Luke 19:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said therefore, "A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

NIV: He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.

NASB: So He said, 'A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.

CSB: Therefore he said: "A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return.

NLT: He said, 'A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.

KJV: He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

NKJV: Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem for the Passover and, afterwards, the cross. Adoring crowds surround Him. He has given sight to a blind man (Luke 18:35–43) and brought a tax collector to repentance (Luke 19:1–10). Around this time, He also raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11).

No one seems to grasp the coming timeline, except perhaps Mary of Bethany (John 12:1–8). Jesus will not march into Jerusalem to capture it; He will allow the leaders to kill Him. This must happen if He is to receive—not take—the kingdom. He will then ascend to heaven and return when "the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (Romans 11:25).

Jesus has spent three years teaching and preparing people to understand that He is the Messiah. When He rises from the dead, they will have no excuse. They need to decide what to do with that understanding in the face of His absence and those who oppose Him (Luke 19:14). Will they accept Him as King and expand His kingdom or reject Him and rebel against His reign?

Jesus isn't vague about the repercussions of their choice. When He returns, He will conquer evil, take His throne, and rule justly. He will reward His servants based on their faithfulness. And He will send His enemies to eternal torment (Revelation 20:11–15).

That Jesus receives His kingdom when He ascends to the Father is expressed by the theological concept of "now and not yet." Jesus' birth inaugurated the kingdom of God. His death and resurrection assured it. In heaven, He does reign. But the culmination of His reign and the kingdom of God will occur at the end of the tribulation when He defeats Satan's and the Antichrist's forces and takes the throne in Jerusalem.

Luke 19:11–27 is the final passage of a series of stories about the kingdom of God. In a parable, Jesus explains that He cannot take the kingdom now; He must leave to receive it. His followers will be those who have understanding about His kingship: the gospel. Those who faithfully spread that message will be greatly rewarded. Those who plot against Him will be destroyed. This parable is about responsibility with the gospel; the similar parable of the talents is about responsibility with resources like time and spiritual gifts (Matthew 25:14–30). Next comes the triumphal entry (Luke 19:28–44).

Jesus approaches Jerusalem by way of Jericho. Along the road, he encounters Zacchaeus: an unusually short man and infamous tax collector. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' invitation and demonstrates humility and repentance. Jesus gives a parable explaining a believer's obligation to encourage the spread of the gospel. Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, upsetting local Pharisees. As He rides, Jesus weeps to think of the future destruction in store for the city. He once again drives corrupt businessmen from the temple grounds. His enemies are furious, but too afraid of the adoring crowds to take direct action.

Luke 19 finishes the "travelogue of Christ to Jerusalem" and introduces His first actions there (Luke 9:51—19:27). This long passage semi-chronologically records Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the theological reasons why He must go to the cross. It finishes here, in this chapter, with Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the parable of the ten minas. The chapter continues with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as its king—the triumphal entry. Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, its rejection of their Messiah, and its coming destruction in AD 70. He also cleanses the temple and teaches there. In the next segments, Luke covers the last hours of Jesus' earthly life (Luke 22—23) as well as Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.