38: Zacchaeus & the ten minas parable (Luke 19:1 – 27)

This passage, Jesus’ teaching is somewhat different from people’s viewpoint. People often assume that God comes to seek the righteous, but Jesus came to save sinners. At first glance, it may seem harsh that the master took away the mina from the servant. Yet, both episodes reveal the same truth: misunderstanding God's heart and failing to trust His purpose can hinder us from following Jesus.

👉 Read Luke 19:1-27

Q1. What is the reaction of the people to Jesus visiting the house of Zacchaeus? What is Jesus' answer to that?

They complained that Jesus went to be the guest of a sinner. 

Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost.

V5: Jesus intently looked for Zacchaeus and stayed at his house. Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed Jesus. Jesus came to seek and to save Zacchaeus. 

When Jesus personally visited Zacchaeus, he was moved and gave away his possessions. When we encounter Jesus' grace, we are changed and repent.

Zacchaeus' response contrasts with the wealthy ruler's response in the previous chapter.

Q2. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, people thought that (                 ) would soon appear. The disciples must have expected to rule with the Lord as He would become king. At that moment, Jesus said that it would take time for Jesus to bring his kingship and that his servants would be given the power to rule as many (              ) as they have earned from the Minas given to them.  

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, people thought that (the kingdom of God ) would soon appear. The disciples must have expected to rule with the Lord as He would become king. At that moment, Jesus said that it would take time for Jesus to bring his kingship and that his servants would be given the power to rule as many ( cities ) as they have earned from the Minas given to them.  

If we allegorically interpret the parable, the given one mina could represent his own soul. To earn more minas means to save people in connection with the Lord’s purpose: to save sinners. Preparing more people to be the people of the kingdom that the master will establish at His return. Later, the mina is taken away from the lazy servant, but he is not cast out just as in the Talent parable in Matthew. Will this unfaithful servant be saved or not? Luke doesn’t say. 

Note the title has changed from ‘nobleman’ to ‘king’ from verse 17.

Q3. What did the servant who brought one mina do wrong? (vv21-23) 

He thought the master was a severe man. Furthermore, he did not obey the master's command or do anything with the mina.

A wrong perception of God might cause us to stumble: it can lead us to disobedience.

"You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow." The servant may have thought, "How can I do business? I don't know how. The master never taught me or showed me how to earn more minas. He is so demanding, sending me out into the wilderness without any guidance. I have no idea what to do. What if I lose the mina he entrusted to me? It would be safer to keep it hidden. Then, at least, nothing will be lost."

This is the very mindset we can have when we are entrusted with the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. We may think, "I don't know how." Yet, when we trust the Lord and step out into the field of ministry, He guides us. If we choose to focus only on our own salvation and do nothing to help save others, we risk losing what has been entrusted to us, just as the servant's mina was taken away.

The problem was not the servant's lack of knowledge but his lack of trust. He used his uncertainty as an excuse for inaction, whereas faithful servants obeyed the master's command despite not knowing exactly how everything would turn out. 

Jesus meant: "If you thought I was a harsh man, you should have at least put my mina in the bank. But you did not. Your excuse and your actions do not match." This man feared his master's rebuke if he failed to earn more minas. Yet, in order to avoid being rebuked, he disobeyed the master's command. His reasoning was self-contradictory.

When some people encounter God’s judgment, they humbly surrender, while others rebel against His authority. This man could have worked even harder, recognizing the seriousness of his master’s command, but instead he chose to rebel. Such an attitude is wrong.

Q4. In the parable, the nobleman refers to Jesus. Then who are the people? What did they do?

They are the Jews, especially the religious leaders.

They sent a delegation to the higher authority (God) saying, ‘we don’t want this man to be our king.’

They rejected Jesus and crucified Him. When Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ (John 19:15).

Q5. "Well done, (          ) slave! Because you have been faithful in (                   ), you will have authority over (              )" "Everyone who has will be (               ), but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be (                )."

"Well done, ( good  ) slave! Because you have been faithful in ( a very small matter  ), you will have authority over ( ten cities  )" "Everyone who has will be (  given more  ), but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be (  taken away  )."