Thoughts on Luke 19:11-27

In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus shifts from speaking plainly, in clear language, back to using parables. Verse 11 hints that their proximity to Jerusalem may be, in part, the cause; however, the other reason is that the hearers (most likely the grumblers who were giving Jesus and Zacchaeus grief) asked about the immediate restoration of the Kingdom. The parable is about the Kingdom, and it seems that the consummation is the primary focal point.

In this parable, there is a nobleman who will become King, his servants/slaves, citizens who hate the nobleman and do not want him to rule over them, and someone who will both hear the citizens' delegation and give the nobleman the kingship. The nobleman gave clear instructions to his servants in verse 13: "Engage in business until I come." He did not say "keep my investment safe or make more money for me." When the man returned, now a king, he called his servants to ask what they had gained by doing business (verse 15). He was not asking how much more money they made or if they kept the money safe, but what they gained. Those who were faithful received substantially more, but the more was not the money. It was their ability to rule alongside the King, given responsibilities over entire cities. They also seemed to be allowed to keep the money, as evidenced by verse 25, where it is noted that when the first servant received the extra mina from the unfaithful servant, he already had 10, implying that he didn't have to receive even more. Their reward was not more money, but the trust and partnership of the King.

Furthermore, it was never their money. The King gave them money and asked them to engage in business. So they didn't have the option to do whatever they wanted with it because it wasn't theirs. They had instructions, and the money was just the resources they needed to complete the task they were asked to undertake. They clearly understood it was not their money because all three servants referred to it as "your mina" to the King (16, 18, and 20). They were stewards.

There were 10 servants in verse 13, but we only hear about three of them. The assumption is that nine servants were likely faithful. We didn't need to listen to the entire report to understand the pattern. The unfaithful servant believed the King was severe. There's nothing in the responses of the other servants that sounds like this, so this servant is more like the wicked citizens than the other servants.

Furthermore, the King doesn't say that the servant is right about the King, but that the King would use the servant's own words to judge him. Even based on these words, the servant didn't obey the instruction--to engage in business. The servant's unfaithfulness exposes his unbelief. That's what got him judged, not the success or failure in making more money. He didn't trust the Master enough to obey him. It's about faithfulness, not financial results. Therefore, the servant is deemed "wicked" by the King (verse 22). That being said, the King did not throw this servant into the lot with the citizens for destruction. The King called him wicked, yet he was not identified as an enemy of the King. The enemies were those citizens who did not want the nobleman to be King. It implies the unfaithful servant was still a servant of the King, but to him, more was NOT given. That may be an overreading of the parable, but it is interesting and worth more study.

This parable is Jesus' answer to a question about the coming Kingdom. He had already said that the Kingdom would not come as they expected or could observe (Luke 17:20). His disciples ask Jesus the same question after the resurrection — probably assuming it was then that he would be the earthly King of their expectations — but he gives them an interesting answer. Be my servants and bring in the Kingdom by sharing Jesus' good news. (Acts 1:6-8). Faithfully engage in Jesus' business.