Luke 19:11-28 (Part Two)
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 12 viewsNotes
Transcript
********** Start Timer **********
-Let me invite you to...
...turn in your Bibles back to Luke 19...
...and to follow along.
We’re going to be continuing...
The Parable of the Ten Minas
(As it is commonly referred to...
...in the headings of most modern English translations)
We started looking at it...
...two weeks ago now.
But we mainly focused on...
...only one of the three...
...categories of people...
...that the parable addresses.
So, we’re going to back up this morning...
...and try to cover the second group...
And then, Lord-Willing...
...finish up with the third, next week.
-Alright, let’s begin, again...
By reading the whole parable...
Asking for the Lord’s blessing...
...to be upon us and it!
Luke 19, beginning in Verse 11.
This is the Word of the Lord:
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’
19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
21 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.’
22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’
26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”
28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Click Off
Pray
-Look back at verse 11, if you will...
And let’s remember...
...where and when this is taking place:
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
So, he’s addressing those false notions...
...in what he goes on to say, right?
12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
And remember the historical account of Archelaus...
…that most commentators agree...
...that Jesus was drawing to mind...
...as he told this story (ultimately) about himself:
(Elaborate)
(Show how it parallels Jesus upcoming ministry)
-Now, last time we focused only on...
...one of the three groups...
...that the parable addresses:
14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
My premise:
This was foretelling Jesus’ rejection...
...by his own ethnic kinsman.
Remember:
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
It’s hard to imagine...
...that Jesus was prophesying anything else!
-Now, we finished with the Nobleman...
...returning as a King...
...having firmly established his authority...
...and saying this:
27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”
And we were reminded in that...
...that Jesus is THE only way!
If you reject him...
...you relinquish all hope of God’s favor...
...and resign yourself...
...to eternal judgment and damnation.
That much was abundantly clear.
Click Off
-But, what about:
People who DON’T actively oppose him?
People who DO acknowledge...
...his claim to the throne of God’s Kingdom?
What about those people?
What does the Return of the King...
...mean for them?
-Well, that’s what...
...the rest of our parable is about.
And it’s not as simple...
...as it may sound at first.
-Let’s jump back up to Verse 12:
12 . . . “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
Here’s what we had to...
...skip over last week:
13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas...
So, these are folks who:
Already call him “master.”
They’re not trying to prevent him...
...from becoming their master.
So, before he goes away...
...to solidify his throne and kingdom...
...knowing that he is...
...going to be gone for a long time...
...he gives each one of them a mina.
(about 3-4 months wages)
(six day work week)
Let’s read on:
13 ...and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
Now, let’s be clear about a few things:
1.) Whose money was it?
2.) Whose business were they...
...supposed to be engaged in?
3.) Was this a suggestion, or a command?
They were identified as his servants (outwardly)
They professed him to be their lord.
What’s the point so far?
The servants of the Lord...
...are supposed to be about...
...their Lord’s business...
...until their Lord Returns, right?
(Should that affect...
...the way we live our lives?)
Kent Hughes weaves in...
...some good interpretation and application:
“Each believer receives the same investment capital for his Christian life…
“We all have the good news of Jesus Christ and its marvelous effect in our lives. And we all have the same command, to ‘Put this money to work until I come back.’
We must invest the investment Christ has made in us!
We are to multiply our spiritual capital—invest the gospel—increase the yield of the good news of salvation through Christ!” — Kent Hughes
More importantly, brethren...
...the Word of God is full of...
...clear commands like this:
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Click Off
And, I do think...
...that that is the PRIMARY application of this text...
...for MOST of us!
(Though sadly, probably not all)
-Alright, this time...
...we’re going to have to...
...skip over Verse 14...
But you can glance over it...
...and be reminded of...
...the opposition that...
...the nobleman had to overcome.
-Verse 15 picks up the narrative...
...where it’s pertinent to our scope today:
15 When he returned, having received the kingdom...
The assumption would be...
...it was a LONG time later.
Consider similar parables like...
...the Parable of the Talents:
19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came...
(This isn’t referring to 70 A.D.)
(It’s referring to His Second Coming)
And we already saw...
...what he was going to do...
...with those who had...
...openly postured themselves as his enemies.
(We saw that judgment already)
But, reading on in Verse 15...
We see this:
15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
(i.e., what return they had...
...rendered to his estate...
...with the resources...
...he had provided them)
And there’s an important and sobering... ...reminder in that already:
That...
10 ...we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
(Think Matthew 25!)
-Let’s read on:
16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’
That’s exceptional!
110% return on investment!
Here was a diligent and successful servant
He was obviously genuinely concerned...
...for his master’s affairs.
No question about it!
Look at Verse 17:
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! . . .
(notice the exclamation mark in the ESV)
In the Parable of the Talents...
...in a similar context, he adds:
21 … ‘Well done, good and faithful servant...
What does this show us?
This is not a cold and callous master.
He’s not a selfish, and abusive despot.
He doesn’t withhold his commendation...
...in order to:
Not appear weak
Not make himself vulnerable
Keep them working hard...
Rather, with exuberance...
...he commends their faithful service!
And not only that...
Let’s read on:
17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
Just think about this:
He has defeated his enemies.
He has received the fulness of his kingdom.
He has already won and conquered...
WITHOUT the help of this servant!
But yet...
Because the servant was so diligent and faithful...
...to be about his business...
...during those times of uncertainty...
The nobleman (now a king)...
...in genuine gratitude...
(though he wasn’t dependent on it)
...rewards him abundantly!
The man who was faithful to him...
...with $10,000-15,000...
Was given TEN CITIES!!!!!
Guys...
This is important.
Was this a JUST judgment?
Was this a JUST recompense?
Is this what...
...the servant’s service deserved?
ABOSLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The master wasn’t merely JUST with him.
He was gratuitous!
His reward for faithful service...
FAR outweighed the service rendered!
This is a gracious master!
This is the kind of master...
...that makes being a servant desirable!
You can’t outdo his generosity!
(That’s the Master that we serve, Christians!)
-That’s the first lesson...
...in the reckoning of his servants.
(But it’s not the last)
Look at Verse 18:
18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’
19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
So again, an over-the-top...
...gratuitous reward!
Definitely commensurate
But also gratuitous!
But… what have we failed to emphasize...
...in both of those examples so far?
It’s the implied presence...
...of this principle:
(In it, we see a second application)
10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
These servants were faithful:
With a few thousand dollars...
While their master was away...
...and their accountability to him was minimal
(Who knows if he would even return?)
(He faced fierce opposition, right?)
That showed the master...
...that they could be entrusted...
...with even greater things...
...now that he is present!
Ryken’s application here...
...is pure and solid gold:
(Here’s our third application)
What he receives is not so much a reward as a responsibility.
This is the way things work in the kingdom of God.
We do not begin with big things, but with little things, and if we are faithful with them, God will give us bigger things to do.
Do not complain about a smaller sphere of ministry, but be patient with obscure obedience, believing that a wider ministry will come if and when the time is right—even if it does not come until after the second coming. — Ryken
Click Back
Want to do great things for God?
Want to be a great man or woman of God?
Start by sweeping the floor.
Start by cleaning the bathrooms.
Start by helping behind the scenes.
Start by being faithful to your wife and kids
Start by serving your husband
Start by giving anonymously and sacrificially
Start by just being consistent and faithful...
...in all of the small things.
Serve your King faithfully...
...with the “one mina” . . .
...that he’s already given you!
Humble yourself before him...
And wait for him to raise you up!
But be okay with...
...him not doing that, too!
That’s what this text...
...is calling everyone of us to!
-Now, here’s something...
...that we Protestants tend to stumble over:
I think it would be a good time to address it.
If this is true...
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
How can this also be true?
9 ...whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
How can both of those be true...
...especially… if these are true:
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment...
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
How do we harmonize all of that?
Well, our confession...
...does a fantastic job with that:
XVI
GOOD WORKS
(Think about the context of the Reformation)
First consider this:
16:2
18 ...I will show you my faith by my works.
16:3
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
But, it acknowledges:
16:4
10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ ”
Watch this:
16:6
This acceptance does not mean our good works are completely blameless and irreproachable in God’s sight
Instead, God views them
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Isn’t that encouraging?
The author of Hebrews said:
10 ...God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints...
Here’s our imperative:
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Click Off
Let’s Pray.
