The Parable of the Ten Minas

(Matthew 25:14–30)

11 While [the people] were listening to [this], [Jesus] proceeded to tell [them] a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently. 12 So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return. 13 Beforehand, [he] called ten of his servants [and] gave them ten minas.[fn] ‘Conduct business [with this] until I return,’ he said

14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this [man] to rule over us.’

15 When he returned from procuring [his] kingship, he summoned [the] servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.

16 The first [servant] came forward [and] said, ‘Master, your mina has produced ten {more} minas.’

17 [His master] replied ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

18 The second [servant] came [and] said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

19 And to this one he said, ‘You shall [have authority] over five cities.’

20 Then another [servant] came [and] said, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.[fn] 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’

22 [His master] replied ‘[You] wicked servant, I will judge you by your [own words]. [So] you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not deposit my money in [the] bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

24 Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give [it] to the [one who] has ten minas.’

25 ‘Master,’ they said ‘he [already] has ten

26 [He replied,] ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given [more]; but the [one who] {does} not have, even what he has will be taken away from [him]. 27 And these enemies of mine who were unwilling [for] me to rule over them, bring [them] here and slay them in front of me.’ ”