Faithful With What Was Given

11As they were hearing these things, he went on and told a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately.

12So he said, “A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and return.”

13After calling ten of his own servants, he gave them ten minas and said to them, “Do business until I come.”

14But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

15And it happened, when he returned after receiving the kingdom, that he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, so that he might know what they had gained by trading.

16Then the first came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has earned ten minas.’

17And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten cities.”

18And the second came, saying, ‘Your mina, Lord, has made five minas.’

19And he said to this one also, ‘And you, be over five cities.’

20And the other came, saying, ‘Lord, look, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a cloth.’

21for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take what you did not put down, and you reap what you did not sow.

22He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, wicked servant. You knew that I am a harsh man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?’

23And why did you not put my money in the bank? Then when I came, I would have collected it with interest.

24And he said to those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

25And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas—’

26I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given; but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

27But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me.