Luke 19:25 - Printer Friendly

Jesus is explaining that even though He is surrounded by a great crowd traveling to Jerusalem, He isn't going to take His rightful place as King of the Jews yet. In fact, He's going to have to leave to be crowned King. He explains this using the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27).

A nobleman must travel to his sovereign to be made king. Before he leaves, he gives ten of his servants one mina each; this was equivalent to the wages a laborer earns in four months. He tells them to invest it wisely. When the king returns, the results are mixed. One man has made ten minas more; another has made five. The third only has his original one mina. The king is furious. The servant had just as much time and opportunity as the others, but he was so afraid of losing it that he hid it. He didn't even put it in a bank to earn money. So, the king takes the mina and gives it to the man with ten.

When Jesus ascends into heaven, He won't leave His followers with money. He'll leave them with the knowledge that He is the Messiah and salvation only comes through Him (Acts 1:1–8). The crowd, however, is filled with people of various understanding. Some are Pharisees who don't want Jesus to be the Messiah, just like the people who didn't want the nobleman to become king (Luke 19:14, 27). Others, perhaps, have witnessed Jesus give sight to the blind man (Luke 18:35–43) and raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11) but don't quite know what to think.

This man represents anyone who saw or heard of Jesus' miracles and knows He fits the description of the Messiah yet refuses to accept it (John 12:37–43). He could have put his faith in the "bank:" taking responsibility for it and letting it guide his actions, even if he's making no effort to increase it. Instead, he completely hid it. He did not allow himself to accept the gospel.

Because the servant who turned one mina into ten was so faithful with the kings' commands, he receives the mina of the unfaithful servant. The king replies, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away" (Luke 19:26). The unfaithful servant has understanding, but he does not have faith or loyalty, so even his understanding will be taken away.

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.