February 14, 2016
Morning Service

Luke 19:11-27

 

            Last Sunday morning we discussed the rich young ruler.  He chose his money over following the Lord.  Jesus told the people that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter heaven.  However, Jesus said it was possible because of God, there is nothing God can’t do.  We know rich people that use their money wisely, but not many. 

            Greg, Sunday evening, gave us the account of two individuals that came in contact with the Master.  A blind man that wouldn’t be quieted, and because he was persistent, Jesus healed him.  The other was Zacchaeus, a rich Publican, and because he was of small stature, he climbed a Sycamore tree, so he could see Jesus.  When Jesus saw him up the tree, He told him to come down, that He would be eating at his house that day.  Many of the Jews questioned Jesus eating at a Publicans house, they weren’t thought of very highly.  But Jesus said that he also was a son of Abraham, and that He had come to seek and save that which was lost.

            Three people making decision of life, or death.  Two received the blessings of life, and one chose the way of death.

 

This morning Jesus gives us an interesting parable of faithfulness, and servitude.  Let’s begin.

 

Luk 19:11-27  And as they heard these things,

·         And the things that they heard were, Zacchaeus was a son of Abraham, and that He (Jesus) had come to seek, and save those that were lost.  To make Zacchaeus feel welcome in the family of God.

Now this is why the parable was written:

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. 

·         We could say that this is a picture of Jesus leaving to go back to heaven to receive His kingdom from the Father, and return.  But before He leaves He gives gifts unto men.   In which Paul gives us a picture of this in the Ephesian letter.

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

·         But then again it is a very accurate description of Jesus leaving the Jews who did not accept Him as the Messiah.  Telling them that the kingdom of God will not happen yet.

(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. 

·         You see, there is the hared of the Jews.  Crucify Him.

·         Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

·         Luk 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

·         This was the attitude of the Jewish nation.  Some received Jesus as Lord, but the bulk did not.

·         But we are blessed to know the whole story.  Paul teaches us in the Roman letter, that Israel, the Jews, as a nation, were blinded by God, to this knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah, so that all mankind could be saved.                         Romans 11:11.

·         It was prophesied that God was going to establish a new covenant, and by establishing a new, the old would be done away with. 

 

·         (Jer 31:31)  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

·         (Heb 8:8)  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

·         (Heb 8:13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

·         (Heb 12:24)  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

These Scriptures build our faith that we are not under the old covenant that God had made with Israel, but a new covenant that He has made with all mankind.  This new covenant is filled with many glorious promises for one who would follow and obey the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 

LET’S GO ON WITH THE PARABLE:

(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. 

·         Here is the picture, this Ruler went away, left each of His servants with a certain amount of responsibilities.  Now He has returned, and we can see the pattern that he is using to reward the faithful.  The first two have done really well, even though they didn’t want to serve Him, and He rewards their faithfulness. 

·         Then there is the last servant.

(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? 

·         This one, who was afraid of the Master, didn’t want to take any chances with losing His money, so he just hid it in the ground, and gave it back to Him when He returned.  The Master was not pleased with this arrangement.  Who knows how the Master would have reacted if he would have invested, and lost the money.  As, he was an austere man.

·         The Lord Jesus has gone away into Heaven to receive His kingdom from the Father.  Soon He will return, and be revealed to the Jewish nation as the true Messiah.  As Paul said in Romans, “All Israel shall be saved.”  We certainly don’t know everything that’s going to happen, but we have a pretty good idea.   (I Cor. 15;  Rev. 20-21-22;)

(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.   (Rev.21:6-8)

 

Jesus finishes this parable with another example of rewarding the faithful. Giving more to the hard working.   This is a good parable for us to understand, that God gives gifts unto men, and if you don’t use them for His glory, and the edification of the church, they will be taken from you, and given to the one that will use them properly.

 

LORD, HELP US TO USE OUR TALENTS FOR YOUR GLORY.   AMEN.