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THE ONCE & FUTURE KING
What would Jesus have us doing while we live on earth?
This final parable in Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem highlights the believer’s responsibility or stewardship during the interval between Jesus’ death and return.
Jesus related this story to prepare His followers to understand what they were to be about after He died for mankind’s sin.
His disciples were hoping He would set up an earthly kingdom.
So Jesus tells this memorable story so His followers would know what they were to do between His departure and His second coming.
He would go away for a while and His followers would need to be faithful and productive during His absence.
Because we live in that interim time period, this parable applies directly to us.
Jesus expects us to use our talents, time, and gifts for His kingdom.
If we use the gifts and opportunities God has blessed us with, they in turn will multiply as we use them and because we used them in kingdom service.
The story indicates that the King will ask each of us to give an account for what we have done with His gifts when He returns.
While waiting for the eternal kingdom of God to begin in glory we are called upon to do Christ’s work.
Those who do will be rewarded for their effort.
Not only will each be rewarded for their kingdom effort, there will apparently be degrees of reward according to one’s faithfulness also.
Let’s use the following outline to enhance our study:
I. KINGDOM ANTICIPATION, 19:11.
II.
RECEIVING HIS KINGDOM, 19:12-14.
III.
RETURNING AS KING, 15-21.
IV.
REWARDING HIS SERVANTS, 22-27.
On the heels of Zacchaeus’ gift to the poor and returning what he gained dishonestly in demonstration of his true conversion, Jesus relays this stewardship of life parable.
Jesus tells this kingdom parable while leaving Zacchaeus’ house in preparation for His arrival in Jerusalem.
Jesus explains to us why he told the parable in verse 11.
Jesus gave this parable because ... the people with Him thought He was going to instated the kingdom immediately.
Because of the messianic expectations of Jesus’ day, His proximity to Jerusalem and the importance of His soon arrival there, these messianic expectation.
So Jesus is correcting false notions of the nature and purpose of His’ Jerusalem trip.
The parable also explains the reason for Jesus’ delay in setting up His Kingdom and helps prepare the disciple for what they should be doing with their life after His return to the Father.
II.
RECEIVING HIS KINGDOM, 19:12-14.
The story begins in VERSE 12.
The parable Jesus tells is a relevant one.
King Herod had just died and his son had journeyed to Rome to press his claims for the kingdom.
Meantime, his subjects had sent delegations to Caesar saying, “This man is not acceptable as our king.”
Jesus is using a contemporary event to veil the telling of His story.
Our nobleman went into a far country to receive his kingdom.
The man of noble birth obviously represented Jesus.
Because His followers thought the kingdom was to be set up immediately, Jesus wants to explain the reason for the delay in setting up His Kingdom.
By saying the nobleman journeyed to a distant country Jesus is suggesting a time interval between the future king’s departure and return.
Jesus indicates that He would have to leave them for an extended time before He returns as King to set up His kingdom.
Before leaving the future king in verse 13 entrusts his servants with gifts of which they were to be stewards.
Before leaving the prince “called 10 of his servants and gave them” each a expensive coin called a mina.
A mina was approximately three months’ wages for a day laborer, so its value was considerable.
They were to invest the money while he was gone.
The servants are here instructed to "Do business till I return."
Jesus could return at any moment.
But until He does, our duty as His servants is to make the best use of our talents and our opportunities to serve Him.
In view of our Savior's promise to return, let's keep developing our gifts of love, faith and hope "get on with His business!
In verse 14 his subjects sent a delegation to prevent the man of noble birth from reigning over them.
“But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
While the king is absent in an effort to secure his kingdom, his citizens oppose his sovereignty or rule.
This group of His subjects, did not want him to be ... king.
We don’t want this man to rule over us,” said the citizenry.
This was the very thing they would say a few days later of the Lord Himself ().
This voice of rebellion is still what the world says to its Creator and Sovereign.
III.
RETURNING AS KING, 15-21.
Having returned as king his servants are summon to ascertain what they had gain with their entrusted gifts in VERSE 15.
During the prince’s absence (between first and second coming) the servants were to multiply his holdings.
Even though they were in a setting hostile to the nobleman, his servants still had responsibility to carry out his command.
When the king returned, he called the servants in to find out what they had done with the money he had entrusted to them.
The first servant appears in verse 16 to report he had earn 10 more minas.
“The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’
The first servant had used the money to be productive for the king.
This one had gained another 10 minas.
In verse 17 the servant is commended and place in charge of 10 cities. “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’
The servant was commended by the king and given a reward commensurate with the amount of money earned.
Notice Jesus says he was rewarded for his faithfulness not the for the success that came as a result of his faithfulness.
Never downplay the importance of what you are doing for Jesus.
He sees it all.
The reward for diligent service in small things is the fulfillment that comes from being entrusted with greater service for our God and King, be it here or in heaven.
A second servant reported that he had added greatly to his gift in VERSE 18.
God appoints us to places of service to develop the gifts and talents He has given us.
There we are to develop our self by using our God-given opportunities, no matter how small they may seem.
There is nothing wrong with thinking big and wanting to do something important.
But as Christians, we should bring all our goals and plans to the Lord in prayer, asking for His will to be done through us.
And we must be willing to start at the bottom, with little things, if that is His plan for us.
In God's kingdom, promotions to greater usefulness go to those who are faithful in little things-to those who are willing to start with “peanuts.”
It's a big thing to do a little thing well for God.
In verse 19 the servant is commended and place in charge of 5 cities. “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Again the reward is commensurate with the amount of money earned.
In VERSE 20 a third servant reported he had hid his gift and then in verse 21 tries to justify his hiding of his master’s gift.
The unfaithful servant stood nervously before his master and confessed in effect, "Lord, I didn't do anything."
Modern Christians often tend to measure fidelity by what they do not do.
"A good Christian doesn't drink, cuss, steal, or get into mischief."
And, of course, there's some validity in that point of view.
But faithful discipleship is more, so much more, than that.
When you pray, ask the Lord to help you stay on guard against the unfaithfulness of non-involvement.
Ask Him to enable you to be involved in kingdom service.
IV.
REWARDING HIS SERVANTS, 22-27.
In verses 22-24 the newly crowned king demands the gift be taken from the unfaithful steward and given to the most faithful one.
Verse 22 indicates that the king took the fearful servant’s words at face value.
“He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave.
Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?
The slave is judged for his noncompliance with the master’s command in verse 13.
He had already decided what he wanted to do with his life and didn’t really listen to the instruction of his master.
The servant who hid his original pound displeased his master to such an extent that his one pound was taken away.
Jesus seems to be saying that there are only two classes of people—the fruitful and the unfruitful.
The fruitful are alive and reproducing.
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