Luke 19:11-27

Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14 *). There are some differences in the two versions. In Lk. the man of Mt. becomes a prince who (like the sons of Herod the Great) journeys (to Rome) to have his title and dominions confirmed. So Jesus departs to heaven to be invested with the Messianic Kingdom. All the servants (ten in number) receive the same endowment (contrast Mt.), a pound (mina, 100 drachmae, say £ 3, 15s.; Mt.'s talent was worth 60 minæ). The protest of the citizens (Luke 19:14) had an historical precedent in the deputation of fifty Jews that besought the Emperor not to instai Archelaus on the throne of Judæ a. Similarly the claim of Jesus had been objected to. Lk. may be thinking of the refusal of the Jews to recognise the Risen Jesus as the Messiah. The reward (Matthew 5:12 *) of faithful service is association in rule; cf. Matthew 19:28; Luke 19:27 stands related to the parable much as Matthew 25:30 * does to Mt.'s version; with it contrast Matthew 5:44. A comparison of the two forms suggests that Lk. has grafted another parable on to that of the talents. Luke 19:11 shows that the main teaching is (as in Mt.) the duty of using in the best possible way the interval (which may be long, despite the entry into Jerusalem) before the Parousia.