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Friday, October 11, 2013

The Parable Of Ten Servants and Minas

Luke 19:12-27:

The man of the story was a person of position and power, a “nobleman” (NASB, v. 12). He was soon to be a man of even greater power and position. He was about to become a king. In order to be appointed as such, he had to travel to a distant country. As I understand it, the kingdom which the nobleman was to receive was not a different kingdom in a distant land, but the kingdom which he had just left. It would have been something like a lawyer going to Washington D. C., to be appointed to a high position back in his home state. It would seem to men that this nobleman would return quite soon, to assume his position of power.
Knowing that he would be absent for a time, the nobleman called some of his slaves to him, to give them their orders for the period he was to be absent. He gave each of the ten slaves one mina. From the marginal note found in the NASB at verse 13, we can learn that this was equivalent to nearly 100 days’ wages. A talent, on the other hand (as mentioned in Matthew 25:15ff.), was worth about 50 times as much (cf. marginal note in NASB at Matthew 25:15). His command was specific. The slaves were all to “do business” (Luke 19:13, NASB) with the money, or, as the NIV puts it, to “put the money to work” until the master returned. The master expected to get back more than he put into the hands of his slaves. Money, as a friend of mine put it, has a time-value. Money should always increase over time, since it can always be loaned out at interest, or at least put in the bank, where it will be loaned out. The master thus expected to get back more than he left in the care of each slave.
The master not only had slaves, who were obligated to serve him, he also had citizens who should also serve him as their master. In those days, citizens were virtual slaves of the king. It would seem that the citizens were silent as the nobleman left their country. They did not like this man, nor did they want him to return to rule over them, once he was officially king. They seem to have gotten their courage in the nobleman’s absence. Thus, they sent a delegation to that distant place, informing their “king” that they did not want him to return, and therefore strongly suggesting that he not return.
 
It is not difficult to understand the story thus far, nor is it difficult to see its meaning with reference to Jesus, His “departure,” His rejection, and His return. Like the nobleman, Jesus came to the earth with great position and power. Like the nobleman, Jesus’ power greatly increased as a result of His departure. Jesus was rejected by men, hung on a cross, put to death, buried, raised, and then ascended to heaven, where He now is seated at the right hand of God. Jesus’ power is now even greater than it was when He first came to the earth (cf. Philippians 2:9-11). His return to reign over His people, His citizens has been delayed (from our human perspective), but He will surely come.

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14;

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Here we find 2 different men, praying 2 different prayers, and getting 2 differing results. One was saved that day and the other was not.

Either could have qualified to be saved, but only 1 did. There are numerous examples in Scripture of both Pharisees and Publicans that were saved.  Either could have had the ‘right answer’, but only 1 did. So what made the difference?

The Pharisees’ prayer was all about himself.

v. 11-12 He acts holy and like he’s thanking God, but really he’s praising himself. He’s saying, “God, you must really like me because I don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or kiss the girls that do!”

We all want to feel good about ourselves, but the Bible says to let another praise you, and not to praise yourself. This man lifted up his own righteousness and good works, and it is clear that he is trusting in himself for his salvation. If he was to make it to heaven on his own merit, I guess he would get the credit and be able to sing “How Great I Am” for all eternity.

The Publican’s prayer did the opposite. He recognized himself as a sinner and realized his only hope for heaven was not in anything about himself but only in God and His mercy.

So, how about you? Is your answer about good that you have done or about Jesus and what He did for you on the cross at Calvary?  It’s very important at this point that we all be transparent as we think about our answer. I beg you, make sure your goal is to be right, not to ‘have been right’ all along. Be correctable.

v. 14b Don’t try to convince yourself that you are saved…ask God to convince you by the facts, or to convict you if you are not. Humble yourself! God forbid that your answer be about you being a good person. How good is good enough? The devil’s most successful lie is one that says that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. Nothing could be further from the truth!