Army of Priests

The parable of the Minas in Luke 19:11-27 is, in my opinion, one of the most misunderstood parables of the bible due to the heavy cultural meaning and subtle references to actual historical events. I have even heard Christians use this parable to advocate against helping the poor! I have tried to modernised this passage in a way that gets across the message that I think Jesus was trying to send. Read it bellow and give me your thoughts:

Jesus told a parable, because his audience (made up mostly of poor, oppressed labourers) had seen all his actions over the last few days, and were expecting him to immediately launch a political campaign in revolt against the ruling elite. Jesus thought he would remind them what usually happens when revolutions are fought the normal way:

An owner or a third world textiles business went to the nation’s capital to help his preferred political party get into power and then return. Summoning ten of his managers, he gave them each a factory to oversee and ordered them, “Engage in business until I return”.

But his employees hated him and sent the union to petition the government against the reforms that the business owner wanted.

When he returned, having helped his political allies get power, he called his managers to report to him, so he would know what profit they had made.

The first came and reported that he had lowered the workers wages from 4c to 3c an hour, and made them work 16 hours a day instead of 14. He had also reduced breaks, and denied workers help when they got injured. As a result his factory had increased it’s output by 30% – an excellent return.

The business owner was very pleased. “Well done, my astute manager,” he said, “I will promote you so that you can implement these improvements in 9 more factories.”

“The second came to him and reported that he had run the factory the way the business owner would – long hours, horrible conditions, and low pay. Thus he had maintained the factory’s consistent, healthy profit. The business owner was still pleased, and put the manager in charge of 5 factories.

Then a third manager made his report. He said to the business owner, “Here, have your factory back! My conscience would not let me implement your cruel practises because you are a severe man. I sent the workers on a holiday instead! You take what you did not deposit, you reap what you did not sow, and you are stealing the life out of these people.”

The business owner was furious. “You fool! Pay attention to your own words, you inefficient and worthless manager. So you know that through my cunning I have taken what I have not deserved. So what? You should have at least not paid the workers you sent home – that way they would go hungry and be willing to accept even lower wages when I took them back. Take the factory from his control, and give it to the manager that runs 10 factories.”

“He already runs ten factories!” Noted his accountant.

“That’s the point,” said the business owner. “We make sure that whoever is rich always gets richer and the poor always get poorer.

“Now bring these employees who petitioned against the policies I wanted. I got the government to outlaw unionisation. They’ll all be thrown in jail for trying to be so subversive.”