INVEST

Jesus provides for us this parable Luke captured in chapter 19 of His Gospel. The parable of the Ten Minas. Matthew records perhaps a more familiar parable, the Parable of the Talents. There are some similarities and some differences in the parables. I’m not going to break that down this morning, but just to point out the relationship between the two.

The particular parable has Jesus telling a story similar to a real historical event his listeners would have heard and understood. After King Herod died, his son Archelaus (Are-Kay-Lee-Us) had a desire to be granted the title king. That was a little bit unusual for the Romans to grant that title, but history says that his father, King Herod, and done great thing for the Romans and Mark Antony and was granted that title.

Long story short, Archelaus felt like he was entitled to the title. Little did he know his own family, as well as some others, journeyed to Rome and oppose him receiving this title. They rejected him.

Rome doesn’t give him the title king, but gave him half the kingdom of his father and the other half went to his brother.

So why does Jesus tell this parable…He isn’t telling a story of Herod’s son to teach the people a lesson. He is telling this story to prepare His disciples for His approaching departure and the responsibility they would carry while He was gone.

Messianic expectation was rising. Luke tells us in verse 11.

This parable clarified for them, and us today, that while He is away (now), there is work to be done. Just as His disciples/servants were called to service, we are called to service. Specifically, we are called to INVEST in the Kingdom.

While The King is Away

Luke 19:11–13 CSB

11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem, and they thought the kingdom of God was going to appear right away. 12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return. 13 He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and told them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’

The nobleman is going away - reference to what is about to happen after His ascension with a promise to return.

He calls 10 of his servants and gives a mina and a command. The mina is not as much as the talent, but is about three months worth of wages. It is a significant amount.

Then He gives this command - “Engage in business until I come back.”

Do Business (NASB), Occupy (KJV), Invest (NLT)

Engage in business —> INVEST THIS MINA.Put it to work. Here is one of the differences in the parables. Each servant is given a different amount of talents, but here all 10 servants are given the same amount. 1 mina each.

The talents of Matthew’s parable most likely represent abilities, giftedness etc that God has given. But in Luke, the mina isn’t an ability but rather a “deposit” given to each servant, each Christian, it is the Gospel.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 CSB

4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts.

The Enemy Resistance

Luke 19:14 CSB

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We don’t want this man to rule over us.’

As the nobleman leaves to be appointed King, there is a delegation who go after him “REJECTING” his authority over them.

Luke B. Dedication to a Distant Kingdom: Serving with Patient Intelligence (19:11–27)

The man seeking the kingship had to deal with other people besides the slaves of his household. He had citizens of the kingdom. These people were not slaves. Rather, they claimed power and influence in the kingdom. They had resources of their own, independent of this king. They used these resources to send their own delegation to the far country, trying to prevent his appointment as king. They did not want this man as king.

This is very close to the story of Archelaus, except for the fact that Jesus is the righteous king and His enemy is evil. Behind this imagery is no doubt a reference to the Pharisees and other leaders. Remember the Passsion Week, John 19:14-16

John 19:14–16 CSB

14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!” 15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?” “We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered. 16 Then he handed him over to be crucified. Then they took Jesus away.

Pilate also had a sign hung above him that read, “The King of the Jews.” The Jews balked at that assertion yet Pilate decided to leave it in place.

Jesus was rejected, and the world will continue to rebel against all that He stands for.

Now, despite their best efforts, the enemy was NOT successful. The opposition failed…you can’t impeach the King of kings, and he’s not going to resign.

Luke 19:15 tells us the King Returns!

The Return of the King

Luke 19:15 CSB

15 “At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business.

He was made King at the resurrection! This now is a look at the second advent, the return of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!

The king returns to settle accounts.

First Servant - He took 1 mina and made 10 more for the King.

Verse 17 - Well done, good servant!” “Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.”

Second Servant - He took 1 mina and made 5 more.

Notice both were humble about it, “Your mina made 10 more,” “Your mina made 5 more...”

The reward is astounding…10 cities and 5 cities…they managed what was given to them well and and their rewards are beyond expectation. Because of their faithfulness to the charge given, they are rewarded.

Third Servant - Not so much going on here. He tucked the mina away in a handkerchief. Now the King told him to “engage in business” but this servant did not do what the King asked him to do…he stuffed the mina in a hanky and put it in his pocket.

What justification is offered by the third servant for his disobedience?

Fear - He was afraid of the King. The language here tells us he was in “constant fear” of his master because he thought his master was a ruthless, cut throat businessman.

His fear of the King vetoed his faithfulness or his fear of being faithless.

This wasn’t responsibility, it laziness.

“I have kept it safe in a cloth” implies an intentional act on the third servants part. He is proclaiming that it is somehow virtuous that he didn’t lose the kings money.

His fear turned out to be not true…why? He took the minas from the servants, but elevated them at the same time. He gave them cities to have authority over.

His fear actually turned into a description of himself.

This is what we call today a nominal Christian. - Willing to be identified with Christ, but not willing to INVEST and take risk for Jesus. (1 Cor 3:15) -

1 Corinthians 3:15 CSB

15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

There are two extremes in this story - GREAT FAITHFULNESS AND COMPLETE FAILURE

Judgment Comes - Luke 19:22

He will condemn him by his own words.

The statements he made about the king were not true as we’ve seen from the first two servants.

The king goes on to say, if you know me to be a harsh man, you should’ve at least put the money in the bank and let it draw interest.

What is given is taken back and given to the one who has more.

19:26 The principle is pretty clear - Even though those around object, the faithful receive more, the faithless have what little they do have taken away.

The Enemy - He’s not forgotten - 19:27

This is the future of those who reject Christ…it is an apocalyptic ending. Rev 19:11-16

This is solemn truth - JESUS IS COMING INTO THIS WORLD AND IT FORCES US TO MAKE A CHOICE - AND IT IS A DECISION WITH ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES.

So where are we now?

INVEST

Right now, those who follow Jesus are stewards of this Mina - the Gospel.

A steward is one who is “entrusted” with something that belongs to another. So stewardship is living faithfully with what you’ve been entrusted to keep.

In the parable Jesus told about the 10 minas, we have two examples of stewardship. There are other examples in Scripture that we don’t have time to go into this morning. Typically we think of stewardship dealing with only our time, talents, and treasures. The greatest treasure of all though is the Gift of the Gospel.

So Jesus tells these servants to INVEST until He returns. Let’s take a bit of a deeper dive into what that looks like for us in the church.

1 Corinthians 4:1–2 CSB

1 A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. 2 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.

Investing the Gospel begins with a servant of Christ.

1 Cor. 4:1a - “A person should think of us this way: as servants of Christ.”

We are servants of the Lord —> Moses, Joshua, and David are called servants of the Lord. Guess what…so are you.

God always calls, appoints, and equips the servant. By the way, I hope you don’t have a problem with that term, servant. It does mean that we are subordinate to the King of kings…just so that we are all clear on that…we are servants, subordinates, assistants.

But in order to be a servant, you must be saved. For Paul, the account in Acts 26:15-18 is the moment he became a servant and was commanded to invest the treasure of the Gospel in the Gentiles.

Investing the Gospel means that I am entrusted with the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 4:1b - “think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God.”

The steward was a high ranking servant entrusted with the oversight of the household.

“Mysteries” —> What has been entrusted to their charge is something important and carries weight.

It is the redemptive grace of God kept secret for a long time, but finally revealed in Christ.

Three of the Gospels tell of the disciples receiving, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of God...”

The “mystery” is not something that is incomprehensible, but something which is beyond the reach of our intelligence, but has been made known to us by revelation, His revelation.

1 Corinthians 1:17

1 Corinthians 1:17 CSB

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

Paul stated that he was not called to administer ordinances, there is no power in the ordinance to change a life…It is the GOSPEL that changes lives for the glory of God.

Notice also that Paul didn’t have to dress up the gospel so people would believe him…The Cross of Christ needs nothing of me to effect change.

Sometimes we don’t invest because we are timid…thinking we have to have the right words…you only need to tell people that Christ died for sinners, and was raised from the dead.

So investing and stewarding the Gospel for Paul means that we are meant to preserve and teach the truth revealed.

Investing the Gospel means that I am called to faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 4:2 - “In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful.”

Why? Because we will face the judgment seat of Christ. The three servants faced the King upon His return. The same will be true for us. Look at the rest of what Paul writes…1 Cor 4:5

The Corinthians valued eloquence and human wisdom, but Paul rejected that and says that the servant/steward/investor will be evaluated by their standard of faithfulness to Christ. Correctly handing the gospel, the mystery.

Two of the servants did just that, the other hid it in a hanky.

Paul called Timothy to faithfulness:

2 Timothy 1:6-7 - Rekindle the gift - You’ve got the spirit of power, love and sound judgment to INVEST the Gospel.

2 Tim 1:8 - Don’t be ashamed of the message.

2 Tim 1:12 - Don’t be ashamed to suffer because He is able to keep what has been entrusted to me until that day.

2 Tim 1:13-14 - Hold to the pattern of sound teaching that you’ve heard from me…guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Investing the Gospel means my goal is to present everyone complete in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 1:27-28

Conclusion

This third servant’s lack of fruit and poor stewardship is a direct result of his lack of recognition of God’s grace. It is a heart attitude that prevented this servant from investing in the Master’s call.

So let me encourage you this morning, because the time is quickly approaching when our King will return…INVEST what He’s entrusted you with.

Be trustworthy with the Gospel.

Pursue the lost and share the mystery with them.

Disciple others and be discipled yourself.

Run well and finish the race.