Palm Sunday - the rest of the story
Notes
Transcript
Palm Sunday - the rest of the story
Palm Sunday - the rest of the story
Most of us are all too aware that for some of us there are a few people who would rather than pat us on the back, would figuratively stab us in the back, figuratively that is . They may say that they agree and are on board but body language and voice inflection clearly telegraph that a BUT is coming. Some of those folks are not the loyal opposition, they simply have their own agenda that is often more important than the consensus of the group.
Regrettably the implications of this can impact multiple segments of life.
Understandably, we ask ourselves, “How do we process/handle them and others when not everyone knows the rest of the story?”
Do we ration our trust?
Do we single out silent dissidents?
Do we carry on and keep telling the truth even if a bit obliquely?
The latter requires an extra large measure of grace.
Balancing grace and truth can be hard.
The last few days of His earthly ministry, when Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, among those who met Him and listened to His teaching, there were a wide range of responses. Some would repent, by faith embrace and follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Others would outwardly profess to welcome, to believe and to follow Him, while inwardly they rejected Him. Still others, making no pretense of welcome, completely openly rejected Him. Sometimes that rejection was violent.
Ironically, on Palm Sunday when we remember a welcome celebration for the King who came in the name of the Lord, that welcome was for the most part soon eclipsed by a violent rejecting of that same King with cries that He be crucified.
In “the Parable of the Ten Minas”, Jesus emphasized the rest of the story, or the underlying currents behind the events -
Luke 18–24: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 8: Fitting Rewards from the Returning King (Luke 19:11–27)
returns.
Despite their similarities, this parable is not the same as the parable of the talents that Matthew records (Matt. 25:14–30). Darrell L. Bock outlines
1. The settings are different: Luke has the parable in Jericho, while Matthew has it in Jerusalem.
2. The audiences differ: Luke has the remarks in front of a crowd, while Matthew has it only with disciples.
3. Luke has a number of unique details, including an additional remark in the setting that notes the delay of consummation and a note about the citizens and emissary sent to protest the king’s selection.
4. Matthew has a businessman, while Luke has a king.
5. Matthew has three slaves, Luke ten.
6. Matthew gives the servants property and talents (five, two, and one respectively), while Luke gives each servant one mina.
7. The difference in value between a talent and a mina yields a large sum in Matthew and a small sum in Luke.
8. The rewards in Matthew are the same for each servant, while in Luke they are different. (Luke 9:51–24:53, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996], 1527)
The parable describes three distinct groups: the foes, the faithful servants, and the false servants.
The Far Country
To receive a kingdom and return
Time of Christ, Israel an occupied nation under the rule & authority of Rome.
Rome ruled conquered land through subordinate rulers who had to be approved and granted the right to rule. That process was drawn out and complicated by communication challenges and travel times.
Herod the Great had negotiated the right to rule Israel through a negotiate agreement with Mark Anthony
Luke 18–24: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 8: Fitting Rewards from the Returning King (Luke 19:11–27)
After his death in 4 B.C., Herod’s kingdom was divided among his three sons, and Archelaus was made ruler over Judea. Seeking to intimidate his subjects, he slaughtered three thousand Jews. Not surprisingly, the people hated him, and when he went to Rome to have his rule officially confirmed, they sent a delegation to appeal to Caesar not to make him their ruler. By way of compromise, Augustus granted Archelaus the right to rule, but not to use the title of king until he had gained the favor of the people—which, of course, he never did. Soon, Archelaus’s harsh rule created chaos, and the Romans removed him from power. They replaced him with a series of governors, of which Pilate was the fifth. That incident, with which all Jesus’ hearers were familiar, provided an historical experience to pave the way for this story.
Negotiation involved assuming rule before there was a power vacuum & then travel to Rome for the after the fact approval.
Right to rule was decided not by those who ruled or by other the local rulers.. Some were at odds with each other.
While they were listening - 19:11 - to Jesus affirmation that Zaccheus was now a true son of Abraham
Salvation
Son of man came to seek and save the lost
With the end of the parable of the 10 minas, Luke pointedly connected the parable as being the background for Jesus entry into Jerusalem - 19:28
Crowd - because they were near to Jerusalem:
Supposed the kingdom of God was to appear immediately = overthrow Pilate’s, Herod’s & ultimately Caesar’s rule and control
Appear - anticipation growing with each passing km - appear = appear on the horizon
When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
BUT earthly kingdom would be delayed - Jesus would first be rejected - - at His return He would rule - .
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
10 servants/slaves - 1 mina each
Servants - slaves - doulos - bond slaves - served with an intricate balance freedom but contracted service.
Mina - Greek measure of money 3 month’s wages for a labourer - $10,000
1/60th of a talent - considerably less than what was entrusted to the 3 servants in the parable of the talents - Matt 25:14-30
Command - Engage in business until I come
The Foes
Some citizens hated him.
Unlike with Archelaus, no indicated reason for hating the nobleman
Jesus was hated without cause. Jesus noted that and the OT prophesied that
But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
In spite of the hate, the foes are none the less the nobleman’s citizens
Whether people reject Jesus or not, Jesus’ rule is supreme.
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Heb
Having created this world, it is His domain and all are His subjects.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Delegation - we do not want this man to rule over us.
Delegation appeal ineffective -
Unable to keep Him from taking His throne as King of Kings and Lord of lords.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Rebellious foes - enemies will be judged by Jesus - 19:27 - ;
The Faithful Servants:
When the nobleman returned he received his kingdom - infers that the nobleman has not only received a kingdom, the delegation of verse 14 was rejected, but the nobleman is now a king.
Servants/slaves to whom he gave money were called to give an accounting of the business that they had done. This was a parable based on fact. Believers will receive heavenly rewards, not because of they being good but because of their faithful investment in what was entrusted to them.
Both Paul and Peter affirmed that.
Writing to the Corinthian believers, Paul underscored that one of most important rewards was the affirmation of their salvation.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Cor
In time of reward, faithful servants will rewarded not only for that which is obvious but also the thoughts and motives that also God can. Each of one of servants will receive commendation from God - cc , , , - commended not only for what did but their faith in God as did it.
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Your mina has made 10 minas.
MASTER YOUR MINA HAS MADE...
Most of us wrestle with what is happening when we serve out Lord, when there is spiritual response, growth and fruit. To be sure there must be in each of a sorrow and repentance of sin.
There must be both a head and heart change in attitude. But it is the Spirit of God that brings forth new life.
There is must a read and sharing the word. There must a willing service. But it is the Lord who energizes what we give to Him and give to others on His behalf. It is the Spirit of God who opens hearts and convicts of sin. It is the Spirit of God that give fruit. We only sow and water. God gives the increase.
Well done good servant - because faithful in very little, authority over 10 cities
Well done good slave.
Gracious reward incomparably greater than the stewardship of the mina.
Authority suggested assigned rule under the king.
Part of God’s original purpose for man - impacted by the fall and sin.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Gen 1:
Looks ahead to the believers being a kingdom of priests that rule as well as future rule with Christ in His future kingdom.
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
2 Tim
and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Rev
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Rev
Your mina has made 5 minas.
No less faithful
Not everyone has the same gifts and opportunities.
Authority over 5 cities
Our focus must be faithfulness.
The Fearful Unfaithful False Servants:
Another - not allos BUT heteros, the source of the English word - heterodox - from which we get heterodoxy (any opinions or doctrine at variance with an official accepted position = dissident.
So rather than another of the same kind, describes another of a different kind.
Your mina in a handkerchief
Master/Lord recognzed
In a handkerchief rather than in a bank where safe and invested - careless, lazy, thoughtless
Does not recognize value. Valuable at the very least buried short term
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Afraid because you were severe
Righteous fear would have motivated to serve/invest.
Severe - austeros - from which we get austere
You take up what you did not deposit, reap where you did not sow.
Brazenly accused his master of being a thief and stealing crops that he did not plant.
Did not acknowledge his master as master.
No love or respect for his master - no relationship
Condemned with own words
False believer - wicked - evil - poneros - slothful, inactive
But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
Matt
In the noun form - the evil one - the devil - strongly suggesting a wicked inactivity that runs deep.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
Matt 13:
The Just Judgment
The Just Judgment:
I will condemn you with your own words that were evident also by actions.
You knew.
But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
Matt
He did nothing with what entrusted to him
Rather than unfruitful believers - an unbeliever
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matt 25;
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matt 24:
Matt 24:
Take mina and give to the one with 10.
To everyone who has more will be given.
From the one who has not what he has will be taken away.
Bring these enemies of mine - slaughter them before me.
Harsh violent judgment
Slaughter - violent death - execution
He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!”
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Luke A Parable of Discipleship in the Interim between the First and Second Comings (19:11–27)
In the allegory of the parable, v. 27 is an allusion to the final judgment, and it corresponds with Jesus’ teaching elsewhere on the subject, especially his oft-repeated reference to the final judgment as the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” of the wicked. It may be, as many commentators suspect, that Luke recalls the words of v. 27 in light of the bloody destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, an event alluded to shortly in 19:43–44. If so, the desolation of Jerusalem, which was “not willing” to receive its Messiah (13:34–35), prefigures the final judgment of the wicked (Mark 13:14–20).
The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
Even harsher in the original Greek
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Luke A Parable of Discipleship in the Interim between the First and Second Comings (19:11–27)
In the allegory of the parable, v. 27 is an allusion to the final judgment, and it corresponds with Jesus’ teaching elsewhere on the subject, especially his oft-repeated reference to the final judgment as the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” of the wicked. It may be, as many commentators suspect, that Luke recalls the words of v. 27 in light of the bloody destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, an event alluded to shortly in 19:43–44. If so, the desolation of Jerusalem, which was “not willing” to receive its Messiah (13:34–35), prefigures the final judgment of the wicked (Mark 13:14–20).
Remembering and celebrating Palm Sunday, “Blessed is the King, who comes in the name of the Lord!” in its full context forces us to remember:
The bottom line is what we have done with Jesus Christ, the King who came and is coming again.
The Scriptures affirm again and again that Jesus is coming back to see how we have engaged in business until He comes.
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Heb
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
What is the business in which we are to be engaged?
Making disciples:
Being discipled - allowing ourselves to be taught and mentored with the result that mature in Christ.
CONVERTED - publically confess that Jesus is our master and we are serving Him
Baptism
Serving
“The Virginian” - by Owen Wister - How a diamond in the rough cowboy in Wyoming allowed himself to read and write better with the result that he read Shakespeare and other authors and poets. In addition t read, the Virginian dared to disagree with the ways that characters were developed and accepted.
Paul was discipled
SMALL GROUPS
Word/Worship
With other believers -
Pray
Evangelize
We will be judged/rewarded by how we receive Jesus/what we do with what He gives to us.
WE ARE VAIN IF WE THINK THAT THIS IS ABOUT US.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 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.
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Gal
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He will and does judge us individually.
Churches in Revelation
Ephesus - - endured and tested false apostles but have left first love
Smyrna - - do not fear what about to suffer
Rev 2:
Pergamum - Rev 2:12-17 - dwell where Satan’s throne is - some following Balaam’s example teaching the doctrine of the Nicolaitans - encouraged immorality, sensual pleasure and self indulgence
Thyatira - - love, faith and patient endurance but tolerate the prophetess Jezebel who encouraged immorality and eating of food offered to idols
Sardis - - reputation of being alive but dead
Philadelphia - - open door, little power but have kept my word and have not denied my name - I am coming soon, hold fast.
Laodicea - - neither hot not cold - lukewarm - I will spit you out! - be zealous repent
Leaders
How we care and share
Jesus judges justly.
Even so come Lord Jesus.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore hold fast.
I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
What kind of people should we be?
2 Pet 3:
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.