Parable of The Talents or Minas - Parable of The Minas

Parable of The Minas

The similar parable in Luke 19:12-27, the Parable of the Minas, is generally similar, but differences include the inclusion of the motif of a king obtaining a kingdom, and the entrusting of the servants with equal amounts, measured in minas rather than talents (1 talent = 60 mina). Additionally, Luke includes at the beginning an account of citizens sending a message after the Master to say that they don't want him as their ruler, and at the end Luke adds that the Master instructs that his opponents should be brought to him and then be slain.

The parallels between the Lukan material (the Gospel of Luke, and Book of Acts) and Josephus' writings have long been noted. The core idea, of a man traveling to a far country being related to a kingdom, has vague similarities to Herod Archelaus traveling to Rome in order to be given his kingdom; although this similarity is not in itself significant, Josephus' account also contains details which are echoed by features of the Lukan parable. Josephus describes Jews sending an embassy to Augustus, while Archelaus is travelling to Rome, to complain that they do not want Archelaus as their ruler; when Archelaus returns, he arranged for 3000 of his enemies to be brought to him at the Temple in Jerusalem, where he had them slaughtered.