Parable of the Minas (2)

The main character in the parable is a rich nobleman, who went to another to be made king.

A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return (Luke 19:12).

The usual interpretation is that the nobleman represents Jesus, who has gone to heaven and will return to be made king at a future date. A close study of the parable shows that this view is wrong.

(Keesmaat and Walsh point out the story Jesus told was based on a recent incident in local politics. When Herod the Great died, his will divided his territory among his three living sons. They had gone off to Rome to dispute the will with Caesar, because each wanted the entire kingdom. Some Pharisees also went to Rome to dispute the will and ask for a Jewish king. Caesar accepted Herod’s will and sent them all home with a third of the kingdom. Herod Archelaus, the son who controlled Jericho was so angry when he returned that he rounded up a large group of the Pharisees and had them crucified. Jesus listeners would have understood this historical allusion.)

The nobleman had gone to a far country to be made king. This should ring an alarm bell. A ruler in a far country does not have authority to impose on a king on the local people, unless he is an emperor controlling a large empire. This shows that the nobleman was a collaborator with the evil empire. Only God could appoint a king in Israel. By going to the emperor to be made king, the nobleman was denying God’s authority and honouring Caesar’s authority.

The nobleman boasted about his evil character.

I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in,
and reaping what I did not sow (Luke 19:22).

He admitted that some of his wealth was undeserved. He had become rich by stealing from others. He was also ruthless and violent.

But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me (Luke 19:27).

This man did not just want his enemies killed. He wanted to enjoy watching them be killed.

The nobleman was a dreadful character. He was a collaborator, a thief and extremely violent. This man does not represent Jesus. Any interpretation of the parable that assumes that the nobleman is Jesus is a dreadful insult to the son of God.

Only those who want Jesus to get angry and violent would see the noble man as representing him.