CWC- Last Judgment - - Kieth Bernard Kuschel
Luke 19:11-27
11 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. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “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? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 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.
Jesus is coming back. So what?
IA1 11 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. Jesus had just told Zacchaeus “Today salvation has come to this house.” He had just told His disciples about prophecies coming true. He had allowed Himself to be called “son of David” in public. So, now maybe the land, power, and army of His kingdom were going to finally come.
2 To counteract that faulty thought, Jesus told this little story. In the story a noble man went away to be appointed king, just as the Herods went to Rome to get appointed King by the Caesar.
3 Jesus, true God and a descendant of David’s royal family, a truly noble person, after He accomplished our salvation by living and dying and rising for us, went away on a long journey. He still is away on that journey. While He is away, He repositioned Himself as King , ruler over all things. His rule won’t be evident until He comes back.
The disciples who wanted the land, power and army of the kingdom right now were just going to have to wait.
B1 It is very easy to take the attitude of those first disciples. The world around us is getting worse and worse. Our situation as Christians is getting harder and harder. We want Jesus to just come and get this mess over with. We join the Scripture writers to say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We want to be with the LORD. Nothing wrong with that.
2 Watch out for the next step, however. It is very easy to start whining. “Lord it is not satisfying to be here. Lord, why are You taking so long? Come and stop all this mess on this earth. LORD, You don’t seem to know what You are doing.
3 In the little story which Jesus told, one line says, “(he) returned home.” We need to remember that. He will come back. The long journey He is on will come to an end. He will come back at the proper time. It isn’t our job to get upset about seeming delays. It isn’t our job to try to shame Him into hurrying up. It is our job to wait patiently.
IIA1 Why were the people so excited about the thought that the kingdom was going to appear at once? The mother of James and John once made a request of Jesus that will help you answer that question. She said, (Mt 20:21)“Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” What were they expecting from their faulty view of Jesus’ kingdom? To sit around and enjoy the power, prestige and perks.
2 What sentence from the little story shoots that attitude down? 13 So he called ten of
his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ The servants are to be at work until the master returns.
3 What were they given to work with? A mina. They all got the same thing. They were all to put it to use. They were to show their desire to serve the master by their effort. The expectation was that they would gain some increase.
4 Two were faithful. Took the orders seriously. Expended effort. Showed an increase. One was unfaithful. He didn’t want to do what he was told. He didn’t want to expend effort to make the master richer. So, he didn’t bother to produce an increase. He didn’t really want to be a servant of this master.
The rewards were undeserved. Just because they did
what they were told, doesn’t mean they earned ten and five cities. However, they were granted responsibility because of faithfulness displayed.
B1 When Jesus left this earth on went on His “long journey,” He left us all with the same mina. What? His Word. What are we supposed to do with it? Put it to work so that it produces an increase. Use it on other Christians so that their faith in Jesus increases. Use it on other Christians so that their motivation to live godly lives increases. Use it on other Christians so that their ability to live godly lives increases. Use it on people who are not Christians so that the Holy Spirit turns them into Christians so that the size of the kingdom of Jesus increases.
2 The servant who hid the mina in a piece of cloth represents Christians who do nothing with the Word. They have eternal life. The Holy Spirit has led them to believe that Jesus died to wash away their sins, lived to cover them with His holiness, and rose so that they might live forever. But they don’t want to do what Jesus tells them to do – go into the world with the Gospel. They don’t want to waste their time and efforts for the benefit of Christ’s kingdom. What is in it for me, after all? Therefore, they don’t bother to support Christians in their faith and godliness. Therefore, they don’t bother trying to attract people to Jesus the Savior. And they don’t think it is a privilege to be a aprt of God’s family because of Jesus.
3 Did you notice what happened to that man? 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him.” If I fail to use the Word to apply it to others, I also have failed to apply it to myself. When I do that, eventually I am going to lose what I have. I am going to revert back to being an unbeliever about Jesus the Savior.
4 So, active working with the Word is our duty. However, God rewards us for doing our duty. Are we to be sitting around enjoying the perks of the kingdom of Jesus while we are waiting for Him to return? No. We are to be working. Let none hear you idly saying there is nothing I can do.
IIIA1 Was everybody excited about the thought that the kingdom of God seemed to be going to appear at once? Jesus answered that question in the little story too. 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ Not everybody wants Jesus as their King now. Not everybody wants Jesus to be King when He returns from His journey. Not everybody even wants Him to return from His journey.
2 How does the king respond when He comes back? 27 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.
B1 What percentage of people accepted Jesus as the Promised Messiah, the Savior of the world while He was on this earth? I think we can safely say a minority. Why? Because the majority got away with killing Him.
2 How many people today believe that Jesus died to wash away their sins, lived to cover them with His holiness, and rose to give people eternal life. I think we can safely say a minority.
3 And what does the Bible teach about those who reject Jesus as their Savior? God’s judgment falls on anyone who rejects Jesus’ blood to wash away their sins, rejects Jesus’ holiness to make them acceptable to God and rejects Jesus’ resurrection as the guarantee of an eternity with the LORD.
C1 That is probably the least popular teachings of the Bible that there is. How do I know that. Because people don’t talk about it much. And if they do talk about it they come up with reasons that it is not to be believed. Reasons like these:
*God loves all men and therefore wouldn’t punish anybody.
*Everybody has his own concept of god, but everybody is actually worshiping the same god even though they might call him Buddha, Allah or the Trinity.
2 If the Bible is true, and if Jesus is the only way to be right with God, then the only people who are excited that He is coming back some day are those who believe that Jesus is their Savior.
3 Why does Jesus remind us in the little story that not everybody is going to eagerly desire that He be their King? So that while we are patiently waiting for Jesus to return, we don’t despair and stop working when people reject the gospel we bring to them.
LORD JESUS, help me to wait patiently for You, and be aware that not everybody is going to want You as their King, so that in spite of rejection I keep working at sharing Your word while I am waiting