Today you will learn about the parable of the minas. Jesus restored sight to the blind Bartimaeus and proclaimed salvation to Zacchaeus, an event that stirred excitement among the people and raised their expectation for the imminent arrival of the kingdom of God. However, Jesus cautioned them regarding their excitement and anticipation, leading into a parable to clarify the matter further.

 

"And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear." (Luke 19:11)

 

What the Jews and disciples anticipated during that time would occur at the time of Jesus' second coming. While the teachings of Judaism emphasize the time of Jesus' second coming, Jesus, as the Messiah, had to endure suffering and death first in Jerusalem. He will return gloriously in God's appointed time. Only God knows the timing of his second coming (Matthew 24:36).

 

Following Jesus' first coming, the saints are inevitably left to live in their respective environments while awaiting his second coming. Thus, the question naturally arises: "How should we live?" The answer lies in the parable of the minas. Through this parable, we will learn what the saints of today, living in the last days, should embody.

 

Therefore, the title of my discourse today is

 

"While Waiting for the Second Coming: The Role and Responsibility of the Saints' Lives."

 

Background of the Parable of the Minas:

The parable of the minas was well-known among the people at that time. King Herod had gone to Rome and obtained recognition as king. His first son, Archelaus, ruled over Judea and Samaria with violence and tyranny. He ruthlessly killed 3,000 people under the guise of suppressing rebellion during Passover and imposed excessive taxes on the people. When he sought recognition as king in Rome, the Jewish people sent a delegation to oppose him. The Roman emperor declined to recognize Archelaus as king and instead appointed a "puppet king" to rule Judea and Samaria on Rome's behalf. Upon returning from Rome, Archelaus committed further atrocities against those who opposed him. This serves as the backdrop to Jesus' parable of the minas.

 

Loyalty and Reward in a Hostile Environment:

In the parable of the minas, the people refused to acknowledge the "master" as their king. They conveyed through a delegation that "they did not want this man to be our king." Despite such a hostile environment, the servants were expected to obey the master's commands, work diligently, and devote themselves to fulfilling his will.

 

The first servant multiplied his initial "one mina" into "ten minas," while the second servant turned his into "five minas." A "mina" equates to a hundred "denarii," which is a day's wage for a laborer. Thus, 'one mina' represents a hundred days' wage. For their loyalty, they were generously rewarded with the authority to rule over "ten cities" and "five cities." Their diligent efforts, even in adversity, earned them the master's praise and reward.

 

Why the Third Servant Was Wicked:

The word "austere" appears twice in Luke 19, meaning 'strict,' 'cruel,' or 'oppressive.' It also denotes someone who is 'exacting' or 'penny-pinching.' The phrase "Take away what you did not give" implies taking something that doesn't belong to you. Combining these, we can infer the negative perceptions the third servant harbored toward his master. The master was seen as greedy, making unfair demands on his servants and instilling fear of punishment for not making a profit. However, the master's intentions were not about the amount of profit but about faithfulness and loyalty. The wicked servant failed to act, lacking in faith, and thus missed experiencing God’s power and grace. Rather than repenting, he justified himself and criticized the master as 'evil,' an attitude that led to his condemnation.

Faith and loyalty are demanded of us.

We must believe in Jesus' second coming, as he will undoubtedly return and reward faithful servants.

 

Romans 14:12 (KJV):

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV):

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

We must remain faithful in our lives, despite our weaknesses and tendencies towards despair. However, we have access to grace through the Word and prayer, which enables us to prosper in this world.

 

John 14:12-15 (KJV):

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

"If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."

 

We currently live in an age hostile to Christianity, where anti-Christian sentiment is widespread. However, we must not become 'evil servants' or malign God to justify ourselves. We should discard the notion that God demands unfair or impossible things from us. Instead of passively awaiting the Lord's return, we should actively pray, seek, and strive, trusting in God's infinite power and grace. This is the lesson imparted by the parable of the minas—an encouragement for saints awaiting the Lord's return to live faithfully amidst adversity.