King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes. The man of noble birth was made king and returned. He called the servants forward to see what they had gained with what they’d been given. How did they do with the privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities of life? We’re only told about three of the ten: the good servant; the second or middle servant; and the wicked servant showing there are different levels in eternity.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 19
By Pastor Delbert Young
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27
Audio
.
Video
.
WATCH SERMON VIDEO
.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
Scriptures: Luke 19:11, Luke 19:9-10, Luke 19:12-14, Luke 19:15-27
Jesus was about a week away from his execution at Jerusalem. He’s had a divine appointment with a man named Zacchaeus, went home with Zacchaeus, and remained at Zacchaeus’ house. It seems to be there Jesus gave the parable we study today.
Luke 19:11 While THEY were LISTENING TO THIS, he went on to tell them a parable, BECAUSE HE WAS NEAR JERUSALEM and the PEOPLE THOUGHT that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
Why did Jesus tell them this parable? To what were they listening? Recall, that Jesus was at the house of Zacchaeus.
Luke 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For THE SON OF MAN came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Verse 11 says, “…because.” There’s a real purpose for telling this parable. Their concept of the kingdom’s appearing was different from our concept. To them, the Messiah would come, overthrow the Roman Empire who ruled them, and establish Israel as the world power. As we’ve learned the term “Son of Man” contradicts this thinking and deals with an event and days similar to “the days of Noah” and “the days of Lot” (Luk 17:24-37) coming upon their generation (Luk 21:32; Mat 24:34). Jesus was continuously telling them this, but their, and our, minds are like Teflon. It didn’t stick. So, I don’t feel too bad when I say it and it doesn’t stick. Jesus will tell them they didn’t understand the kingdom or the purpose of the Son of Man. Let’s see if we do.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
Luke 19:12-14 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘PUT THIS MONEY TO WORK,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
This sounds much like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14. It’s not. The parable of the talents took place a few days later during Christ’s Passion Week and has a different meaning and purpose.
A primary form of interpretation is to ask how those listening interpreted it. A similar event actually happened in Judea. In those days a person appointed as king or governor over a region must first appear and receive a commission from Caesar. Around 37 BC Herod the Great went before Caesar to receive his commission. After Herod the Great died, his son, Herod Archelaus, went to Rome to be commissioned by Caesar Augustus to rule the area of Judea including Jericho, but was hated by the people. Archelaus slaughtered three thousand Jews according to Josephus the historian.
A delegation actually went to Caesar, saying, “We don’t want this man to be our king.” However, Archelaus was made king. He built a castle at Jericho and eventually died there. Jericho was where Jesus told this parable. Jesus formed this familiar event into a parable because he was near Jerusalem and people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.
The parable includes Servants, Subjects, and the King.
Prior to the man of noble birth’s leaving to be commissioned he gave his ten servants (us) ten minas. A mina was an amount of money equivalent to about three month’s wages. Let’s say $15,000.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
But his subjects hated him… His subjects are not his servants. Who are the subjects in the parable? To those listening, it was primarily Judaism. Of course, the truths of the parable are not limited to those times. Today, people continue to hate Jesus not wanting this man to be king and the servants are the followers of Jesus.
The man of noble birth is Jesus, the Son of Man gone to receive his commission for the kingdom (Dan 7:13-14; Rev 5).
The mina is the gift of a life we’ve each been given to invest and make productive. When the king returns and looks at the spreadsheet of the servants’ lives what will happen? What about the subjects who hated him and did not want him to rule over them? What will become of them? The parable answers these questions. Let’s read.
Luke 19:15-27 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had GAINED with it. “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my GOOD SERVANT!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
“THE SECOND came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you WICKED SERVANT! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. BUT THOSE ENEMIES OF MINE WHO DID NOT WANT ME TO BE KING OVER THEM — BRING THEM HERE AND KILL THEM IN FRONT OF ME.'”
Wow! This sounds extreme. The objection to Archelaus didn’t stop him from being commissioned king and neither did it stop Jesus. That’s the idea. It doesn’t matter if a person objects to Jesus. He’s King. We’ll discuss this more shortly.
The part about the servants is familiar. The man of noble birth was made king and returned. He called the servants forward to see what they had gained with what they’d been given. How did they do with the privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities of life? We’re only told about three of the ten: the good servant; the second or middle servant; and the wicked servant showing there are different levels in eternity.
The good servant increased his mina ten times.
He’d taken $15,000 and increased it to $150,000! “Well done, my good servant!” This good servant was awesome. His life was ten times better and he was rewarded accordingly with ten cities. His rewards were in direct proportion to his service and increase. We learn a little about eternity. If you’d like to know what your rewards will be in eternity, they’re in direct proportion to your life’s increase. We won’t be chunky little cupid babies sitting on clouds with tiny bows and arrows. There will be cities and rulers appointed by Jesus the King. Your position will be directly in proportion to what you do in this life. Jesus teaches us to not waste our lives and not to take eternity for granted.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
The second or middle servant increased his mina five times. He took $15,000 and increased it to $75,000. His life was five times better. His reward was less as his increase was less. We learn giving the mina was actually a test by the king to see who was worthy of greater responsibilities. We all won’t increase the same, but everyone’s life should increase when serving the king. Interestingly we see we will not be “equal” in eternity. There are levels of authority and levels of existence (for lack of a better word). We will all have responsibilities related to our service and productivity in this life.
Luke 19:20-21 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I HAVE KEPT IT LAID AWAY IN A PIECE OF CLOTH. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
He didn’t do anything with his life and was disrespectful of it. He blamed the king for his failure. People blame God for their failure every day. He was given his mina – life. He wrapped it in a piece of cloth, not God. This is essentially what many do with their lives after coming to Christ. How about you? Are you a mummy wrapped in cloth or alive? What have you gained? Do you serve? Do you give? How about do you witness? Or do you pray? How has your life gained?
He said, “You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” The king didn’t deny this. God does take what he wants. Instead of denying it, the king used it to judge the wicked servant. Don’t “dis” God. It will judge you.
Luke 19:22-26 “His master replied, ‘I WILL JUDGE YOU BY YOUR OWN WORDS, you WICKED SERVANT! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
We are judged by our own words. Speak wisely. People questioned the king’s giving the wicked servant’s $15,000 to the one with $150,000. Maybe it’s not fair, but it’s wise. Jesus deals with us according to trustworthiness, not fairness. (Someone should tell the President and this Administration how Jesus isn’t about redistribution of wealth. Jesus is not a socialist. Jesus is a capitalist.) I’ll ask you. What would you do if investing $15,000? Would you invest it where your $15,000 would increase to $150,000, or invest it where it’s wrapped in a cloth?
Concerning the subjects who hated the king and did not want him to rule over them, let’s read again about them.
Luke 19:14-15 “But his SUBJECTS HATED HIM and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ “HE WAS MADE KING, however, and returned home.
Luke 19:27 But those ENEMIES OF MINE who did not want me to be king over them — bring them here and KILL THEM in front of me.'”
The word translated kill is katasphatto {kat-as-fat’-to} – to kill off, to slaughter. Jesus chose his words carefully meaning exactly what he said. The listeners would recall how King Archelaus slaughtered the Jews. Jesus does have enemies. They hate him. Jesus wasn’t what they wanted. Did it matter they didn’t want him? No. They were his subjects like it or not. You may hate Christ. He may not be what you want. No matter. He is sovereign over you like it or not. You may be a Judaist, Muslim, atheist, etc. No matter. You live in his world on his planet. You can reject him, and you can hate him. Also, you can ignore him, but he owns you and will determine your eternity.
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
Jesus said, “Bring them here and kill them in front of me.” It wasn’t “go kill them.” It’s “kill them in front of me.” So much for the “Gospel of Inclusion” or “Universalism” teaching everyone is fine and will go to heaven.
Jesus told this parable because he was near Jerusalem and people thought the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. This parable is concerning what would happen to Jerusalem, Judaism, and their generation. However, truth is eternal. Where do you best align? Are you a good servant of the king? Will you hear, “Well done, my good servant!” Are you a second servant of the king? Are you a wicked servant? What are you doing for the king with your mina?
Do you remember the first church you attended where something amazing happened in your life?
You sat in a chair, or pew, you had not invested in. There was a pastor you had not invested in his salary. There was air conditioning you enjoyed. If you had children there were ministries for them imparting into their lives. You had not invested in any of these, but thank God others had. What are you doing now? Are you investing? I pray you’re not an enemy of the king. What will happen to you when you are brought before the king? We determine now. What are we doing for the king with our mina?
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
King Servants and Subjects Luke 19:11-27 audio video notes
Other Related Sermons:
You Are The Light Of The World Audio
6- How Are The Gifts To Operate 1 Audio
Increasing Church By Strength Of Ox Audio
Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Archelaus