[11] And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. [12] He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. [13] And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. [14] But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. [15] And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. [16] Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. [17] And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. [18] And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. [19] And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. [20] And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: [21] For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. [22] And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: [23] Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? [24] And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. [25] (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) [26] For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. [27] But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Jesus himself tells us the primary reason that he spoke this parable, because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. The parable of the nobleman going away into a far country, illustrates not only that Jesus would have to leave them and be gone for a period of time before he would return, but also the responsibility that they had as individuals while he was gone.
The area of responsibility that this parable focuses on is our fiscal responsibility or what we do with the money that we have been “loaned by the Lord.” In the parable each person was given the same amount to “invest” and the amount was very small. The focus here is not on the fact that some people have more money to start with than others, but rather what is done with the money that each person has. When the nobleman returned, after receiving his kingdom, he called each of his servants to account for the money they had been loaned. One servant had taken the “one pound” he had been given and by trading wisely had increased the amount to “ten pounds.” Another servant had taken his “pound” and increased it to “five pounds.” A third servant had taken his “pound” and done nothing with it so that he could only return his “one pound” to the nobleman or king.
The king them rewarded each of his servants in proportion to how wisely they had invested his money. The rewards were immense compared to the tiny amount of money that the king had loaned the servants to invest. The parable shows that even those who are the “servants” of the king or nobleman are not all faithful in their service. Others, the “citizens” mentioned in the parable hated the king and would not let him rule over them. Their fate was to be slain, because they were “enemies” of the king. The “king” of course represents Jesus and His returning to heaven “the far country” to prepare a place for his faithful servants or “stewards.”