19:11 ¶ And as they heard
these things, 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.
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. 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. 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? 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.
The disciples are
following Jesus to Jerusalem fully expecting His power to be revealed and His
kingdom to be made manifest in a physical, tangible sense on earth right in
front of them. Christ then speaks a parable about the consequences for the Jews
of rejecting Him. This would apply to all mankind as well. The nobleman
presents himself to his subjects who reject him. He has supplied his own
servants, and, remember, He is talking with His Jewish disciplies here, with a
gift that they are to use on his behalf. In the end, those who reject the nobleman’s
rule over them will be executed and that servant who does not exercise his
talents in the world will lose even what they have. A similar parable is told
in Matthew 25 but in the context of them not knowing when Christ would return
as He discusses the end times when asked in Matthew 24:1 when they will come
about.
He has already told
them in 17 that the kingdom of God for them lies within their hearts but they
have been expecting a conquering Messiah who will remove the Roman yoke of
bondage from their necks and restore Israel to a place of prominence. Even
after His resurrection they say;
Acts 1:6 When they
therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at
this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel?
Jesus had told Governor
Pilate;
John 18:36 Jesus answered,
My kingdom is not of this world: if my
kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Notice the now is my kingdom not from hence.
But, His kingdom will come to this world and many will suffer for their
rejection of Him.
Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly
purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the
chaff with unquenchable fire.
God exercises His power
over our existence in every heartbeat He makes happen. But, Jesus is not now
exercising direct and physical, political rule over the kingdoms of the world
although the Bible says that there will come a time for that.
Revelation 11:15 And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the
kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and
ever.
The direct application
is for Christ’s Jewish disciples in the days coming to His Crucifixion and
after His Resurrection and ascension to Heaven. But, we’ve been given gifts
which we are to exercise on His behalf also. We are His ambassadors, perhaps a
front infiltrating in Satan’s world of men and women to prepare Christ’s
coming. An analogy can be made to a commando unit landing behind enemy lines.
Or, more simply, like the prophets and John the Baptist who announced Him. Our
gifts are not all physical. In fact, the proof or fruit of the Holy Spirit
living inside of us is outlined in Galatians 5 in contrast against the demands
of the flesh and the consequences of living in it.
Galatians 5:13 ¶ For,
brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve
one another. 14 For all the law is
fulfilled in one word, even in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take
heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16
This I say then, Walk in
the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and
the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so
that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you
in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s
have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in
the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of
vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
In addition to the
fruit of the Spirit we have each been given gifts of abilities. Each of these
are particular to us individually and one does not have what the other has and
two with the same do not have it in the same measure.
Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God. 3 For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the
measure of faith. 4 For as we have many
members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our
ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with
cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;
cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in
business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer; 13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do
rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
The error on our part
is in doing nothing. It is not about being successful as God provides the
success.
1Corinthians 3:5 ¶ Who then
is Paul, and who is Apollos,
but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave
the increase. 7 So then neither is he
that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the
increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he
that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to
his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together
with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye
are God’s building. 10 According
to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have
laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed
how he buildeth thereupon.
Or, as Jesus said so
clearly;
John 3:27 John answered and
said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye
are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the
same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
me ye can do nothing.
We are like the servants
who received the pounds and were tasked to make them work for the master. As
the Baltimore preacher Sewall Smith asked in a sermon on John 6:9, “What are
you going to do with your five and two?”
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