What does Luke 19:16 mean?
A nobleman has had to leave his land to go to his sovereign and be crowned king. Before he left, he entrusted ten servants with one mina each, telling them to invest it wisely and make a profit. He has returned and calls his servants to report what they have accomplished (Luke 19:12–15).The first servant made a ten-fold return on his investment. This is a significant accomplishment since many in the kingdom do not support the new king (Luke 19:14). Because of the servant's faithfulness with the little he was given, the king grants him ten cities to rule (Luke 19:17).
In the parable of the ten minas, Jesus is explaining to a crowd that even though they are approaching Jerusalem, and even though He has been talking about the presence of the kingdom of God, He is not coming to take His kingdom, yet. He isn't even crowned, yet. He can't take the kingdom. First, He must carry the weight of the world's sins on His shoulders as He is nailed to a cross. Then, He will go away and be crowned.
Until then, the people need to be responsible with the precious treasure they've been given: strong evidence that Jesus is their Messiah. Once He rises from the dead, that evidence will be proof. After His ascension and before His return, they need to be responsible with that information. They need to "invest" it by telling others and growing Jesus' kingdom. Those who do will be handsomely rewarded. Those who don't, who hide the treasure, prove they do not accept Him as their King.
