Luke 19
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Luke 19
Luke 19
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus didn’t call Jesus. Jesus called him. He was up in a tree to see Him. At best curious about what he’d heard. Any more than curiosity and he’d not be up in a tree but in the street trying to get to Him.
Jesus didn’t tell him “He’d like to stay at his house”. He told him “He must stay”. It was the Father’s business and His purpose as He glorifies the Father by the redeeming of His people.
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Similar to Matt. 25 Parable of the Talents but one difference that makes me want to think it of a separate parable told for a different focus is the amounts involved. The focus there is on the different gifts and being faithful no matter what we’re given. Here we see a focus on the final outcome of the use of the gifts
A talent was a measure of weight, not a specific coin, so that a talent of gold was more valuable than a talent of silver. Money in Matt. 25:18 is literally “silver” so 5 talents there was 30,000 denarii or like 100 years pay.
Pound here is a mina which was 100 denarii or 3-4 months pay
So the point in Matt. 25 is how much value Jesus places on His people using the gifts they are given by God here on earth to labor for the kingdom and the tragedy of us wasting out gifts.
The focus is a little different here. The Bible tells us he told the parable “because he was close to Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God should immediately appear”. If Matthew makes us think of the Kingdom “already”, here Jesus is pointing ahead to the Kingdom “not yet”
After King Herod died in 4 BC, his son Archelaus took over the territory but to do so he had to go to Rome for Caesar to recognize his authority and confirm him as king of the territory. The Jews sent a delegation to Rome to plead he not be made king because of his brutality and worthlessness and rather than king, Caesar made him tetrarch.
He built his palace in Jericho not far from here so they would have thought of this and connect the dots for what Jesus is saying here in the parable
12: the nobleman went to a far country to receive his kingdom. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and the cross depart to receive His kingdom, and will one day return to rule. We see Jesus is the king here in this parable, but unlike any on earth, He’s the only perfect King.
13: the king gives ten servants ten pounds each and tells them to “occupy or ‘engage in business’” until he comes back
14: we see the rebellion of those who hate the king.
15-19: On the return of the king, the faithfulness of the servants is tested.
16-19: shows the joy of the of Jesus to the faithful. Psalm 149:4 “4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people...” and Matthew 25:21 “21 ...enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
20-27 sobering picture of what the unfaithful get when He returns
Not all unfaithfulness shows itself in hatred. Some unfaithful servants serve the wrong way and some by serving the wrong king. A lazy servant can lose the minas and maybe stature but verse 27 will show the enemy receives execution!
20-21: Fear from contempt of the king. Calling him an austere, or strict man shows even though he stands with those that are called servants he despised the king.
22-23: Our own words judge us by showing what’s in our heart Luke 6:45 “45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
If the servant truly believed the king to be strict, he would have done something with the minas. At least went to a money changer to get interest. Definitely not put it in a napkin and do nothing.
His lack of action shows his unbelief
24-26: the king takes from the unfaithful and gives to the faithful. The minas were the kings. It’s all his and he has the right to take and give as he pleases. Those that value the things of this world over the next receive neither.
27: the harshness of the judgement shows the seriousness of the offense.
There was a royal practice of executing conquered enemies in the presence of the king — a public, judicial, total judgment.
This isn't just punishment for wrong; it's the language of sovereign authority proving rightful rule against those who explicitly refused it.
They understood exactly what Jesus was saying!
2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 “7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.”
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. 29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Having seen Jesus as the King about to go receive His kingdom, this marks the entry into Passion Week.
To this point in Jesus ministry He’s been pretty low key. Not trying to raise a ruckus, just doing the work of the Father on a steady march toward Jerusalem. He’s been pretty quiet even though the crowds and excitement have steadily grown.
In John we even see the order given toward anyone that knew where he was: John 11:57 “57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”
What I want us to keep in mind this morning and for that matter especially as we head toward Easter but every day is this:
Jesus is finishing His march toward Jerusalem and the cross. And far from entering in secret, He enters triumphantly.
If the crowd of His followers don’t rejoice and praise God, not just a few loud AMEN’s but thousands of people shouting for the glory of the King, the rocks would!
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
The Messiah was here. The Kingdom of God was upon them but because of sin the city will suffer
45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I spent the most time this morning on the Parable of the Ten Minas but what do we see in Chapter 19
Zaccheus: Jesus is calling sinners to himself
Ten Minas: He’s gone to a far country to receive His kingdom but He’s coming back.
And when he get’s back, the ones faithful with what they were trusted will be given more and the ones unfaithful will have it taken away.
Those who hate the king either refusing to be His servant or ones calling themselves servants but serving a king other than Jesus, will be cast into outer darkness
Triumphal Entry: That Jesus death on the cross isn’t a tragedy to lament but the death of death and a triumph to rejoice
Weeping over Jerusalem: the truth is many will refuse to see Him as king and in fact remain in rebellion until death and eternal judgement and THAT’s the real tragedy
Cleansing the Temple: That when He comes back the first thing He’s doing is taking back what’s His. Reclaiming the Father’s house as well as His people
No amount of denial or rebellion will stop His return. The only question that matters is: Have you been called by Jesus and have you shown the response by coming down out of your tree and received Him joyfully and glorifying the King by faithfully restoring what you’ve stolen from God? Using all the gifts He’s given you for His kingdom in the joy of your salvation?
