Who is Jesus like? Vv. 12, 14, 27- Jesus will be like the noble man in his parable who will go to Jerusalem and not receive hospitality but rejection. But Jesus will make their momentary victory into an everlasting defeat. This strict judgment shows us that he is requesting a loyalty to him and knows that the Lord will come again.
Vv. 13, 15-26- The noble man gave each of his ten servants one mina. When the noble man returned he did not see the servants’ business minds but whether or not they were faithful. To Jesus, there is no grade to the talent and calling he has given us. We have merely lined up for more holy work or less holy work and a lot of work or little work. The Lord is glad with the one who is faithful no matter how small the job is.
Vv. 15-19- The servant who made 10 minas and the servant who made 5 minas were humble and said that it was not made through their effort but through the mina of the noble man. The noble man put the one who made 10 minas in charge of 10 cities and the one who made 5 minas in charge of 5 cities. He gave them the award of being able to do greater work. There is no better prize than finding new ways to serve the Lord.
Vv. 20-26- One servant thought that the noble man was a hard man, taking what he has not put in and reaping what he did not sow, so he tells him that he wrapped the mina in a piece of cloth. The noble man says that if that was true then he should have at least left the mina in a bank and made some interest. The servant tried to make an excuse for his lack of faith by blaming the noble man's strict nature but the noble man took the servant's one mina and gave it to the one who had 10. The Lord gives more opportunities not to the one who lies and makes excuses for their unfaithfulness, but to the ones who are faithful with even small tasks.
Help me to be loyal to the work that you have put me in charge of.
