21st. October 2007
Luke 19:11-27 (NIV) ¡¡[ Beneficial use of God’s Gifts]

1. Two stories, one of a King, and the other of Minas

Last week we observed Jesus’ teachings about the coming kingdom of God, by reading a portion of Luke, chapter 17. The coming of God’s kingdom was thought to imminent, so the people needed to be on their guard, while waiting for the outcome. Meanwhile, the Church was founded by the followers of Jesus. Nevertheless, in that secular environment many struggled without any form of personal transformation. Evil dominated this period of time, much the same as it does today in our own society. However, reality demands answers to the perpetual question which continually daunts the human race: what must we do, and how shall we live? Today, we will seek answers as we read from Luke, chapter 19.

Portion of this chapter contains two stories, both of which is in the form of a conversation between Jesus and His believers. Jesus was already very famous because of the reported rumors of the many miracles attributed to him. Thus, His followers became more and more numerous. However, they were looking for a messiah who would liberate them from Roman rule. They considered Jesus to be that very person, the king of Judea, prophesied in the Old Testament. They began to believe that Jesus was going to Jerusalem in order to be enthroned.

“While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once” (Luke 19:11 ).

Jesus went on to tell them the Parable of The King’s Ten Servants, in order to correct their misinterpretations and understanding. In this parable two stories are presented in parallel,which makes it difficult to comprehend, but if we read through each one separately, we might see the meaning more clearly.

The first one is based on real history. When Jesus was born, Judea was ruled by the cruel King Herod the Great. After his death in B.C. 4 an uprising occurred in Jerusalem, because the people rejected the late King’s son, Archelaus, as the proposed successor to the throne. During that incident Archelaus killed about 300 Jewish rebels. However, Archelaus, needed authorization for his enthronement by Rome, its suzerain. The Jewish people appealed to the Roman Emperor regarding their opposition to the rule of Archelaus. Despite their efforts, Archelaus received the nomination as king. He then condemned the other contestants to death. The following verses allude to these facts:

Jesus said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.’Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king’ (Luke 19:12-14 ).

“But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me” ( Luke 19:27 ).

Through the first story, Jesus suggested to his audience that He was going to Jerusalem not in order to receive the king’s crown, but: ”. . . . He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). And, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27).

So on the day of His return, of which we call the Last Day, or, the second coming, those who refused to understand Jesus’ words and the coming of God’s kingdom will be condemned like those who refused Archelaus as their king. That might be the way we perceive the message in the first story.

As for the second one, the theme is one of a king’s financial arrangement, and its focal point is at the moment of departure and return. Before taking the voyage, the king sent for three servants in order to entrust money to them: 1mina to each one. One mina is not a big sum for a country ruler, I would say about 1million Yen today. Then he went on his way. When he came back, however, he asked his servants what they had achieved with that one Mina.

The first reported a profit of 10 minas, the second 5 minas, which pleased the king, and he rewarded their efforts according to each gain. On the contrary the third one did not yield anything, because he kept it hidden away in a piece of cloth. He was too afraid of loosing it through an investment which would provoke the master’s anger: “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ ” (Luke 19:22-23).

The lesson of the second history story told to the disciples, might concern Jesus’ return after death. The disciples without a Master to guide them, must work by themselves. One of the most important things they were to do was to remain faithful. They should know how to evangelize and multiply the believers in Jesus, by dedicating their work and faith to useful and efficient purposes. If someone becomes inept with the work, they would also risk losing their own faith too, which is the warning, made by Jesus through the parable: “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away’ “(Luke 19:26 ).

2. What does this parable mean to us ?

Jesus was crucified and ascended into Heaven, so during His absence we are called to work our faith, in order to spread Jesus’ teaching till His return. The word “Gospel” in Greek is “euangelion”, composed from “eu equal good” and “gelion equal news”. Good news becomes really good when it is communicated to others. But, if its concealed, and hidden, all of its good and meaningful values evaporate. The third servant kept the “good news” for himself, which caused him to be punished.

He was afraid of loosing it, so much so, he wanted to preserve it as something of high value, like the Pharisees did with the law. They thought if they fail to fulfill it, they will be lost. For example, if we consider “Love your enemies” as an order - we may find ourselves incapable and guilty, because it’s impossible to control our feelings completely. Consequently, we might learn to hate those who cause us this discomfort. But, our hatred hurts us more than others, and hatred reflects negatively upon our lives.

We may not always feel affection for some of our neighbors, but it is possible to help someone by providing for their needs, even though we may not be personally fond of them. Good news is the announcement of liberation - liberation from the human yoke, like hatred. The Gospel was bestowed upon us in order of those who:
” . . . produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23).

Lets’ take Luke, chapter 12:31-32, as today’s verses of Invocation: “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

When we try to make God’s gifts (minas) useful, we should take some risks, even though investments might risk a loss. For example, being a Christian will not give us any favors, nor advantage, in Japanese society. Rather, the contrary would be closer to the truth And yet, Jesus tell us to choose it: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33).

He teaches us to store-up riches in heaven, not on earth, for all earthy things are vulnerable and ephemeral: “People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:27).

It is not a shame to be in the minority, a Christian, within our society. We must feel proud of that. When we start to use our ‘mina’ correctly, unselfishly, for our neighbors, the power of this Christian minority increases. We freely choose such a way of life! Meanwhile: ” . . . do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them” (Luke 12:29-30).

Faith is a life and death matter. Though we take risks, and loose earthy advantages, God provides us with all we need to live. So we must always concentrate on spreading the ‘good news’, which brings peace and calm to our hearts.

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