Explanation: As Jesus drew ever closer to Jerusalem, Messianic expectations increased as people heard Jesus' teachings and saw healing and conversions such as that of Zacchaeus. But Jesus sought to make his followers understand that the Kingdom would not appear immediately. To that end, he told the Parable of the Minas (variously translated as pieces of money, talents, pounds, etc.) In the parable, a nobleman prepares to go on a journey to a far country and receive a kingdom. Before he goes he gives money to three servants. He tells them to conduct business with it until he returns from afar. After he leaves, various citizens rebel and say that they will not have him rule over them. Meanwhile, two of the three servants who were given money trade well and earn a profit (10 and 5 minas, respectively); but one hides the money and gives it back to the master when he returns. The Lord rebukes the third servant, takes his money, and gives it to the one who has ten minas. And as for those who refused his reign, he has them brought in and slain before him. The parable teaches two main lessons: the kingdom will be delayed, and the king will reward or punish in accord with his subjects' deserts.

     ¹¹ And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ¹² He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ¹³ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. ¹⁴ But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. ¹⁷ And he said unto him, Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities. ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. ¹⁹ And he said likewise to him, Be you also over five cities. ²⁰ And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ²¹ For I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that you laid not down, and reap that you did not sow. ²² And he said unto him, Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: ²³ Wherefore then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with usury? ²⁴ And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that has ten pounds. ²⁵ (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) ²⁶ For I say unto you, That unto every one which has shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he has shall be taken away from him. ²⁷ But those my enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. ²⁸ And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

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