In the parable of the minas, the nobleman rebukes a servant for merely storing the entrusted money. At minimum, he says, it could have been placed with bankers and returned with interest.
Jesus in Context
Bankers and Interest
Jesus refers to depositing money with bankers so that it could earn interest before the owner returned.
Introduction
Historical and Cultural Context
Money changing, lending, deposits, and credit were established features of the wider Greco-Roman economy. The reference assumes that money could be entrusted to financial intermediaries who would put it to productive use and provide a return.
Why It Matters
The economic background clarifies the servant's failure in the parable. Even a relatively passive course of action could have produced some return rather than leaving the entrusted money entirely unproductive.