Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

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.

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…

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....

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.

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…

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:

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...

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.

But we see this elsewhere in the Psalms as well.

In Psalm 118:22-23 we read…

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...

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)