“As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable…”
—Luke 19
That introduction matters. It grounds Jesus’ teaching in real life. Zacchaeus becomes the lens through which the parable of the minas is meant to be understood. In other words, “these things” give us context.
What Were “These Things”?
Moments before the parable, Jesus had a dramatic encounter with Zacchaeus—a wealthy chief tax collector, despised by his people, yet a man of authority and influence. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus with repentance and responsibility, offering to give away half his wealth and repay those he had wronged. Jesus publicly restored his identity as a “son of Abraham” and declared:
“Today salvation has come to this house.”
Then Jesus reminded the crowd of His mission:
“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
After the people witnessed responsibility, restoration, and authority collide in Zacchaeus’ life, Jesus told the parable of the minas. Luke tells us why: the people assumed the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Jesus corrects that assumption. The kingdom is coming—but it takes time, and it requires faithful stewardship. How we manage our wealth and possessions has the power to expose our wicked or faithful hearts.
A Kingdom That Takes Time
In the parable, a nobleman goes to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. One truth stands out clearly:
Receiving a kingdom is a process. Just as the kingdom of God will not come suddenly, so too the people of God are not made into the people of God suddenly.
Before leaving, the nobleman leaves behind two groups: citizens who reject his rule and servants entrusted with his business. The citizens declare, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” Their words echo Israel’s long resistance to God’s authority—from choosing Saul to declaring, “We have no king but Caesar.”
The servants, however, are given minas and told to do business until the master returns. God consistently entrusts His work to servants during His apparent absence. The question for us is simple: What has He entrusted to us? What do our “minas” look like?
Faithfulness and Authority
When the nobleman returns as king, he evaluates the servants. The faithful ones multiplied what they were given and were rewarded with authority over cities. The money was a “very little thing”—a test preparing them for something greater. The master was not ultimately interested in profit, but in forming trustworthy servants fit to rule alongside him.
The third servant, though calling the master “Lord,” did nothing. Fear shaped his view of authority, leading to inaction and loss. He was not destroyed like the enemies, but he received no authority, no cities, no reward.
In the end, each group received exactly what they believed and chose becasue what they believed about the nobleman determined how they managed their ” minas”
- Faithful servants trusted the master’s authority and acted—so their authority increased.
- The wicked servant feared the master and did nothing—so he lost everything.
- The citizens rejected the master’s reign—and were destroyed
and what is true about them , is true about us, what we believe about God will determine in the long run how we manage our time, money and where we direct our loyalty. in other words, What we believe about Jesus shapes how we live. And how we live reveals whether we truly trust Him. Jesus makes a bold claim here: there is a direct connection between faithfulness and authority.
Zacchaeus and the Minas
The connection between Zacchaeus and the parable is unmistakable—money, faithfulness, and authority. Zacchaeus responded to Jesus with obedience, and Jesus restored his identity and authority:
“Today salvation has come to this house.”
Zacchaeus’ obedience did not save his household—Jesus did. But his faithfulness aligned him with the work Jesus was already doing.
Imagine the impact of a faithful servant entrusted with authority over a city—or ten. What would that city look like?
Jesus is the one who seeks and saves the lost. Yet how we manage what He gives us shapes the authority we walk in—personally, spiritually, and within our households. Faithfulness positions us to participate in the kingdom He is still receiving.
Written by Kim Blenkhorn
Edited with the use of Chatgbt
My Faith Place 