Turn your Bibles, if you would please, to Luke chapter 19.
Luke chapter 19, if you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 878.
We're making our way back through the Gospel of Luke, and we're in the final leg of the journey, as it were, this final week of Jesus' ministry.
It kind of picks up for us at the tail end of Luke chapter 18, where Jesus will recount his words in this third time where he says that he's going to go to Jerusalem,
he's going to be crucified, he's going to be killed, and then he's going to rise again.
This morning we pick up the story in Luke chapter 19, verse 11,
and we find the situation of the crowds and this growing enthusiasm of what might happen, what's going to go down there in Jerusalem.
If you remember from last week, Jesus asks this penetrating question, this question to the blind man,
what would you have for me to do for you?
And of course, the blind man answers what may have seemed like an obvious question, perhaps even absurd, of course!
This blind man wants to be healed from his blindness.
But Jesus asks the question to draw him out, to make him an example of faith,
and to draw attention, really, to the ultimate purpose of why Jesus is going to go to Jerusalem in the first place.
And as Jesus will say to Zacchaeus, the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.
That was the ultimate purpose.
Salvation from sin, forgiveness of sin, and fellowship with God.
That's the ultimate purpose.
That's what everybody in this room needs as the deepest concern, the deepest question, the deepest need of your life.
You need Jesus.
And Jesus came to offer that for us freely.
As he gave himself on the cross for our sins, he died, he was buried, he rose again,
so that he could extend and offer an invitation of forgiveness to those who believe in him,
who ask for cleansing from their sins, and who make Jesus Lord of their life.
And we have the joy, then, of participating in that forgiveness, enjoying that forgiveness,
and that fellowship with God.
And then, in our passage today, understanding, then, what that fellowship with God is meant to lead to,
as we find that Jesus is the King.
But before we really dig into the text today, it's going to be important for us to kind of develop a bit of the historical context,
so we can make a connection with the parable that Jesus is going to share.
Many of you probably know that Israel was under Roman occupation.
Most of the known world, as a matter of fact, was under Roman occupation.
And so, the Romans would rule these various territories, these various lands,
underneath subordinate leaders, subordinate rulers.
And those rulers, in order to receive the authority underneath the Roman establishment,
to rule those lands or territories, would first need to go back to Rome and get permission,
and then they could exercise that authority over those particular territories.
Herod the Great would be one of these individuals.
And he would negotiate with Mark Anthony in order to obtain the right to rule the land of Israel.
And then, when Herod would die, somewhere around 4 BC,
the sons that were left, and you remember that Herod was a pretty ferocious kind of guy,
the three sons that were left were then allowed to rule over the various territories
that were then originally underneath Herod's authority and leadership.
One of these sons was named Archelaus.
And Archelaus would go to Rome,
and he would seek to have this authority given to him over particularly the land of Judah.
But before he did this,
he would massacre 3,000 Jews on a day of Passover
to kind of establish that he's the big dog in the territory.
And so, when he went to Rome to try to get permission,
a delegation was sent behind him from the people living in Judea,
this group of representatives that would say,
wait a second, this guy, we do not want him to reign over us.
We do not want him to be king.
Well, whatever protests they would give would not amount to anything.
And Archelaus was still permitted to rule over Judah.
But because of the chaos of his leadership,
that was a short-lived kind of reign.
So that now, at the time of Jesus making his way into Jerusalem,
now there would be five different governors,
not leaders or kings,
there would be five different governors.
Pilate would be that fifth governor
who would now be exercising that authority
specifically over this territory of Judea and Jerusalem.
That kind of provides a bit of historical context
to help us understand and grasp what this parable is
that Jesus is about to share with the people
who are making pilgrimage and walking with him
from Jericho now up to Jerusalem.
It was about a 17-mile trek,
about six to seven hours worth of traveling,
3,300 feet in elevation,
this difference between Jericho and Jerusalem.
So any of you who have done any hiking in the mountains
will know how grueling and exhausting that trip would be.
We find Jesus here now in this massive crowd
in Luke chapter 19, beginning in verse 11.
Let me read this for us and we'll dive into our study.
It says,
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.
This heightened expectation of the imminence of this kingdom.
And Jesus will tell this parable
to help set the course
and help his audience, this crowd,
understand that he in fact is the king.
That what they anticipated
about who he was,
his identity,
was in fact true
and Jesus is king.
And that's our first point for this morning
that Jesus is king.
Beginning there in verse 11.
And there are a number of reasons why
the crowd could draw this conclusion.
And a number of reasons why now
on their ascent from Jericho to Jerusalem,
why there is this sense in which
that the kingdom would appear immediately.
Because of the way that Jesus taught.
Because of the titles
that he engendered to himself.
And so I want to just briefly walk through those
so we can see that the crowd
wasn't totally out of touch.
First,
we find that Jesus uses the title son of man.
He uses this title of himself
that helps to distinguish him
as this messianic figure.
And when we find the beginning of verse 11,
as they heard these things,
our immediate question as Bible students should be,
what things?
What things did they hear?
And so we must assume,
based upon Luke's statement here,
that the things that are being referred to
are the things in the immediate context,
perhaps the things in Jericho,
but precisely the things in verse 10 of chapter 19,
where Jesus makes this statement,
and I think it's directed at Zacchaeus,
but the rest of the crowd
apparently is able to hear this statement,
the son of man has come to seek
and to save the lost.
Son of man has come.
Zacchaeus has been transformed.
Jesus will go to his house.
And Jesus will be able to observe
in Zacchaeus' life,
this change of heart,
this repentance that's taken place,
where he turned from a thief
to one who becomes generous.
He turns from one who is serving self
to serving God,
to serving others.
And Jesus will say in verse 9,
salvation has come to this house.
And the change has been represented in some way
by the fact that Zacchaeus is now interested
in distributing the things that he has.
In not just fulfilling the expectations of the law,
but in exceeding the expectation of the law.
I'm going to give four times
what I have defrauded my brother.
And Jesus will use this title,
son of man,
that has great significance
in the minds of the first century Jew.
Let's draw attention to this prophet, Daniel.
And those of us who were part of the series
this summer in Daniel
will recognize that Daniel had much to say
about this coming kingdom.
And in Daniel chapter 7,
verses 13 and 14,
drawing from a vision that Daniel receives
and speaking about this ancient of days
and these thrones in heaven,
Daniel says,
I saw in the night vision
and behold with the clouds of heaven
there came one like the son of man.
And that's our title.
He came to the ancient of days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
which shall not pass away.
His kingdom,
one that shall not be destroyed.
And so when Jesus uses this title of himself,
by the way,
19 times throughout the gospel of Luke,
Jesus is simply saying,
I'm the son of man.
I'm the guy.
I'm the Messiah.
And all that you came to expect
about the son of man
will come true
through my life and my ministry.
The son of man.
Next, we come to see
that Jesus tells them
what to expect in Jerusalem.
And again,
we're referring to these things,
the things that they've heard
now in Jericho
just the day before.
And so Jesus tells them
what to expect there
in chapter 18, verse 31.
He says,
taking the 12,
he said to them,
see, we are going up to Jerusalem
and everything
that is written
about the son of man
by the prophets
will be accomplished.
And so now you attach this title,
son of man,
and what was spoken
by the prophets
will be accomplished
up in Jerusalem.
And in the minds
of all of the crowd,
especially the disciples
who are hearing this statement,
the alarm bells are going off.
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
The things that were spoken
about the son of man
will be accomplished
in Jerusalem.
This is it.
The time has come.
We're ready to go.
We're going to Jerusalem
because that's
where kings are crowned.
And this enthusiasm
of the crowd
and this mounting excitement,
this anticipation
of the fact
that because
of what Jesus has said
and because of
what they've observed
Jesus doing,
nothing is going to get
in the way
of Jesus being able
to fulfill
the word of the prophets.
Next, we have
the fact that Jesus
accepts this title,
son of David.
Also, back in Luke chapter 18,
verses 36 and 39.
As Jesus is making
his way through Jericho
on this Friday,
we encountered
this blind man
who yells out.
He understands
that Jesus of Nazareth
is walking through
and he says here,
he cries out,
Jesus,
son of David,
have mercy on me.
And those who were
in front rebuked him,
telling him to be silent,
but he cried out
all the more,
son of David,
have mercy on me.
As we saw last week,
this was not just
a statement
that referred to
ancestry
as Jesus being
a descendant of David,
but this was a statement
that referred to
his sovereignty.
It referred to
his position,
his title,
son of David,
was emblematic
of the one
who would come
and sit on David's throne
as a fulfillment
to the Davidic covenant.
This is the guy.
And somehow,
this blind man
had the spiritual perception
to see
that Jesus
was in fact
the son of David.
Maybe even
in his heart
remembering
this blind man
understanding
the prophet Isaiah,
speaking about
what the Messiah
would do,
the son of David
would do
in terms of
opening blind eyes
and hearing
the work
of Christ
in his public ministry
and knowing
that Jesus
could do this,
he must be
the Messiah,
the son of David.
And Jesus,
in hearing
and receiving
this word,
this title,
son of David,
does not correct
the blind man,
but in fact
causes the crowd
to pause
and affirms
the statement
of the blind man
by directing
attention to his faith.
Your faith
has made you
whole,
has made you
well,
which made you
well is another
word,
sozo,
which is your faith
has saved you.
He draws attention,
Jesus does,
to the faith
of this blind man,
the truthfulness
of the title
and he receives,
he accepts this title,
son of David
for himself.
So,
you can imagine
that this crowd
in observing
all of these things
recognizing Jesus,
speaking of himself
as son of man,
hearing the blind man
refer to him
as the son of David,
both titles
which are full
of messianic
significance,
seeing the power
of Jesus
in healing
the blind man,
now hearing
about Jesus
in saving,
seeking,
and saving
the lost
and they're thinking,
we need salvation,
it's here,
it's come.
then you add
to that
the ministry
of Jesus himself,
that he consistently
teaches
about the kingdom,
time and time
again,
Jesus' ministry
is punctuated
by kingdom language.
Jesus made
a big deal
about the kingdom
during his public
ministry.
There are 46 times
throughout the gospel
of Luke alone
where we see Jesus
referring to
the kingdom.
And I've put
many of those
references for you
in your outlines
and I'm not going
to go through
every single one
of them,
but I do want
to give you
a sampling.
In Luke chapter 4
verse 43,
this is at the outset
of Jesus'
public ministry
in Nazareth,
he says this,
he said to them,
I must preach
the good news
of the kingdom
of God
to the other
towns as well
for I was sent
for this purpose.
Then in Luke chapter 8
verse 1,
it says,
soon afterward,
he went on
through cities
and villages
proclaiming
and bringing
the good news
of the kingdom
of God.
And then Jesus
will commission
his disciples
and he'll send
them out
two by two
to do ministry
and these are
the instructions
he gives to them
in Luke chapter 9
verse 2.
He sent them
out to proclaim
the kingdom
of God
and to heal.
Now,
Jesus has turned
the corner
in his ministry
in Luke chapter 17.
We find in Luke
chapter 17
verse 11,
on the way
to Jerusalem,
he was passing
along between
Samaria and Galilee
and now this is
kind of the last
couple of weeks
of Jesus' life.
He's picking up
pilgrims
and now they're
making their
final trek
to Jericho
and then to Jerusalem
out past the Jordan
in the region
of Perea
and Jesus
will continue
to emphasize
the significance
of the kingdom.
Seven more times
in Luke chapter 17
in Luke chapter 18
he will speak
about the kingdom
of God.
And so,
you can imagine
that this heightened
awareness,
this sensitivity
of the crowd,
the multitudes
of those
who were traveling
with Jesus
and we have
to give them credit.
They were listening,
they were watching,
they were aware,
they were observing
the things that were
going on in front
of them
and they drew
this conclusion,
Jesus must be
the king
and the kingdom
must be coming soon.
So then Jesus
capitalizes
on this teaching
moment.
And so we turn
from Jesus being
king
to Jesus
receiving his kingdom.
he will receive
his kingdom.
And so Jesus
in speaking
in this parable,
speaking about
the noblemen,
now puts himself
in this story
and wants to help
those who are listening
to recognize
the right way
to respond
to the king.
If in fact
a kingdom
is coming,
here is the way
loyal subjects,
loyal servants,
loyal citizens
will respond
to the king
and when they
don't,
here are the,
or when they do
or don't,
here are the rewards
and here are
the judgments.
Jesus wants to set
this expectation.
So we turn
now to verse 12.
Notice with me.
He said,
therefore,
a nobleman
went into a far
country
to receive
for himself
kingdom
and then return.
Calling ten
of his servants,
he gave them
ten minas
and said to them,
engage in business
until I come.
But his citizens
hated him
and sent a delegation
after him saying,
we do not want
this man
to reign
over us.
Jesus is
spelling this out
and he's going
to walk them
through this scenario,
this story,
to help draw
attention to his
kingship and help
them understand
the proper way
in which citizens
and servants
should respond
to their king.
He begins with
his departure
and his promised
return.
His departure
and his promised
return.
Jesus,
of course,
sensing the excitement
of this crowd
and this kingdom
expectation,
I think it's
important for us
to note
that Jesus
does not
correct their
expectation.
Jesus does not
say,
you know what guys,
you thought a kingdom
was coming
but it's actually
not.
No,
Jesus capitalizes
on this kingdom
or this kingdom
expectation
and he turns
this into
a teaching
opportunity.
And as
what he normally
does in using
parables,
he uses the things
that in culture
are familiar
to help
symbolize
and help
represent
spiritual concepts.
So he's using
this parable
and the
familiar things
of culture
to help them
make a connection
with the spiritual
truths that he
wants to lay out
in this parable.
Christ,
he's drawing,
of course,
from the event
of Archelaus
and he's drawing
from the event
of those Judeans
early on
in the first
century
who rejected
or refused
to have
this man
rule over them.
They sent
a delegation
after him
trying to
prevent that
from taking place
but of course
the nobleman,
Archelaus,
did in fact
receive his kingdom.
all the protests,
all of the
delegations,
all of the
representatives
were not going
to keep
this nobleman
from receiving
that which was
entitled to him.
So he goes
to receive
this kingdom
and there's
an expectation
that while he
is away
there will be
an inevitable
return.
And of course
as we consider
this story
and we recognize
that Jesus
in fact
is this
nobleman
that Jesus
we are anticipating
that he will
also return
to lay claim
on his kingdom
and exercise
authority over
his people.
We are waiting
in that day
that already
not yet
period of time
and so
the servants
who are in
this story
are going to be
representative
of the servants
of God
in the church.
Verse 13
speaks about
the instructions
that are given
to these servants.
It said
verse 13
he calls
ten of his
servants
he gave them
ten minutes
and said to them
engage in business
until I come.
The instructions
are clear
the instructions
are simple
and he calls
these ten servants
before him
and
this
number
ten
is a number
of completion.
I think
it's important
that this
the ten
servants
are not
twelve
so you're not
making a correlation
with disciples
per se
but you're
making a correlation
just with servants
in general.
These servants
are called
and each of these
servants is given
the same thing.
Each one
is given
a mina.
A mina
is about
three months
salary
and for
a nobleman
of course
three months
salary
times ten
is really
not that
significant
a number.
For a person
who will
inherit a kingdom
for a person
of this
authority
and stature
to give
such a
small amount
to his
servants
is meant
to communicate
something
about the
character
of the
nobleman
himself.
And right
at the outset
we should
come to
recognize
that this
wasn't
about
the
nobleman
receiving
or getting
profit
from
his
servants
but to
demonstrate
a pattern
of stewardship
a pattern
of responsibility
a pattern
of obedience.
He wasn't
after the
prophet
but trying
to establish
a pattern.
Notice how
impartial he is.
He gives
each of his
servants
the same.
notice he's
not consumed
about economic
gain.
He's consumed
or interested
in this test.
And so he
provides these
clear instructions
do this
business until
I have come.
There is an
expectation
carry it
through
it's very
simple
do what I'm
asking you to
do carry out
this business
and then when
I come
I will
see how it
goes.
At this point
we can only
assume
that the
servants that
are underneath
this master
are loyal.
That's all we
can assume.
So then the
story transitions
from the
servants now
to the
kingdom
and the
nobleman
that the
nobleman
was to
receive.
And we
see here
in verse
14
the defiance
of the
citizens.
The defiance
of these
citizens.
It says
but his
citizens
hated him
and sent
a delegation
after him
saying
we do
not want
this man
to reign
over us.
Now
up to this
point
this week
I was really
confused about
what was
going on.
Like I
thought he
was going
to this
other kingdom
to inherit
that kingdom
so that then
he was going
to come
back and I
was just
because I
didn't understand
the historical
context my
mind was all
scrambled but
now I think
this makes
sense.
that as
it fits
in the
context of
the history
of the
first century
that this
nobleman is
going to
receive this
kingdom
the authority
of the
kingdom he's
already over
and the
citizens that
know him
and have
been experiencing
some level
of his
leadership
are the
ones who
hate him
and are
sending a
delegation
after him.
Their
defiance
is striking.
Their
defiance
seems quite
risky if
you ask
me.
And whatever
defiance
and whatever
obstruction
whatever they
are doing to
try to prevent
this from
happening is
not going
to keep
this nobleman
from actually
receiving the
kingdom.
In Jesus'
parable the
decision was
out of the
hands of
these citizens
and the
nobleman
would receive
the kingdom
anyway regardless
of the defiance
of the citizens.
regardless of
their refusal
or rejection
of this
king.
And the
protests
all the
protests in
the world
were not
going to
stand in
the way
of the
final decision
of him
receiving the
kingdom that
was due
to him.
In verses
15 to 19
we turn to
the reward
that Jesus
rewards the
faithful servants.
Jesus
rewards the
faithful servants.
notice.
When he
returned
having received
the kingdom
he ordered
the servants
to whom he
had given
the money
to be called
to him
that he
might know
what they
had gained
by doing
business.
The first
came before
him saying
Lord your
mina has
made ten
more.
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.
And the
second came
saying Lord
your mina
has made
five mina.
And he
said to
him and
you are
to be over
five cities.
It's a reward
that Jesus
will give to
faithful servants
and really
the point
of this
section is
to draw
out the
true versus
the counterfeit
servants.
That while
they all
may carry
that name
the servant
of this
master what
we're going
to find is
there are
only a couple
of servants
in Jesus
story his
parable here
who will
actually carry
out and
faithfully
follow the
instructions that
have been given
to them by
the master.
They demonstrate
the true nature
of their heart
through their
obedience to
the master.
This master
comes home
and he wants
to give an
account.
But rather
than giving
specific details
of all ten
we have a
sampling as
it were.
A few
representatives
that were
kind of
setting this
precedent in
this parable
of what
will happen
for every
servant that
faithfully obeys
whether they
receive ten
or five
or one
or even
just a
pittance.
If they've
been faithful
to obey
if they've
carried out
the instructions
they demonstrate
the true nature
of their service
to the master
and they will
be rewarded.
this first
servant is
brought in
and we find
that the
servant is
able to gain
ten more
minas.
This is a
thousand percent
gain as it
were.
Ancient
businessmen
would be able
to experience
very high
kinds of
returns and
so this wasn't
terribly unusual
but notice
how the
servant
demonstrates
his work.
He says
your mina
has made
ten.
I love
that.
He doesn't
take any
credit
for the
fulfilling
of the
responsibility.
As he
was given
the stewardship
of this
mina
and he
obeyed
what the
master
told him
to do
just the
sense of
the parable
is that he
just deposited
this mina
and then all
of a sudden
what sprung
out
maybe even
to his
surprise
was ten
other minas
that he had
very little
to do with
it except
for the
fact that
he partnered
with the
master in
the business
that he had
been set
to do.
He followed
the instruction
and simply
by following
the instructions
he was able
to yield
the ten
minas.
By the way
just as a
side note
as we
work through
this parable
we come
to appreciate
the perspective
of these
faithful
servants.
We come
to understand
that the
servants
didn't see
the
instruction
as a
yoke
the servants
saw
the command
or the
instructions
as an
opportunity
to be
coupled
with their
master
in the
business
of the
kingdom.
It was
not a
duty
it was
a
privilege
and
because
of the
privilege
they got
to enjoy
the benefits
of that
investment
and the
master's
mina
your
mina
has
produced
ten
more.
I
really
had
almost
nothing
to do
with it
except
I
trusted
myself
to obey
what you
told me
to do.
This
happens
not only
with
one
servant
but with
the second
servant
and they
stand
as
representatives
of what
every
servant
who
would
be
faithful
to
obey
the
command
and
apply
that
mina
to some
level
of business
in representing
the king
were going
to enjoy.
They were going
to enjoy
some level
of yield
and result
because it
was the
master's
mina.
Now we
come to the
final section
of this
parable in
verses 20
to 27.
So
Jesus
will not
only
reward
the
faithful
but
finally
we
discover
that
Jesus
will
punish
the
wicked.
He
will
punish
the
wicked.
There
is
a
day
of
accountability.
There's
a day
of
rendering.
There's
a day
in which
those
balance
sheets
will be
looked
at
and
compared.
In
verse
20
it says
then another
came
saying
Lord
here
is
your
mina
which
I
kept
laid
away
in
a
handkerchief
for I
was
afraid
of
you
because
you
were
a
severe
man.
You
take
what
you
did
not
deposit
and
you
reap
what
you
did
not
sow.
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.
Why
then
did
you
not
put
my
money
in
the
bank?
And
at
my
coming
I
might
have
collected
it
with
interest.
This
final
servant
and he's
emblematic
of any
servant
who would
have
done
the
same
thing.
Any
servant
who
would
have
just
allowed
that
money
to
languish
hid
it
away
in
this
handkerchief
or
even
buried
it
away
as we
find
in
the
parable
in
Matthew
chapter
26
any
of
those
servants
who
would
respond
this
way
in
defying
the
instructions
of the
master
are going
to be
met
with
this
kind
of
response.
And
again
I
am
shocked
and
stunned
by the
way
that
this
servant
deflects
responsibility.
Notice
I was
afraid
of you.
Well
why
was
he
afraid?
He
shouldn't
have
been
afraid.
He
should
have
known
the
character
of
this
master.
That
character
by the
way
which
was
so
clear
just
in
the
distribution
of
the
miners
themselves
that
character
that
was
also
clear
in
the
way
he
rewarded
the
other
servants
who
were
before
him.
This
was
just
an
excuse.
He
wasn't
motivated
by love
or
loyalty
or
even a
sense
of
fulfilling
his
duty
his
obligation
he
was
driven
by
fear
and
because
of
his
fear
he
decided
to
do
nothing
and
now
he
deflects
by
pushing
this
back
with
a
pretty
pointed
criticism
you
are
a
severe
man
you
take
what
you
did
not
deposit
you
reap
what
you
do
not
sow
and
so
that
could
be
taken
one
of
two
ways
I
suppose
neither
one
of
them
is
good
he's
either
saying
you're
a
thief
you
rob
from
people
you
take
what
doesn't
belong
to
you
or
what
he's
saying
is
you
always
have
other
people
do
your
bidding
you're
never
the
one
to
get
your
hands
dirty
so
you're
a
ruthless
cutthroat
kind
of
guy
and
in
either
instance
there's
no
understanding
of
benevolence
there's
no
understanding
of
his
true
character
he
disparages
the
master
and
so
because
of
his
words
because
of
his
accusations
now
the
master
flips
those
words
on
top
of
him
and
said
well
if
that's
what
you
really
believe
if
you
really
believe
that
I'm
!
severe
than
it
should
have
mobilized
you
to
activity
but
that
didn't
happen
which
means
that
you
don't
really
believe
that
I'm
severe
because
you
didn't
really
work
what
you
really
believe
in
your
heart
is
that
I
am
wicked
and
you
want
to
have
nothing
to
do
with
me
and
because
of
your
laziness
and
irresponsibility
you're
unwilling
to
follow
my
instructions
so
now
there's
a
rendering
now
there's
a
reckoning
a day
of
reckoning
as it
were
we find
in
verses
24
to
27
he
said
to
those
who
stood
by
take
the
mina
from
him
give
it
to
the
one
who
has
ten
minas
and
they
said
to
him
Lord
he
has
ten
minas
I
tell
you
that
to
everyone
who
has
more
will
be
given
but
from
the
one
who
has
not
even
not
only
did
this
servant
lose
his
position
of
service
to
the
master
he
lost
the
entrustment
that had
been
given
to
him
he
demonstrated
he
didn't
actually
belong
as a
servant
to
the
master
to
begin
with
because
he
could
not
follow
instructions
he
proved
the
counterfeit
nature
of
his
service
he
was
not
a
true
servant
of
the
king
and
then
we
find
in
verse
27
the
sobering
conclusion
for
the
citizens
says
but
as
for
those
enemies
of
mine
who
did
not
want
me
to
reign
over
them
bring
them
here
and
slaughter
them
before
me
now
that
is
that's
a
graphic
picture
by
the
way
a
picture
that
everybody
in
the
first
century
would
not
have
only
have
understood
but
would
have
expected
it's
only
in
the
civilized
culture
of
the
21st
century
for
whatever
reason
we
think
well
that
just
seems
so
harsh
so
severe
so
wrong
but
to
everyone
who
has
more
will
be
given
and
from
the
one
who
has
not
even
what
he
has
will
be
taken
away
and
the
very
thing
that
will
happen
in
the
presence
of
Christ
by
those
rebel
citizens
who
reject
him
and
who
hate
him
who
demonstrate
the
true
nature
of
their
heart
in
wanting
to
oppose
his
rule
and reign
over
their
life
they
will
receive
the
consequence
that is
due
to
them
and
that
is
punishment
from
God
forever
in
hell
the
punishment
by the
way
that
was
exercised
on
Christ
on
the
cross
and
so
you
will
either
receive
the
blessing
or
the
gift
of
Christ's
slaughter
on
the
cross
where
God
the
father
crushes
his
son
and
makes
a
public
example
of
him
on
the
cross
bearing
shame
bearing
the
consequence
of
sin
and
we
receive
that
by
asking
forgiveness
and
recognizing
that
Jesus
alone
is
the
way
of
salvation
we
make
him
master
and
ruler
of
our
life
or
we
accept
the
consequences
of
sin
for
ourselves
and
we
on
the
other
hand
then
must
pay
the
price
for
our
own
sin
forever
in
hell
away
from
the
presence
of
God
let me
spend
the last
couple
of
moments
applying
this
parable
to
us
the
prevailing
question
this
morning
for us
is
are you
a
citizen
or
are you
a
true
servant
are you
a
citizen
or
are you
a
servant
do
you
really
belong
to
the
kingdom
as
a
servant
of
the
master
and
Jesus
is
king
and
Jesus
is
coming
and
we
can
we
can
expect
and
understand
that
his
coming
is
imminent
his
coming
is
soon
and
he
will
reign
over
the
earth
do
you
belong
to
Jesus
through
faith
and
if
you
belong
to
Jesus
through
faith
then
you
become
you
move
from
being
a
citizen
of
this
kingdom
to
being
a
servant
of
the
king
and
the
kingdom
and
so
do
we
know
the
commands
of
God
do
we
know
the
expectations
the
instructions
that
he's
given
to
us
as
his
servants
and
are
we
faithful
to
carry
those
instructions
!
out
I'm
reminded
of
1st
John
chapter
2
and
I
don't
have
this
verse
on
the
projector
for you
but
just
listen
1st
John
chapter
2
verses
3
to 5
says
this
by
this
we
know
that
we
know
him
if
we
keep
his
commandments
let me
repeat
that
by
this
you
know
that
you
know
him
if
you
keep
his
commandments
he
goes
on
whoever
says
I
know
him
but
does
not
keep
his
commandments
is
a
liar
and
the
truth
is
not
in
him
but
whoever
keeps
his
word
in
him
truly
the
love
of
God
is
perfected
by
this
we
know
that
we
are
in
him
you
see
the
true
character
of
faithful
servants
plays
out
in
carrying
out
the
instructions
of
the
king
not
because
we
see
it
as
a
duty
not
because
we
see
it
as
the
only
way
for
us
to
get
to
heaven
because
by
the
way
our
works
do
not
get
us
to
heaven
but
we
see
it
and
we
embrace
it
as
an
opportunity
to
participate
in
the
kingdom
mission
that
we
have
been
granted
we
represent
the
king
and
it
is
a
privilege
for
us
and
so
we
carry
out
the
instructions
because
we
delight
in
not
just
pleasing
the
king
but
we
delight
in
participating
in
the
work
that
Jesus
is
doing
and
then
I'm
also
reminded
not
just
of
obedience
but
I'm
also
reminded
of
the
significance
of
using
the
gifts
that
God
has
given
to
us
through
his
Holy
Spirit
in
1st
Peter
chapter
4
verses
10
and
11
it
says
this
he
says
as
each
has
received
a
gift
use
it
to
serve
one
another
as
good
stewards
of
God's
varied
grace
whoever
speaks
as
one
who
speaks
the
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
God
has
given
an
entrustment
a
stewardship
a
mina
as
it
were
to
everyone
who
has
placed
their
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
!
has
received
this
gift
the
responsibility
the
accountability
the
measure
of
whether
or
not
you
are
a
true
disciple
a
true
servant
is
that
you're
putting
those
stewardships
those
gifts
to
work
in
some
way
among
his
body
among
this
church
you know
several
years
ago
I
we
needed
some
work
done
in
our
kitchen
I
needed
some
tile
to be
laid
in
our
kitchen
I
didn't
have
the
foggiest
idea
how
to
do
it
so
I
reached
out
to
some
friends
at
seminary
to see
does
someone
know
how
to
lay
tile
and
so
there
was
one
guy
who
said
I
can
do
this
so
I
said
I
pay
you
a
thousand
bucks
you
come
for
the
week
I
let
you
stay
in
my
house
I
if
you
can
just
do
the
tile
work
I
would
be
happy
to
pay
you
a
thousand
bucks
for
the
week
of
work
I
thought
man
this
should
be
a
great
arrangement
right
but
wouldn't
you
know
so
I
go
to
work
I
come
home
after
the
first
day
nothing
was
done
like
maybe
we
didn't
understand
what
the
instructions
were
what
the
expectation
was
you're
here
to lay
some
tile
right
so
of
course
I'm
here
to lay
some
tile
but
there
were
excuses
as to
why
the
tile
wasn't
laid
that
day
so
I
cooked
dinner
we
ate
together
and
then
until
midnight
I
was
up
helping
him
work
on
tile
I
got
up
early
in
the
morning
I
went
to
work
came
home
the
next
day
nothing
was
done
on
the
tile
I'm
like
do
we
not
understand
each
other
do
we
not
get
what
the
expectations
are
and
he
said
of
course
we
do
I
got
up
late
I'm
sorry
it
won't
happen
again
so
I
get
home
I
make
dinner
we
eat
together
we're
working
till
midnight
and
I
get
up
the
next
morning
early
go
to
work
come
home
yes
you
guessed
it
nothing
is
done
on
the
tile
the
entire
week
goes
by
day
after
day
I'm
beginning
to
wonder
do I
pay this
guy
at
all
does
he
really
understand
the
expectation
after
I
think
all
of
us
can
begin
to
appreciate
the
frustration
that we
would
feel
about
something
by the
way
that's
so
petty
so
petty
in
comparison
with
the
entrustment
that's
been
given
the
stewardship
that's
been
given
to
every
single
one
of
us
may
we
not
be
like
my
friend
may
we
be
faithful
to
steward
well
the
gifts
that
God
has
given
to
us
to
the
glory
of
God
let
me
pray
Lord
thank
you
for
graciously
and
kindly
entrusting
us
with
such
a
great
stewardship
the
very
gifts
from
God
the
greatest
gift
of
forgiveness
and
then
the
gift
of
your
Holy
Spirit
that
lives
within
us
and
empowers
us
for
the
work
Lord
may
we
steward
these
gifts
well
for
the
glory
of
God
I
pray
in
Jesus
name
amen
God
bless
you
have
a
great
week
miracle