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Prayer
Luke 19.21-41
Taped April 21st 2020
Aired April 26th 2020
So we left off with Jesus telling a parable and Luke said the reason that he told this parable was (verse 11)
“because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.”
Remember they thought he was to be the material Messiah, a political potentate who was going to free them from their captivity to the Romans.
So this parable, which we started last week was to tell them, even though he was coming nigh to Jerusalem, that the Kingdom of God was not going to immediately appear (meaning through Him).
Interestingly, this line means that the full Kingdom of God had not YET appeared at this time in Jesus life and ministry. That would happen in some future stages which include:
One, His suffering for sin;
Two, His death and resurrection;
Three, His being seen by the apostles;
Four, His ascension with a promise to return;
Five, the Apostles taking the Good News out to that world;
Six, the tribulation of Satan knowing that His time was short
Seven, the shaking of everything that could be shaken so that the only thing that would remain was unshakeable in heaven and in earth
Eight, His coming out of the heavenly Holy of Holies and returning with judgment and reward, and taking His bride into the New Jerusalem which is above, and wrapping up that age.
Only then would the Kingdom of God be established both in heaven and on earth in the hearts of those who were His by faith.
So he has told this parable to illustrate that the accounting for what was entrusted to them was not going to happen for a while, not until he went away to a far country, was rejected of the people of His own country, then returned to do the accounting.
In the first two examples he gave ten pounds and five pounds respectively to two of his servants, and rewarded them with ten cities and five cities for giving him a return on his investment.
This afternoon we come to the third person to whom he had entrusted a pound. And that man says: (verse 20)
20 . . . 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.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
There was something that made this servant timid and he tells us what it is in the next verse.
But his timidity caused him to fail to produce for the landowner.
His reason for failing to provide a return on investment is sort of paradoxical (verse 21) as he says:
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.
An austere man means that this nobleman was a hard, severe, oppressive lender. The word used is actually used to describe unripe-fruit which is often sour, unpleasant, harsh.
When it comes to money, and investments, those who are especially good at lending and investing are often this way. Things are very black and white with the most austere.
If they lend ten dollars and are promised 20 in return, 19 will not do, let alone a zero return on investment. And so it was with this nobleman and his servants.
Just because Jesus uses this character in the parable does not mean a straight across comparative to Him and his servants – but it certainly does mean that he expected compounded interest upon his return to them, or at least the effort extended to get a return.
This was not given by this last servant with the one pound. The reason for this is given by his own mouth – “I feared.”
In some ways what this unprofitable servant describes in his nobleman is the attitude many have toward God.
Listen to this again:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere God for you take which you do not lay down and reap what you did not sow.
This description from the mouth of the servant of the nobleman depicts him as a full on despot marauder – a man who walks through the fruit market and eats freely of the merchants tables and who snaps up farms that are in arrears, capitalizing on everything without a care.
This is the view some unbelievers (and I suppose even believers have) of God – that he is a total despot and the only response to have toward him is utter fear.
Interestingly, this servant, having this opinion of the nobleman, was MORE fearful of losing what he had been given than of NOT providing any sort of return at his coming.
And here is the applicable part of the parable to Jesus audience.
He wanted his servants to increase on what they had been given, to give Him a return on the Gospel message in numbers of others who heard and received.
“don’t be a fearful servant. Take the message out and produce fruit and the reward for so doing will be commensurate with your RETURNS on the initial investment.
22 And he (the nobleman) said unto him (the servant), 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:
By your own statement, or your own views of my character, by your own mouth I will judge you:
If you knew that this was my character, and knew that I would be rigid, firm, and even severe, demanding an increase on what you were given, you should have been wise and invested my money – bottom line. (verse 23)
23 Wherefore then gavest not (or why didn’t you then give) thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Knowing that I expected an increase why didn’t you loan it out to the bank or treasury and increase the principle?
Now, we have to be honest here – this is not the first time we have had a parable or principle taught in the Apostolic Record where God wants, expects, seeks for his children or servants to increase what they have been given.
It would be nice to teach that God just wants everyone to be saved and then to selfishly nurture that salvation like the man here nurtured the pound he had been given by wrapping it in a napkin and hiding it away.
But we have Jesus suggesting that there is a better way to handle what we have been given – with rewards awaiting for those who bear more fruit.
This is the bottom line point of these parables and observations – God wants fruit from his children.
He wants them to be profitable.
I don’t often speak for God, you know, saying God wants you to know this or God wants you to do that – its not my way. But as a student of scripture there is no getting around the fact that God wants His children, whom He has saved, to mature to the point of being able to bear forth much fruit – just like the nobleman wanted his servants to multiply the return on the pounds they have been given.
Jesus said in John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
We remember the point in the parable of the Sower. The seed that fell on shallow or thorny or stony or birdy ground never too root and died.
Why does Jesus want the seeds to take root (in Him) one reason, and he describes that for us in the last verse of that parable saying:
Luke 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Now, the fruit that we are talking about in a Christian life is fruit that cannot come out of them from their natural lives. So the fruit is entirely spiritually driven, created by the spirit in us, and shared with others ultimately giving God the glory.
And at the end of the day that fruit is agape love – however it is expressed.
Agape love is selfless, unconditional, patient, kind, gentle love.
It might manifest itself in longsuffering with others. It might forgive when forgiveness is not warranted. It will extend mercy. And it waters the heart-ground for others who then might allow the seeds planted to grow in them too.
Paradoxically, this does not demand of expect a return – it is free and given by the Spirit.
So, don’t be manipulated when it comes to bearing returns or fruit by others. It does not work that way. It comes honestly from the heart and it usually comes when there is a choice to make to respond or react in an opposite manner.
Verse 24 And he (the nobleman) 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.)
It seems like this line or verbal observation was made by those looking on who did not understand the fairness of that was happening.
The one man had already been given ten pounds, why take the one from the one man and give it to the one who already had ten!
Jesus has the nobleman answer this inquiry in the next verse saying:
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.
Did you catch it? It’s sort of subtle but it is there. The nobleman gave ten and five and one pound to the three men, went to a far kingdom and then returned expecting to see and increase.
But notice that the increase made was kept by the ones who made them. In other words the one who was given the ten pounds and increased it ten pounds was not only given ten cities but also retained the ten pounds that he made!
And here we discover the way God seems to see things in terms of His justice – what we sow, that we shall reap. No doubt about it.
In fact, Paul says in Galatians 6:8
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
I am personally convinced, and I could be wrong in this, but I tend to think that the resurrected bodies that we receive of God will somehow be commensurate to where and how and to what we sowed or planted in our lives.
In other words, its not that we will be punished for sowing to the flesh – but the results of that are simply death – as there are no fleshly things in the Kingdom beyond.
Therefore if someone sowed to sex, drugs and rock and roll, to fame and fortune or whatever is of the flesh, they will have lived it up here, but there will rightly be no reward for such things there because the only things that carry on to the other side are of and from the Spirit!
Therefore those who chose to sow to their spirit will have treasures in heaven, which I believe will not be paid out in gold mansions but in the spiritual bodies we all receive and will inhabit for the eternities.
God is just. He is fair. And when it comes to rewarding us for what we choose to sow to, this makes some sense to me relative to what scripture describes.
So here in this parable the fact that the one pound that was given to the servant was taken from him and given to the one who had ten and increased it double is not surprising to me as this seems to be the principles on which he would distribute the rewards of his kingdom.
Remember now, that in the parable Jesus included the fact that while the nobleman was gone there were those who stepped forward and said that they would not be ruled over by him.
To me this seems to represent those Jews who refused to receive Him as the Messiah as they heard of Him from the servants left behind and sharing him while the nobleman was gone.
Here he calls them his enemies, and says:
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Which again, seems like a clear message about the Jewish nation and the ruin that was headed their way, again IN THE FUTURE, for rejecting the Messiah.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
I’ve never been to Jerusalem and never will go as I am a citizen of the New Jerusalem which is above, but they say that when you are in Israel everything relative to Jerusalem is always up.
So, Jesus ascended up to Jerusalem – from Jericho (where they have been, it was about 19 miles. Apparently, this road was mostly desert filled with caves, and rocks, and woods – a fit common for robbers to hang out. (verse 29)
29 And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
The Mount of Olives, or Olivet, is on the east of Jerusalem and naturally was called this because it produced olives.
From Jerusalem it was about a Sabbath day’s journey – which is just under a mile.
On the west side of the mountain was the garden of Gethsemane and on the eastern declivity of the mountain sat the villages of Bethphage and Bethany.
Mark and Luke say that he came near to both those places and it seems that he came nearest to Bethphage and then sent his disciples to the village over against where they were, which was to Bethany.
We all know that Bethany was the place where Lazarus, Martha and Mary lived.
So, Jesus says at verse 30:
“Go ye into the village over against you (in all probability Bethany) in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.”
In Judea there were few horses and those were chiefly used in war. Therefore to ride on a horse was an symbol of war but to ride on a donkey or mule was a symbol of peace. In fact, Judges 10:4; 12:14 and 1st Samuel 25:20 all speak to princes and kings riding on such in times of peace.
This was a sign of dignity as even Solomon, when he was inaugurated at King rode on a mule (1st Kings 1:33)
Contrary to popular opinion this was not a symbol of poverty or humility – it was a sign of dignity that the Jews would understand.
In both Mark and Luke’s accounts of this they only have Jesus request “a colt” that is “tied.” Whereas Matthew speaks of “an ass tied and having her colt with her.”
Because Jesus only rode the colt that had never been ridden it is believed that Mark and Luke saw no reason to mention its apparent mother. Jesus adds (at verse 31-34)
31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
The term translated “Lord” here means nothing more than a master – of which there were many in that day.
However, if the man saw Jesus as the LORD then there was consummate reverence associated with the term.
I suggest that this situation was set up prior to it happening and the term Lord was explicitly holy.
In other words, I do not see an magical spell falling over the owner of the animals but instead somehow the owner was informed of this event – by Jesus himself or perhaps of Mary, Martha or Lazarus, so when the animals were needed it was understood.
We also note something really telling here back in verse 30 as Jesus says:
“Go ye into the village over against you (in all probability Bethany) in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.”
In the life and ministry of Jesus, the Master and Prince of Peace, God with us, a number of events that speak to his majesty over all things, don’t we?
We first read of his having power over common elements like water and changing them to wine.
We read of him having the power over disease – deafness, blindness, lameness and insanity. He spoke, he touched, and people were healed.
We read about him driving demons and devils out, who knew His identity, and we watched him multiply material elements like fish and bread to feed thousands.
On the sea he spoke and the winds and waves calmed, and he caused fish to gobble up gold and for Peter to catch that fish to pay their taxes.
Here we see him have the effect of a Lord over his creation evidenced once again in his sitting on a colt that has never been ridden as I don’t suppose that is a normal response from such a beast.
Jesus will do one more display of his power on earth before going to his passion. It will be when he curses a barren fig tree. And after this it appears that he fully engages with the world as a man – on our behalf.
Matthew adds to this event with the colt
“All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying in Zechariah 9:9:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
(verse 35)
35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
Of course, this was a sign of honor and respect, like a man draping his coat over a puddle. Matthew adds of course that they also cut down palm frons and waved them to him, which was a sign of respect for a king. (verse 37)
37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
We see that these were his disciples, a whole mass of the disciples, who met him along the way in.
They were rejoicing specifically with a loud voice and were praising God “for all the mighty works that they had seen!”
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
Interestingly, Luke does not include here that they shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” which John, Matthew and Mark all include.
Which was take directly from Psalm 118:25-26:
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
The word hosanna means, “Save now,” or, “Save, I beseech thee,” and was a customary among the Jews especially amidst their festivals.
The fact that they were crying, “Save now” relative to Jesus being the Son of David shows, in my estimation, that they were expecting him to be like David, the reigning King over Israel in the material sense, as a worldly ruler.
They were about to be disappointed.
But the ultimate meaning of the praise was “Save now, O thou supremely great and glorious God; save by the Messiah that comes in thy name and/or in the name of David.”
Finally, the accounts of what was said here (in the Gospels) all say something different, but that is not a problem because when crowds shout they typically all shout variations on the same theme. (Verse 39)
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
These rulers were pathetically hateful of Jesus, and they will kill him for envies sake. In the other Gospels they really resented the fact that the children were calling out to him, and this caused Jesus to cite the Old Testament where from the mouth of babes the truth is spoken.
Luke here simply tell Jesus to rebuke the disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Now, we can take this beautiful line literally, and believe that inanimate rocks have the capacity and soul to cry out or we could see this as a proverb – which it most likely was as Proverbs are designed to express the truth strongly, but are not to be taken to literally in many cases.
Bottom line, the sense of this saying from Jesus was I deserve to be celebrated and the whole universe, if these disciples did not offer praise, would cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
So as Jesus entered the city he passed over the Mount of Olives which is 700 feet above Jerusalem itself.
From that mountainside there was a full and magnificent view of the city.
And Jesus knew what was coming her way. God had had mercy on her. He had longsuffering and patience, and Jesus tried to gather her – but she was not willing.
So much so that they were about to put their promised Messiah to death, and in so doing they as a Nation would be given up completely.
He had come doing the signs and miracles beyond compare. He came teaching in ways that could not be thwarted. He had come, prefaced by Elijah – he called and cried and bore the fruits of the Messiah, but they would not receive him.
Instead they would put him to death the way their fathers had put the prophets of Old to the same.
And they were going to experience a fall out like no other – it would be in fact, the end of that world, that age, those people, and that nation as a recognizable whole.
Utter desolation and this affected his heart, and the triumphant King and Lord of Zion, causing him to weep and cry over her!
He had just been received by his own with accolades and love and cheers but he was broken over the fact that his own received him not.
And he knew that “the days would come” that they would be destroyed.
We will leave off here. And pick it up next week.
Let’s pray
