39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 19:11–27"
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date = "2023-01-18"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk19.11-27)
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Something I've only now noticed is that the reason Jesus taught this parable is
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because the people traveling with Him thought He was going to establish God's
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kingdom on earth as soon as He got to Jerusalem. It's also curious that Jesus
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models the ruler in the story after Archelaus, Herod the Great's son. Herod's
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sons all took a trip to Rome in the hopes of getting a kingdom. Archelaus's
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Jewish subjects sent a delegation to Rome as well to plead with Caesar not to
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make him their king. This is recent enough history in Jesus's time that
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everyone around would remember it and know exactly who Jesus was referring to.
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Then Jesus talks about business ventures. So often, I've heard that the minas
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given to the servants are spiritualized as representing gifts from the Holy
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Spirit that need to be used for Christian ministry. Considering the express
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purpose that Luke gives for the parable, that doesn't seem to fit. Instead,
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this story seems to be a playbook on how to live under the authority of a
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wicked ruler.
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The servant that failed to do any business with his mina describes his master
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as "severe" and "[taking] what [he] did not deposit". (_v. 21_) That makes this
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king a thief and a bully. And the king hardly denies it, but proves the servant
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right by taking away his mina to give to the first servant. Then he has his
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political enemies killed in front of him.
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If this story is told because people mistakenly thought the kingdom of God
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would appear immediately, then we should take it to mean this is what life is
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like before it does appear. Evil men will be installed into positions of power.
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They will reward those who please them and punish those who don't. Do well with
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all the responsibilities you are given, and trust in the Lord to deliver you.
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* * *
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We long for You to bring justice to the world.
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