Pastor Rusty Milton
"On the Road to the Cross"
Luke 19:11-27 ESV

In Luke 19, Jesus tells the story of a shrewd and severe ruler who holds his servants accountable for what they are doing with his kingdom resources. This story should challenge us to ask what we are doing with the Gospel message.

At first glance, the story is a shocking one, but the listeners of Jesus' time would have known the story well as it paralleled the events of Herod Archelaus' rise to power. But Jesus puts a kingdom twist to the story, challenging his audience to use the Gospel message and the power of the Spirit to love others sacrificially. Specifically, we are challenged to be like the first servants by relying on the Spirit and the Gospel to show others compassion, grace, forgiveness, and material support. If we find that we are like the disobedient servant--self-serving, blaming others for our disobedience, and only interested in what we can get--we should expect a severe reaction from God. Examine your heart to determine where you fall on the spectrum of obedient to disobedient.

Luke 19:11-27 ESV

As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘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. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”