CINXE.COM
Topical Bible: Ten Servants
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Ten Servants</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/t/ten_servants.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/luke/19-11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/t/ten.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Ten Servants</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/t/ten_men_with_ishmael.htm" title="Ten men with Ishmael">◄</a> Ten Servants <a href="/topical/t/ten_strings.htm" title="Ten Strings">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The parable of the Ten Servants, also known as the Parable of the Ten Minas, is a teaching of Jesus found in the Gospel of Luke. This parable is a profound illustration of stewardship, responsibility, and accountability in the Kingdom of God. It is recorded in <a href="/luke/19-11.htm">Luke 19:11-27</a>.<br><br><b>Context and Setting</b><br><br>The parable is set in the context of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem. As He approached the city, many believed that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately. To address this misconception and to teach about the nature of His Kingdom, Jesus shared this parable. The setting reflects the socio-political climate of the time, where rulers would often travel to receive authority over a kingdom.<br><br><b>The Parable</b><br><br>In the parable, a nobleman is preparing to travel to a distant country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before leaving, he calls ten of his servants and gives each one a mina, instructing them to engage in business until he returns. A mina was a unit of currency, representing a significant amount of money, though less than a talent.<br><br>The nobleman’s citizens, however, despise him and send a delegation to express their opposition to his rule. Despite this, the nobleman receives his kingdom and returns to settle accounts with his servants.<br><br><b>The Servants' Accountability</b><br><br>Upon his return, the nobleman calls the servants to account for their stewardship of the minas. The first servant reports that his mina has earned ten more. The nobleman commends him, saying, "Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities" (<a href="/luke/19-17.htm">Luke 19:17</a>). The second servant reports a gain of five minas and is likewise rewarded with authority over five cities.<br><br>However, the third servant approaches with a different report. He has hidden the mina in a cloth, fearing the nobleman’s harshness. The nobleman rebukes him for his lack of initiative and takes the mina from him, giving it to the servant who earned ten. The nobleman declares, "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" (<a href="/luke/19-26.htm">Luke 19:26</a>).<br><br><b>The Rejection of the Nobleman</b><br><br>The parable concludes with the nobleman addressing those who opposed his rule. He orders that his enemies, who did not want him to reign over them, be brought and executed in his presence. This severe judgment underscores the seriousness of rejecting rightful authority.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>The parable of the Ten Servants emphasizes the importance of faithful stewardship in the Christian life. Believers are entrusted with spiritual gifts, resources, and opportunities to advance God's Kingdom. The nobleman represents Christ, who has gone to receive His Kingdom and will return to judge the living and the dead. The servants' varying degrees of faithfulness illustrate the diversity of responses to God's call and the corresponding rewards or consequences.<br><br>The parable also highlights the reality of opposition to Christ's rule. Despite resistance, His Kingdom will be established, and those who reject His authority will face judgment. This serves as a sobering reminder of the eternal significance of accepting Christ as Lord and Savior.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>The parable of the Ten Servants is a powerful teaching on stewardship, accountability, and the coming Kingdom of God. It challenges believers to faithfully use what they have been given for the glory of God, with the assurance that their labor is not in vain and will be rewarded in the fullness of time.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/t/ten.htm">Ten</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/t/ten_commandments.htm">Ten Commandments</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/t/ten_strings.htm">Ten Strings</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/ten--(used_for_an_indefinite_number).htm">Ten: (Used for an Indefinite Number)</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lease.htm">Lease (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/rent.htm">Rent (76 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/relief.htm">Relief (32 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/base.htm">Base (127 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tenants.htm">Tenants (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/homage.htm">Homage (51 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/vassal.htm">Vassal (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/v/villain.htm">Villain (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/k/kain.htm">Kain (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/o/occupation.htm">Occupation (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/warn.htm">Warn (35 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/waste.htm">Waste (668 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/farm.htm">Farm (9 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/feud.htm">Feud (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/farmer.htm">Farmer (17 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/r/release.htm">Release (61 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/p/particular.htm">Particular (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bondman.htm">Bondman (108 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/surrender.htm">Surrender (18 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/holder.htm">Holder (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/code.htm">Code (6 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/h/hammurabi.htm">Hammurabi</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/ten.htm">Ten (234 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/t/ten_men_with_ishmael.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ten men with Ishmael"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ten men with Ishmael" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/t/ten_strings.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ten Strings"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ten Strings" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>