Read and believe in Jesus.

“.”  Luke

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The Gospel according to Luke 

Review – Last time was the wonderful story of the “short” Tax Collector, Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Jesus.  But Jesus saw him first and desired to fellowship with him.  Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed Jesus into his home and heart.  The evidence of his true conversion was the abundance of giving back and restitution. (Unlike the rich, young ruler, Jesus meant much more to Zacchaeus than all he possessed, even though he was also very rich.  (Oh, for such a hungry heart!)

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Vs. 11.

1. Because of who Zacchaeus was and what he had done with all his MONEY after meeting Jesus, and …
2. Because Jesus was getting close to Jerusalem, and his followers “supposed” He would now take the Kingdom NOW, overthrow Rome, and rule (and they would be by His side) …
3. And because the Jews were “circling” Jesus, like beasts of prey …
4. Because of these things … Jesus told this parable about a Nobleman who went away to a FAR country to receive his kingdom, and then returned to settle his affairs.

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Vss. 12-15.

There are three main characters in this parable: the Nobleman, His servants, and His citizens. See if you can guess who each represents.

The nobleman, of course, illustrates Jesus, who would soon depart to receive His kingdom … and ONE DAY return to rule.

• (Kings in Roman provinces like Galilee actually went to Rome to receive their kingdoms from the Emperor. This was true of the Herodian dynasty. The listening audience would know about this.)

Before the Nobleman left, he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.  (A mina was worth about 100 days of salary.)  He told His servants to “Engage in business until I come.”  (The KJV says, “occupy until I come.”)

These are those who are left to represent Jesus on earth – true and false followers.

Then Jesus introduced another group of characters in the parable.  The “citizens” of his land HATED the nobleman and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to reign over us.”

• (Actually, this happened in the case of Herod. The Jews sent a delegation to Rome saying they did NOT want him to reign over them.  But they were denied, and he returned as king for a while.)

These “citizens” represented the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day, who rejected Him as their Messiah, and were plotting even then to kill Him.

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Eventually, the Nobleman returned, having gained His Kingdom, and He called His servants to account, rewarding them in His Kingdom.

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Vss. 16-26.

In this accounting, the nobleman addresses only THREE servants, but let’s consider them representatives of the others.

The first came and presented ten minas for the one he was given. “Well done, good servant!  Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.”

The second came and presented five minas for the one he was given.  “And you are to be over fivc cities.”

Then another came with  “such an excuse!!”  “Here is your one mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man.  You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” 

Ah-oh!

• (Could this servant represent those who profess to be followers of Jesus, but who are afraid to witness, and never mention His name or share the good news with someone? The “least” this servant could have done was to support those who DID spread the Gospel)

The nobleman answered, “You wicked servant!  I will condemn you with your own words.  If you knew I was that kind of man … why did you not put my money in the bank, and I would (at least) get it back with interest?”

And the nobleman gave this servant’s mina to the servant who had earned ten.

THEN, the nobleman dealt with his citizens (enemies), who hated him and didn’t want him to reign over them.   “Bring them here and slaughter them before me.”

WHOA!!

This is the end for those who reject Jesus.