Luke 19:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

His "servants" refer to those entrusted with the responsibilities of the Church's ministries. They are described as "ten" to signify the completeness of the Church's mission. The structure of the Church reflects a perfect distribution of leaders, with no necessity for more or fewer roles. Within the Church, we observe three essential activities: purification, enlightenment, and fulfillment, which represent stages of spiritual growth. Deacons perform purification through oaths and instruction, presbyters offer enlightenment through baptism, and bishops ordain and bring to completion, which is to say, they ordain. Notice how the levels of leadership correspond to their respective functions, and the hierarchy is neither excessive nor deficient.

Individuals burdened by debt often evade their creditors, aware of their relentless nature. Yet, my approach differs; I have come to settle my obligations and fulfill my commitments, preferring to seek out my creditors rather than be pursued by them. So, what is this promise, and what debt am I referring to? In our last gathering, we shared a lengthy parable, having only partially conveyed its meaning, leaving the remainder for this sacred assembly. The parable unfolds as follows: “A certain nobleman went to a far country to obtain a kingdom for himself and return.

The Holy and reassuring Spirit, bestowed upon the Apostles and subsequently imparted to the One Holy Church of God from the time of baptism in accordance with the measure of faith, resides uniquely and variably in each individual who approaches baptism with sincere faith. Each person is gifted with this minas for the purpose of enhancement, nurturing, and development, as stated in the Gospel.

It is crucial to recognize the following: just as He was preparing to extend His call to the Gentiles while confronting the Jews, who resisted His lordship, He began with this parable. This served to eliminate any claims such as, “He offered nothing to the Jewish people! How could he have done better?” or “Why expect from someone who has received nothing?” The story of the widow, referenced earlier in the Gospel, stands as a telling illustration. She diligently lit a lamp and searched in the brightness until she found what she had lost, prompting her to celebrate.

He summoned ten of his servants and entrusted them with ten minas. The figure of ten signifies a considerable number, both of servants and minas. A mina refers to a type of silver coin. In this context, the term "servants" denotes all the teachers who guide the faithful, while "minas" represents spiritual gifts. He instructed them, "Engage in business until I return. Utilize the minas for the redemption of souls."

The Word of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is both fully divine and fully human, compares our existence to a marketplace and describes our earthly endeavors as acts of purchasing. He urged us all to 'Buy until I come, redeeming the time, for the days are evil' (Luke 19:13, Eph. 5:16), meaning we should utilize our time wisely to attain spiritual blessings through the resources of this world.

All servants have been entrusted with gifts: grace is shared equally among all. Those of us who have been baptized have received the grace of the Holy Spirit. This grace initially works within us while we are still in our youth. However, as we mature, it is poised to enact its influence at any moment; yet it holds back, waiting for us to willingly open ourselves to it, longing for its complete manifestation and actively seeking it. Once we express this desire, it promptly begins its transformative work in us, encouraging, guiding, and fortifying us. The depth of grace within us is celebrated in accordance with our restoration and the effort we put forth towards it. If we do not seek or strive for this grace, it will not operate within us against our will, as if it were forced.

Mnas represents a currency unit of 100 drachmas, valued at 21 and a half pre-revolutionary roubles. Note regarding the ‘Word on the Resurrection of the Dead’ by St Ephrem the Syrian.

The reason J. Christ shared the parable of the minas is explained by the Evangelist: at that moment, J. Christ was preparing to continue His journey to Jerusalem, which had been momentarily interrupted by His visit to Zacchaeus's home. Many around Him believed that this would mark His grand entrance into Jerusalem to establish the kingdom of the Messiah. The purpose of this parable is to convey that prior to the manifestation of His kingdom, there is a time of preparation. Christ will unveil His kingdom in all its glorious splendor, yet He will face rejection from those He came to lead, resulting in a distinction between Himself and His followers. During this period, each individual is called to wisely employ the gifts of grace bestowed upon them in readiness for the Lord's return.

Upon His return to the Father, Christ entrusted His disciples and His future followers with the abundance of His teachings, validated by the testimony of His own life. These treasures were meant to be employed so that they might become deserving members of the anticipated kingdom. It was bestowed upon everyone equally, ensuring that all could share in the benefits.

As the common people and even His disciples clung to the misguided belief that the kingdom of God would manifest in a physical sense in Jerusalem, Christ shared a cautionary parable about a nobleman who “went into a far country to receive a kingdom for himself and return” (Luke 19:12-27). This metaphor draws from a notable event in Jewish history, where Archelaus traveled to Rome after the demise of Herod the Great, his father, to secure kingship from the emperor. Before leaving, he entrusted a mina of silver to his servants to manage during his absence. Despite considerable opposition from the populace, he successfully claimed his kingdom and, upon returning, rewarded his loyal subjects and dealt with his adversaries based on their actions.

The phrase "Ten servants are ten minas" emphasizes a specific rather than a vague quantity. The servants represent the disciples and adherents of Christ, while the minas symbolize the diverse blessings bestowed by God upon His followers, including material possessions. These gifts are meant to be multiplied through their faithful stewardship for their own benefit and for the good of others, all to the honor of God (cf. note on Matthew 25:14; also 1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:7). In Jewish tradition, a mina was equivalent to 100 shekels, with each shekel valued at approximately 1.5 of our currency.