Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Luke 19:27. Indeed, in the entourage of the Lord Jesus, it was believed that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. But he makes it clear that it is not, saying: “A man of high birth went to a far country, to be invested with royal authority, and then return. He called ten of his servants, gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Use them till I come back.”
In fact, the Lord Jesus shows by these words that he is going to go to heaven, that far country, and there he will receive the kingdom; then he will come back to claim his rights as sovereign. In the meantime, he gives his servants, those who received him at his first coming, gifts to be used during his absence. Each being responsible to the Lord for what he left him, they were to occupy themselves in various activities, not to remain idle while waiting for him.
Indeed, the Lord obviously attaches to the “mine” a different thought from that of the “talent”. For the “talents” are the spiritual gifts which the Lord has bestowed upon His servants according to their ability. But here every servant receives the same thing: a mine. We regard it as an image of the Word of God. In that sense, each and every servant receives the same thing: a mine. believer has received just as much, and he must flourish with this Word of God as an instrument of His grace. This thought is of great importance. But also let us see in the “mine” the revelation or the knowledge of God in Christ: a knowledge which flows for us from the Word of God.
This revelation of God in Christ is in fact an invaluable “capital” entrusted to the same degree to every follower of the Lord. Are we well aware of the value of this “capital” in the eyes of the Lord? Anyway, He gave us something in our hands, which had never happened in this world in previous times. So isn’t this a powerful stimulus for us to fulfill the Lord’s mission, by dedicating ourselves fully to it? Certainly.
So, at the beginning of this parable, the Lord Jesus paints a picture that represents Him, as He does on several occasions. He describes himself as a noble man, and indeed He was the son of David, of royal line through Joseph according to the law (Mt 1:16), not even to mention that He was the Son of God by His origin. The dignity of His Person gives the parable its special character. He is therefore a noble man who has gone to a distant land to receive a kingdom and return.
This trip to a far country is undoubtedly an allusion to the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Although these two great events foreshadow the Savior’s glorious return, and in various expressions, they speak of leaving His home, or of going away, or as here, of taking a journey to a far country. In Luke 10, it is said of the Good Samaritan that he “went his way”: an allusion to that Christ became Man. And this “way” from heaven to earth accords with what He expresses in Heb 10.9: “Here I come, to do your will.” But in our parable, the direction of the journey is reversed. For the Lord leaves earth and goes to heaven, which is in accordance with His word of Jn 17.11: “ I go to you ”.
So many parables, like the one of the mines, somewhat describe the current state of the Church in the absence of the Lord, that is, events that will take place before the establishment of reign on the earth. The interval between the rejection of the King and the final establishment of the hitherto postponed reign of peace is of the utmost importance to us today. For seven parables speak of this intermediate time, each time from a different point of view: (1) in the parable of the “believing seed” the seed is sown on the earth, while the owner is absent until the time. of the harvest. In the meantime, the seed germinates, and grows, “without our knowing how” (Mk 4: 26-29); (2) in the parable of the “King who made a wedding for his son” (Mt 22.2-14) and in the parallel parable of the great supper (Luke 14.16-24), we see neither the King nor the hotel keeper among the The King only comes to them when the wedding hall is full of guests. (3) Then the “good Samaritan” leaves the man in the hands of thieves for a time in the inn, but no without having provided for everything necessary for him (Luke 10.30-37); (4) in Mk 13.34-37, a man leaves his house and travels abroad after having given their work to his servants, and having called them to vigilance; (5) the friends of the bridegroom are prepared for the bridegroom to be taken away from them (Mt 9:15). (6) the basis of the parable of the “ten virgins” is the absence of husband; however he is on his way (Mt 25.1-13); (7) and finally, the corresponding parables of the “talents” and “mines” show us the master of the servants absent for a long time and they have enough time to argue what i They have received (Mt 25.14-30; Luke 12/19-27).
For there is no uncertainty that the noble man will have a kingdom, but only when he will reappear. It is because he went to heaven to receive there own a kingdom from God. And He does not receive it from men or in this world. For having found a cross here on earth, it is in the mind of God that He be first honored in heaven before also receiving His due honor on earth. “The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1.32). For this is in accordance with Daniel’s prophecy where we see someone “like a son of man” coming to the Ancient of Days. “And they gave him dominion, and honor, and kingship” (Dan 7:13-14).
Now the first servant came and said, Lord, thy mina yielded ten minas. He said to him, “It is well, good servant; because you have been faithful in little, receive the government of ten cities. The second came and said, Lord, thy mine has produced five mines. He said to him, “ You also live over five cities. But the bad servant argues that he fears the Master, that he lived in perpetual fear of Him. If it had been true that he had feared, then he would at least have been obedient. And he said, Lord, here is thy mine, which I have kept in a cloth; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man; you take what you have not laid down, and you reap what you have not sown. In fact, the latter was not afraid to refuse obedience to his Master, and was not afraid to disregard Master’s mission. For the fear he claims to have was only a hypocritical fear, not the true fear of God.
Furthermore, he complains that he has such a severe Master, that He takes what He has not laid down, and He reapes what He has not sown. These words are as hypocritical as they are false. For hadn’t the Master given him the “mine” in his own hands? The truth was that this servant neither knew nor loved his Master. For he never experienced the nobility that this Master showed in wanting to make him an administrator of his property, so that he could have acted with it as if he had been the Master Himself.
Indeed, with this falsehood and selfishness, this servant is the image of all those in Christendom who certainly profess to be Christ’s, and claim to serve him, but who neither know nor love him. Because the art and the way in which we face our manifest responsibility whether we like it or not. This is the way to test the veracity of what one professes. “He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me” (Jn 14.21).
This is why a small number listened to Peter’s message and entered the Christian Church; but the people in his mass refused it and Stephen, a man full of grace and power, reminded them that they had always resisted the Holy Spirit, for they killed the prophets who announced the coming of Christ and put him to death. he too (Acts 7:51-52). So they stoned Stephen, that ambassador whom the unbelieving Jews sent to the far country, Heaven, to convey to the king their final refusal to receive him. He was at the same time the first Christian martyr. What present-day Christendom has seemed to possess will come back to those who had the reality of the Christian profession.
Note that “His servants” are those who must serve their Master, while his fellow citizens hate him; and despite everything, each of them is said to be his. For a divine truth which has been placed before our hearts and has not stirred up any movement of our faith. Maybe we take care of it enough, without relying on faith. So we don’t really have Christ before us; for it is only knowledge with no effect on our consciousness. And sooner or later the Lord takes away such knowledge. So not only do we not get richer, we even lose what we think we have. Because the teaching of the parable of the “mines” can well be summed up by the following word: “Now, working at this same work, we too, we exhort that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. ”(2 Co 6.1). This study allows us to clearly establish three points: #The Lord Jesus will have a visible kingdom, but “now His kingdom is not from here” (Jn 18:36), it is yet to come; # He receives this kingdom in heaven from God the Father; # The Lord will return and then His appearing in power and glory will take place. For He will come as the One who received the kingdom, that is, as the prince of the kings of the earth (Rev 1.5).
So, we note that this parable is intended to remind us of the authority of Jesus Christ, as Messiah, Lord of Lords, King of kings, and judge. This authority is characterized above all by a language of love, manifested by gift and grace. And the gift (if only that of life) is associated with a responsibility. Its purpose is to make us grow in a relationship with God, adult and mature. For this is the plan of spiritual training for our participation in the eternal kingdom. This parable, beyond the historical context, still tells us that we have to deal with the absence of the Lord by making fruitful the grace he has granted us. In other words, it is not enough to wait for his return. Our responsibility involves sharing this good news with the world, here and now, despite the difficulties of the moment. Managing his absence allows us to test our faith and confidence in his promises. Above all, let us not forget that the good servant is not in fear of his return, but in joy. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with all!
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together for your better edification.
- Second coming, good attitude to have:
– be ready: Mt 24.44 “`The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ [Psalm 110:1]
-be a good steward: Lk 19.13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. [A mina was about three months’ wages.] `Put this money to work,’ he said, `until I come back.’
– wait with patience: 1 Co 1.7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
-do not judge: 1 Co 4.5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
-live in an irreproachable way: 1 Th. 5.23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
– walk in perfect obedience: 1 Tim 6:14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
– wait with joy: Tt 2.13 while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
-to abide constantly in Christ: 1 Jn 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
- Christ rejected by:
-the Gadarenes: Mt 8.34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
-the people of Nazareth: Mk 6.3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, [Greek: Joses, a variant of Joseph] Judas 102 and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. Luke 4.28-29 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
-the religious and political leaders: Lk 23.18 With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”
-the Jewish nation: Jn 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jn 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
- Reward proportional to the good accomplished:
-the great soul winners will shine: Dn 12.3 Those who are wise [Or who impart wisdom] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
-at the return of Christ: Mt 16:27 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.
– even in the present life: Lk 18.30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”
-in the vineyard of the Lord: 1 Cor 3.8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour.
-the harvest will be proportional to the size of the seed: 2 Co 9.6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
-established by the Lord: Rev 22.12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
From all of the above, the Parable of the Mines teaches us that Christ ascended into heaven and will return later to permanently establish His reign on earth. During this period of absence, each disciple should actively use the gifts entrusted to him. On his return, the Lord will evaluate the fidelity of each one by the quality of his service. Two categories of servants are mentioned. Faithful servants will receive a generous reward. Unfaithful servants, those who have invested nothing for the cause of God, will share the tragic fate of the wicked by being excluded from the kingdom. The story describes a third category of people: Subjects in revolt. The dreadful retribution of God will befall them on the day of judgment. Our prayers support you all in your efforts.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week “Now, God is not God of the dead, but of the living; because for him all are alive.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.