I would like to share with my readers some of the things I have learned through studying the Parable of the Pounds in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 19, verses 11 – 27. (Free translation from the Greek.) I shall be interested to know your thoughts and comments.
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- They thought the Kingdom of God was about to appear. The parable was addressed to the Jews, in other words to those who were God’s chosen people at that time. If we allow the Parable to have a wider application, then it must only be addressed to the Church of these latter days, and not the world at large. That seems to be important.
- A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive a Kingdom for himself, and then return. The Lord speaks about Himself. The far country is heaven. He receives the Kingdom, as was shown to Daniel. The Son of Man was brought before the Ancient of Days, and to Him was given dominion and glory and a Kingdom which shall not pass away. (7:13-14)
- And then return. Just as I hold fast to the certainty of Daniel’s vision, so also do I look with expectancy and hope for the Lord’s return. No matter what today’s News Media report, the Lord’s return to establish His Kingdom is an absolute certainty.
- He called ten of His servants and gave each one a Mina. Just as the number ten represents “perfect order”, so the Lord looks upon His Church (both Jewish and Gentile) with perfection, and equally are His gifts perfect. The Mina was equivalent to 100 days wages at the time, a not inconsiderable gift. In interpretation I see the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” being the subject here. Before leaving, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. At Pentecost they did, and all God’s children, at New Birth receive the Holy Spirit, and Gifts distributed according to the mind of the Spirit, which is more the subject of the Parable of the Talents than the Pounds.
- Engage in trade until I return. It could equally be translated, Engage in trade because I am coming back. Kenneth Bailey put it this way, “Get out there and do your best. You have limited time to prove yourself in the market place. On my return I expect profits! See how much money you can generate! Make hay while the sun shines!” I can’t improve on that.
- But His citizens hated Him and sent a delegation after Him, saying, “We will not have this to reign over us.” His citizens were the Jewish nation. The “delegate” they sent after Him proved to be Stephen. The message, the language, with emphasis on the word this shows disdain and contempt. In modern Christian society there is a growing tendency to dismiss the Jesus of Calvary, who calls His people to the “way of the cross”, for triumphalism, one-upmanship, and self-glorification.
- On His return, having received His Kingdom, he called for His servants to learn of their trading success. The first servant said, “Master, your Mina has earned ten Minas!” I see an important lesson here. The servant didn’t squander the money on himself. Neither did he preen himself for having done a good job. Instead he said, “YOUR Mina has earned”. In terms of the underlying meaning, he had seen how the Gift of the Holy Spirit had been the power to produce even greater rewards for his Master. How often these days one sees spiritual gifts being used for personal enjoyment rather than God’s glory.
- Well done, good servant! Because you were faithful in little things, have authority over ten cities. Capitalism and profits is not the point of the parable. The Lord was looking for faithfulness in service to Him. When asked about her successes, Mother Theresa answered, “I was not called to be successful but to be faithful.” That is the crux of the matter.
- The second servant made five Minas, and promised authority over five cities. There is no suggestion of their living in heaven and enjoying themselves. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done ON EARTH, as it is in heaven.” These servants were promised positions of authority HERE ON EARTH. Once again, it was not a reward for self-indulgence, but of faithfulness in future service to the King.
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- The third came. “Here is your Mina. I put it away in a handkerchief. I was afraid of you . . .” The good servants had a healthy regard of their Master. They had a deep knowledge of His character, and learned to love Him for what He was. But the third servant was afraid. He called the Lord “an austere man”, a hard man, a tyrant, one to keep a watchful eye on in case you slip up and receive the whiplash. “You reap what you did not sow!” In other words, “You are a thief!” Perhaps he had in mind the character of a Bedouin raider chieftain, whose worth was measured by his skill as a raider. Bedouin love songs are full of praise for the noble clan leader who can swoop down on unsuspecting encampments and capture all their supplies and camels.
- Oh, so that’s what you think of me, is it? The Lord doesn’t attempt to rectify the man’s faulty impressions, but just asks why he didn’t at least deposit the money with the banks of the day, thereby to gain some interest. But how can a Christian sit back in his arm chair and expect others to do what his Master expects of him as a faithful servant?
- Take the Mina and give it to the one who has ten. This was a surprising word from the Lord. But we learn from it that the Lord is ever looking for faithful servants, and is wholly generous towards them, because their “trading” with the gifts brings glory and satisfaction to the Lord.
- Bring my enemies, who didn’t want me to reign over them, and slay them in my presence. This actually happened to the Jewish nation in AD70, when according to Josephus over a million Jews were slaughtered by the armies of Titus. But it came about as a self-imposed judgment on their godless behaviour and rejection of their Messiah. It was not in the presence of the Lord, who has still not returned to establish His Kingdom. When nations and kingdoms become corrupt, when the idolatry of self-serving replaces that of God-reliance, when love of money and pleasure reign supreme, when people discard “natural affections” and turn to that which is classed as an abomination, then their end is near. God leaves them to destroy themselves. He doesn’t need to intervene. They are their own agents of self-destruction, as it was with Rome, so eloquently told by Edward Gibbon in his “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.”
- Slay them in my presence. Shame upon anyone who imagines this will literally happen. The Lord’s words are meant to prompt times of negotiation rather than despondency and fear of death. The true understanding comes from the Master’s own words in Luke 6:35-36. Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Paul tells us that a time will come when “All Israel will be saved”. And a time will come when all God’s Church will be saved, but instead of “slaughter” they may have to go through great tribulation to purge, refine, and purify them. Therein lies the mercy of God. And therein lies the difference between the “faithful” and the “unfaithful” servants, those who will share in the world’s Kingdom government, and those who will lose out, and be ruled rather than ruling.
