roman oppression. But Jesus needed to correct this misunderstanding. His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36); it was a kingdom that would come in stages: His death and resurrection, the spread of the Gospel, and, ultimately, His return in glory at the end of the age.

Thus, Jesus uses the parable of the nobleman to prepare His followers for the delay of the Kingdom and to teach them how to live in the interim.

The Nobleman’s Journey and the Distribution of Minas

In the parable, Jesus tells of a nobleman who travels to a distant country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before he leaves, he entrusts ten of his servants with minas (each worth about three months’ wages). He tells them, “Put this money to work until I come back.” The nobleman’s journey is a metaphor for Jesus’ ascension into heaven after His resurrection, where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, awaiting the time when He will return to establish His eternal reign.

The nobleman’s instructions to his servants are simple: invest the money wisely. The minas, in this context, represent the gifts, talents, and responsibilities that God has entrusted to each of us as His servants. These gifts may come in various forms—spiritual gifts, talents, time, resources, or opportunities for service. Whatever they may be, they are entrusted to us with the expectation that we will be faithful stewards, putting them to work for the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom.

The Faithful Servants: Rewards for Faithfulness

Upon the nobleman’s return, he calls his servants to account for how they have used the minas. The first servant comes forward and reports that he has earned ten more minas. “Well done, good servant!” the nobleman replies. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities” (Luke 19:17). The second servant has earned five more minas and is also rewarded with authority over five cities.

Both servants were faithful in the use of what had been entrusted to them, and they are richly rewarded. The principle here is clear: Faithfulness in the small things leads to greater responsibility and reward in the Kingdom of God. What God entrusts to us is not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of His Kingdom. When we are faithful stewards, using our gifts for His glory, He will honor us with even greater responsibilities.

The faithful servants demonstrate a willingness to act, to take risks, and to invest in what the nobleman has entrusted to them. They are proactive in using their gifts, not passive or fearful.

The Unfaithful Servant: Fear and Excuses

But there is a third servant who comes forward, having done nothing with the mina entrusted to him. He explains that he kept it safe, wrapped in a cloth, because he was afraid of the nobleman. He accuses the nobleman of being a “hard man” who reaps what he did not sow.

The nobleman responds harshly, calling him a “wicked servant” and rebuking him for his laziness and fear. “Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” (Luke 19:23). The servant’s fear and excuses are no excuse for his lack of action. His failure to invest what was entrusted to him reveals a heart that is not truly aligned with the master’s desires and purposes.

This servant represents those who fail to use the gifts God has given them due to fear, complacency, or a false understanding of God’s nature. Perhaps they see God as distant or demanding, unwilling to take risks in faith. But in reality, God is gracious and generous, and He desires us to use what He has given us for His purposes. To bury our talents, to refuse to act, is to dishonor God and miss the opportunities He provides.

The Kingdom of God: Faithful Stewardship and Eternal Rewards

The nobleman’s response to the unfaithful servant is sobering. He takes the mina away from him and gives it to the servant who already has ten minas. The statement, “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 19:26), speaks to the spiritual truth that faithfulness leads to greater blessing, while unfaithfulness results in loss.

The Kingdom of God is not simply a matter of receiving, but of giving and stewarding what God has entrusted to us. We are called to be faithful in all things—no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. And in doing so, we not only honor God, but we also prepare ourselves for greater responsibility in His eternal Kingdom.

The reward is not merely material or earthly; it is eternal. We are entrusted with the resources of God’s Kingdom now so that we might share in the joy of His eternal reign when He returns.

Conclusion: Living in Anticipation of Christ’s Return

As we reflect on this parable, we are reminded that we are living in the “interim” period—between Christ’s first coming and His second coming. We are called to live faithfully, to use the gifts God has given us for His glory, and to invest in the eternal Kingdom, even while we wait for Christ to return. This requires boldness, trust, and a willingness to act according to God’s purposes.

What has God entrusted to you? How are you using your time, talents, resources, and opportunities for His Kingdom? Are you investing in what will last for eternity, or are you hiding your mina, afraid to take a step of faith?

Let us remember that we are stewards, not owners, of all that God has given us. And when Christ returns, may He find us faithful, hearing the words, “Well done, good servant,” and being rewarded with the joy of His eternal Kingdom.

Let us pray:

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the trust You place in us, for the gifts You have given, and for the opportunity to serve You with all that we have.