Entrusted with the Gospel: Insights from the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-19)

In the parable of the minas, the servants have been “entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). To be faithful stewards, we must preach the gospel so that the minas multiply. The servants are told they will be “over cities” (Luke 19:17, 19), which means ruling with Christ during the Millennium. Read on to learn insights from the parable of the minas! https://youtu.be/UHIBdts_Lg8 In the parable of the minas (Luke 19) the servants were “entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). We must preach to be faithful. Listen to this expository sermon for insights from the parable of the minas! Table of contentsThe Parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents Are not the SameBackground to the Parable of the MinasWe Have Been Entrusted with the Gospel (Represented by the Mina)Faithfulness with the GospelGod Judges Our Faithfulness Versus Our SinThe Parable of the Minas Is About the Spread of the GospelThe Multiplication of Minas (Spread of the Gospel) in the Early ChurchFaithfulness with the Gospel Is Rewarded with Greater ResponsibilityThe Parable of the Minas Looks to the MillenniumThe Prophetic TimelineWho Are We Ruling Over During the Millennium?Why Are We Entrusted with the Gospel? All Christians are but God’s stewards. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving him. John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, Moody, 1984, p. 108. The Parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents Are not the Same The parable of the minas is one of the premier parables on stewardships. It is similar to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, but they are not the same. Here are the main differences. The parable of the talents was preached on the Mount of Olives after Jesus already reached Jerusalem, but the parable of the minas was preached on the way to Jerusalem. The parable of the talents deals with three servants, but the parable of the minas deals with 10 servants and some number of enemies. In the parable of the talents, the three servants receive five talents, two talents, and one talent. But in the parable of the mina,s the 10 servants receive one mina each. Talents and minas are different amounts: A talent was about 20 years’ wages. A mina was about three months’ wages. In the parable of the talents, the two faithful servants doubled their investments, but in the parable of the minas, one servant reports earning tenfold, and the other servant reports earning fivefold. In the parable of the talents, the faithful servants receive the same reward, which was hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” But in the parable of the minas the faithful servants are put in charge of cities corresponding to the investment they returned. Be encouraged that even if you’ve heard teaching on the parable of the talents, this parable is different and hopefully you will learn some new truths. Background to the Parable of the Minas In Luke 18:31-34 Jesus foretold his death a third time. Luke 18:34 says, "But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said." Jesus spelled out how he would die, but they didn’t understand. Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem. But because they don’t believe he is going to be killed, they think he is going to set up the kingdom! He is the Messiah, the Son of David, who will sit on David’s throne. Passover is only a few days away, which intensifies the anticipation of Jesus’s kingdom. It was always an emotionally charged time for the Jews because it reminded them of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and made them even more upset about their bondage to Rome. During Passover the Jews looked forward to the Messiah delivering them from Rome like Moses delivered the Hebrews from Egypt. And this is the context for the parable of the minas: Luke 19:11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ Jesus preached the parable of the minas to dispel the belief that he would be setting up his physical kingdom soon. The nobleman is Jesus, and the far country is heaven. This is Jesus’s way of saying, “I not setting up my kingdom on the earth right now. I must ascend to heaven and I will set up my kingdom when I return.” Jesus preached the parable of the minas because wants his all his disciples, including us, remaining faithful between his ascension and return. The servants were supposed to use the minas, or money, to do business. When the master returned they were supposed to give back to him more than they had received. We Have Been Entrusted with the Gospel (Represented by the Mina) In the parable of the talents, the talents represent the gifts and abilities God has given us. The servants received different amounts because we have different gifts and abilities. But in the parable of the minas, each servant receives the same amount, one mina, because the mina represents the gospel, which we have all received in equal measure. Numerous commentaries made this point: Matthew Henry wrote: “The principal difference [from the parable of the talents] is that the [mina is] the gift of the gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but [with] the talents…God gives different capacities.” With that mina each of these servants must do business. That is the point of the parable. Those who have heard the gospel must proclaim it! William Hendrickson, New Testament commentary: Luke, page 860. Joseph Benson wrote the 10 servants and the mina given to them represent: “The apostles and first preachers of the gospel, to whom Jesus gave endowments fitting them for their work, and from whom he expected a due improvement of those endowments in the propagation of the gospel [and] all who did or should hereafter profess to receive his gospel, and to be his disciples and servants.” It is fitting for the minas to represent the gospel, because the New Testament says the gospel is something we have been entrusted with, like a stewardship: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 1 Timothy 1:11 The gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. Maybe you have never thought of the gospel as one of our most important stewardships, but I would encourage you to do so. If someone asked you about the most important stewardships in your life: Maybe you would say, “I have children. I have to be faithful to them.” I’d say, “Amen!” Or maybe you would say, “I’m married. This is one of my most important stewardships. I must be faithful to my spouse.” I’d say, “Amen!” Or maybe you would say, “God has given me time and money. These are two of the most important stewardships in my life, so I must be careful how I spend them.” I’d say, “Amen.” The parable of the minas should encourage us to see the gospel as one of our most important stewardships as well. Faithfulness with the Gospel 1 Corinthians 4:1 [We should be regarded] as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, IT IS REQUIRED OF STEWARDS THAT THEY BE FOUND FAITHFUL.  “The mysteries of God” refers to the gospel. We’re stewards of the gospel, and faithfulness is required. This means spreading the gospel with others so that your mina multiplies. Perhaps there’s someone you’ve felt burdened to share the Gospel with. Maybe it’s a coworker, neighbor, fellow student, or family member. And maybe you’ve been procrastinating! You’re like the servant in Luke 19:20 who said, “Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief. It’s nice and safe for you, Lord.” If you’ve been putting off preaching the gospel, you could be bordering on unfaithfulness. Maybe you have been telling yourself, “I’m waiting for just the right moment.” But deep dow,n you know this is just an excuse. I hope this parable encourages you, as it encourages me, not to put off preaching the gospel any longer. Make a commitment to preach to that person, or those people, God has put on your heart. God Judges Our Faithfulness Versus Our Sin Luke 19:15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The master is going to return and expect all his servants to give an account of what we have done with the mina, or gospel, that has been entrusted to us. This introduces one of the more common questions I receive as a pastor: “Will Christians be judged?” Yes and no. Our sins are not judged because they were judged and paid for at the cross. But our faithfulness as stewards will be judged. This occurs at the Judgment Seat of Christ: Romans 14:10 We will all stand before the judgment seat of [Christ]. Paul’s use of the word “we” shows he’s talking about himself and other believers. 2 Corinthians 5:10 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. We will give an account of our stewardship, and if we’ve been faithful, we will be rewarded. The fact that the “evil” we have done is mentioned leads me to believe the sins we committed will result in loss of rewards. If you say, “I won’t be punished for my sins,” that’s true. But it’s also true that when we sin we forfeit eternal rewards. This is what Paul meant when he wrote: 1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned,...