The King and His Subjects

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Scripture Reading

Luke 19:11–27 NIV84
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. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “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. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 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.’ 22 “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? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “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. 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.’ ”

Introduction

This is the very last recorded discussion in Luke’s Gospel before Christ will arrive in Jerusalem. This is really approaching the climactic moment of Christ’s journey, and even his life in this world.
Recall that last week we considered the discussion between Jesus Zaccheus, and how Jesus had said that today, salvation had come to the house of Zaccheus. He had been radically changed, which change was evidenced in his repentance and faith that led to good weeks being done. Good works that flowed out of a willing and transformed heart because of the grace of God.
You will also recall Jesus’ words that He had come to seek and save that which as lost.
Verse 11 of our text makes the connection between that encounter and the present passage.
Luke 19:11 NIV84
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.
In other words, even as JEsus is busy interacting with Zaccheus, and the crowd is listening on, He’s very aware that this crowd of people has a particular perception of him. There is a large crowd following Jesus, walking with him. We recall the account of the blind beggar, where he heard the sounds of the crowds coming along the road, and asked what all the commotion was about.
Thus as Jesus is now shortly going to head into Jerusalem, He’s giving thought to the crowds that are following Him, and what they are anticipating as they approach Jerusalem.
What we’re going to notice from our text is that there are three kinds of people that Jesus addresses through a parable. There are three different groups or categories of people that Jesus will address in this crowd. Every single person that is with him will fit into one of those three groups / categories of people. And every single person alive today will fit into one of those groups / categories.
Before we delve into the parable that he tells them, let me re-emphasize the fact that the people were anticipating the kingdom of God being established right now. As they were following Jesus, with his own claims to be the Son of Man (Messianic title) and with all the miracles that he was performing, they were anticipating that the kingdom of God would be established as he would enter into Jerusalem.
They were anticipating that this is when the Messiah would establish his rule and reign in Jerusalem, the Holy City, and would overthrow the enemies of Israel, who at that time was primarily this powerful Roman Government, and that Israel would then have peace and security as their King would rule over them.
That was the anticipation.
Christ addresses this anticipation that they had, and through his parable will indicate to them that the anticipation / idea is false, and that there is in fact a period of time that must elapse before he comes and establishes his rule and reign. As He does this, he also addresses the three categories of people.
Notice firstly with me...

1. The Departing King (vv.12-14)

As Jesus responds now to the expectation of the kingdom of the Messiah being immediately established, he tells them a parable of a nobleman that was going off to a distant country, but expected to return in due course.
Before I delve into the details of the parable, it’s worth just pointing out that Christ himself is the Nobleman. He is sharing with those expecting the establishment of His kingdom that this Nobleman will be departing for a time.
With that in mind, let us consider firstly under this point...

1.1. The Reason for the Journey (v.12)

Verse 12 reads…
Luke 19:12 NIV84
12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.
Now, it’s worth pointing out that this account would have had a very striking interest to the people, since culturally they were aware of similar incidents in their history, although with actually physical rulers.
In 40 B.C., Herod and travelled to Rome in order to receive ruling authority from the emperor.
Later on, in 4 B.C. Archelaus went to Rome in order to receive ruling authority.
What Jesus is doing here, then, is he’s drawing on a contemporary activity to the people. They would have understood Jesus very well.
Now, obviously Christ was referring to himself ultimately as the man of Noble birth. We’ve seen already from Luke 1:32 that Jesus would be the King to sit on the throne of His David. But Christ now speaks about himself going to a distant country to have himself appointed king, and then to return.
The distant land in Christ’s scenario is in glory at His Father’s side. Christ was soon to be crucified, but having been buried, He would be raised again on the third day, and would then ascend to heaven, where the Father would grant to him all authority as a reward for His work.
We read something of this in Ephesians 1:20-23. Paul speaks about various blessings for the saints in Jesus Christ, but then explains that they are “in accordance with the working of the strength of His might....
Ephesians 1:20–23 NASB95
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Everything has been put into subjection under Christ. He rules and reigns.
As Christ is addressing this crowd, what he’s saying to them is that he will be departing this world for a time. He will be going away in order to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
2 Peter 3:4–7 NASB95
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The leads us to consider a second thing concerning his departure, and that is...

1.2. The Preparation for the Journey (v.13)

This king is not simply going to leave the world without some careful preparations being made. At the very least, he is going to be giving instructions to His disciples that He would leave behind.
Verse 13 tells us…
Luke 19:13 NIV84
13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’
The King calls ten of his servants to him, and he gives them each an amount of money. There were ten servants, and ten minas given, amounting to one mina each.
The exact value of the mina is not of that great importance for understanding the parable. It was however not a small value. It amounted to approximately 100 days wages for the basic worker. In other words, it was about three month’s wages given in lump sum to each person.
The purpose of the king giving the money to the subjects was in order that they may “put this money to work.” That was the very explicit instruction. They were to take the value given to them, proceed to do business with it, and ensure that it brought a return for Him.
Notice that he also explains taht they are to do this “until I come back.” The tense there makes the coming back a certainty. It can be better translated “while I am coming back.”
In preparation for the journey to be appointed king, this king clearly confers upon his subjects a responsibility. They are responsible to take what is given to them in order to bring in profit.
Bringing this into the context of the people to whom Jesus was speaking, what He was teaching them was that they were going to be given in order to wisely steward.
What was it that this King, Jesus Christ, would be leaving in their care in order to wisely steward? The Gospel message. The Truth concerning Jesus Christ. The messsage of the Gospel of the Kingdom. And based on Salvation that would be given to these subjects, they would be required to Steward whatever Spiritual gifts were granted to them in a wise manner in preparation for the return of the King.
In the words of William Hendriksen:
Luke A. A Nobleman, in Quest of a Kingdom, Entrusts a Pound Apiece to Ten Servants, and Then Leaves

They must conduct themselves in such a manner that through their word and example sinners are brought to the Lord, believers are strengthened in the faith, they themselves grow in every Christian virtue, and every sphere (social, economic, political, educational, etc.) is brought under the influence of the gospel, all this to the glory of God.

Having thus apportioned this money to them, the Nobleman goes on his way. But before we move on, we must note thirdly under this first main point…

1.3. The Opposition to the Journey (v.14)

The Nobleman immeditely faces opposition to his journey to be annointed King. In verse 14 we read...
Luke 19:14 NIV84
14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
Once again, this was not an uncommon occurrence in the day with the earthly rulers. These rulers that went to Rome would be opposed by many people.
But Jesus is ultimately pointing here to the opposition that he was receiving and would continue to receive from the people of the world, both in terms of rulers of the world, and in terms of the JEwish people as a general principle.
Psalm 2, which we read this morning as our Scripture reading, clearly portrayed the opposition that the Son would face.
Psalm 2:2–3 NASB95
2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”
But we see this elsewhere in the Psalms as well. In Psalm 118:22-23 we read…
Psalm 118:22–23 NASB95
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. 23 This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
Indeed, this Nobleman would be the stone which the builders rejected. He would be a stumbling block to them. They would bring opposition to Him in every way they could. They had rejected Him because of they hated who He was, and didn’t want Him to be King and ruler over them.
In summary, it’s best to say that He didn’t fit their stereotypical picture of a Messiah.
This leads us to consider the second main point…

2. The Returning King (vv.15-27)

We pick up in verse 15...
Luke 19:15 NIV84
15 “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.
Whether the subjects of the kingdom agreed or not, this Nobleman was made king.
So it is with Christ. It matters not what the people say. The world may be set against the King of kings, but He will be the everlasting King according to the decree of God.
As this king returns, we take note that he approaches the subjects of his kingdom, and begins to evaluate in terms of what they have done with all that was entrusted into their care.
The first point we note in this regard, is...

2.1. Rewards for the Faithful (vv.16-19)

As we consider this section, we must note that these verses speak to the second category of people that I’ve mentioned in my introduction. This is the second category - those who were faithful to do what their king commanded.
In Luke 19:16 we read.
Luke 19:16 NIV84
16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
And then again in verse 18 we read...
Luke 19:18 NASB95
18 “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’
Here were two different servants, entrusted with a similar amount / value prior to the master’s departure, who were now giving an account of what had happened with what was under their care.
The first servant had clearly been extremely industrious. He had increased the masters money ten-fold.
The second and also made a significant increase on the master’s resources. He had increased the amount five-fold.
What is important to note is that the master commends both of these servants for increasing, for wisely stewarding, what he had entrusted into their care.
We also see that each of these servants was rewarded in proportion to what they were able to do with what was entrusted into their care.
To the first servant, Jesus’ reply is found in verse 17…
Luke 19:17 NIV84
17 “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’
In accordance with the ten-fold increase of the master’s goods, this servant was firstly commended by his master. He said, well done! He tells his servant that he has been found trustworthy in a very small matter. There is a verbal commendation given to this servant that was faithful to his master’s instructions.
Further to this, the servant is entrusted with greater responsibilities within the kingdom. He is given ten cities to rule over, according to the ten minas that he had generated with the one given to him.
Likewise, the second servant is rewarded according to the five minas that he had made from the one given to him…
Luke 19:19 NIV84
19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’
I’m quite certain that there was a commendation given to the servant as well. It’s simply omitted here for the sake of Luke’s record… But the implication is there. You’ve been faithful, you will take charge of cities in accordance with your faithfulness.
As we continue to look at this account, we realise that not all the servants of the king were faithful.

2.2. Rebuke for the Unfaithful (vv.20-26)

In verses 20-21 we read…
Luke 19:20–21 NIV84
20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 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.’
This third servant failed to take what was entrusted to him and to generate more. He simply hid the mina away, and upon the master’s return, gave it back to him. There was no industriousness. There was no effort to gain an increase. There was no applying himself to taking what was entrusted to his care, and stewarding that wisely.
In verse 21, he presents to the king what can only amount to an excuse. The other subjects of the kingdom were perfectly willing and able to work with what was given to them to make more. All this servant could do was to make an excuse for why he did nothing with what was given to him.
I don’t believe that in the context of this parable, that this excuse is justifiable. In other words, we ought not jump to the conclusion that this is an accurate description of the king.
In Proverbs, we find numerous Proverbs that are directed against the man who is lazy. He’s called a sluggard. He’s got no real interest in doing very much at all, but expects everything to be done for him. In Proverbs 26:13-16, we read some of the descriptions of this sluggard…
Proverbs 26:13–16 NASB95
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!” 14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.
Notice from this section in Proverbs that the sluggard is described both in terms of what he does, his actions that demonstrate laziness, and also by the words that he uses to get out of doing work.
In this case, he says that there’s a lion in the road… there’s a lion in the open square. I can’t go out and do work because it’s far too dangerous. I’ll be killed. This is nothing more than an excuse for laziness.
And this is precisely what this wicked servant is doing. Not only has he not gone out and worked with the mina entrusted to him, but he now maligns the character of the king as the basis for his failure.
He is doubly wicked.
Notice the response from the master…
Luke 19:22 NIV84
22 “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?
Luke 19:23 NIV84
23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
Notice that the master’s response is based on the accusation of the servant. In other words, the master is not here agreeing with the servant’s assessment of him. He’s not saying that the servant has given an accurate description at all. He simply says to him - “I will judge you by your own words...”
Since you say that I was such a “hard man,” should you not have done what any reasonable person would have done.
We need to recognise that even in that day, there were different ways of handling money. The most unsafe way to handle money was considered to hide it in your clothing. A safer way of handling it would have been to bury it underground.
Far better would have been to put the money on deposit, which is what the master says to the servant in verse 23. That way, it would have been safer, and it would have generated interest.
Now, notice from verse 22 how the master describes the servant. He calls him a “wicked servant.”
What this man has done is considered wickedness.
As we look further, we see the consequences that this master imposed upon this unfaithful servant.
Luke 19:24 NIV84
24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’
In other words, this man will have everything entrusted to him taken away and given to another. And in this case, the master chooses to give it to the most faithful of his servants.
At this, the servants in Jesus’ parable begin to object...
Luke 19:25 NIV84
25 “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
They’re appealing to their own sense of fairness. Was this a case of taking from the poor and giving to the rich?
The response of the nobelman in the passage is found in verse 26...
Luke 19:26 NIV84
26 “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.
The simple matter is that those who have taken what was entrusted into their care, and stewarded that well, and worked carefully and diligently with it, will be given more. They will be more greatly rewarded, and will obtain even greater amounts.
On the other hand, those who are lazy, those who would neglect their responsibility and duty to the king, making excuses for their lack of faithfulness in stewarding, they will have even what was given to them taken away.
There is no lack of fairness here. If something has been entrusted to your care, you ought to show yourself diligent to manage it well and to ensure its increase. If you neglect your duties, even that which you have will be taken away.
Finally, we see that the master turns his attention back to his opponents who were set against him, as outlined introduced in verse 14...

2.3. Retribution for the Rebellious (v.27)

The king does not hold guiltless those who sought to oppose him.
Luke 19:27 NIV84
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.’ ”
This may appear to be an extremely harsh sentence, particularly to our modern and sensitive ears. But it was an extremely familiar act within the context of the people of that day.
In the context of Jesus including this detail in the story that essentially is about himself, we need not assume that Jesus is in some way some gruesome or merciless master. We know from the entirety of Scripture that Jesus is a compassionate, merciful and gracious master.
The point here is to demosntrate the seriousness of the position of those who would oppose the worthy king!
Again, just linking this back to Psalm 2, the kings of the earth are warned lest they broken with a rod of iron, lest the wrath of God the Son be kindled against them.
Dear friends, we must take most seriously the rejection of the king. In Revelation 14:10, for those who would reject the Saviour, and instead follow after the evil one, it is said...
Revelation 14:10 NASB95
10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
God is gracious and merciful, and calls us to come and experience His love, care and compassion. To refuse this worthy King, to oppose him, is to stand under His righteous judgment.
One further comment should be made here before we come to application. Luke doesn’t record any words of Jesus in terms of what happened to the “wicked servant” who failed to steward what was entrusted to him. I will simply say that according to the account as recorded in Matthew, this wicked / lazy servant was condemned.
Matthew 25:30 NASB95
30 “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
That servant that fails to steward well, will himself be punished accordingly. By their fruits you shall know them. Those who fail to produce fruit will rightly be judged according to that fruit.

Application / Conclusion

The main thrust of this account is to demonstrate that each and every perosn is accountable before God. We will all need to give an account for how we have responded to the King - that is, King Jesus.
I’ll begin with those who would reject Jesus. We need to recognise that those who reject the king or stand opposed to the king will receive their just recompense, and it will be severe.
God has given the kingship to Jesus. He has given Christ authority to rule and reign, and all are called to submit to His reign.
There are many in our world who have created their own gods to worship. They may claim that there are many roads to God. They will claim that each person must make the most of their lives in this world, each must pursue his own destiny. It doesn’t matter which religion you choose… so long as you seek to live a good life.
That is not what God teaches. God calls each person to live in submission to His appointed king, and to reject Christ as the only Messiah is to reject the ways of God entiretly.
Furthermore, God in his righteousness and holiness has set the punishment that is due to those who refuse to worship Him and submit to the king.
Acts 17:31 NASB95
31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
Have you submitted yourself to the King? Have you humbled yourself through confession and repentance of your sin and dead works, and have you submitted to Christ as Lord, the only way of salvation?
Then we must turn our attention to those who have not resisted the king, but are claiming to live for Him and in submission to Him. I would assume that this refers to most, if not all who are seated here or listening online this morning.
the question that must be asked is, what are you doing with what He has entrusted to your care? In other words, how are you living your life in this world within your context?
It’s interesting to note that much of the discussion in this parable is directed at the servant that was faithless, who failed to wisely steward what was entrusted to his care. We know from this passage that this servant made excuses about why he didn’t work, or why there wasn’t a harvest from what was entrusted to him.
Many people today make excuses for their failure to produce spiritual fruit.
Far too many are bound up in the pursuits of this life. Their focus is on themselves and their lives, making a name for themselves. They have little time for the development of the graces of God in their lives.
Many professing Christians are prepared to come and sit in services on a Sunday morning, and do little more in terms of labouring for the kingdom. They don’t get their hands dirty in service in the church. They won’t expend themselves for the purposes of the extension of the kingdom of God.
They will come up with many reasons for why they cannot get involved, or why they don’t need to. But as we see from this parable, the King will not tolerate such excuses.
God has entrusted us with this glorious Gospel of the kingdom. God has given to each one of us gifts that we are commanded to utilise for the building up of the kingdom. Those gifts are to be utilised within the context of the local church.
We should be faithful in our service of God with the gifts and talents that He has given us.
1 Peter 4:10 NASB95
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Let me ask, are you labouring for the Kingdom? The truth of the Gospel has been given to you… are you living in light of it? Are you sharing it with others? Are you labouring for the extension of the Gospel through service within the body of Christ?
This Gospel labouring should flow out of gratitude for what God has done. In other words, the real question here is, are you so thankful for what God has done for you in Christ, that you delight to labour for His sake and the glory of His name?
If not, the starting point is to ask God to truly show you the magnitude of His grace and mercy. That you would come to understand the extent of his grace and kindness towards you in Christ.
Finally, an encouragement. God is a kind a merciful God, and He is a generous God, who will reward each of us according to what we have done. There will be no remorse upon the return of Christ for how much time, effort and resources you have expended for the kingdom of Christ. There will be no regrets for you.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, how are you labouring for the sake of Christ and the Gospel? How are you using what you have, even if that is seemingly little, to respond to God’s grace to you by labouring for His sake?
Romans 12:1 NASB95
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
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