Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
January 23, 2002
Introduction
Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified. He is in His final couple of weeks, and on the way He has passed
through Jericho, where He has healed a blind man and had lunch with Zacchaeus.
:11 And as they heard these things,
he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because
they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
he added – prostithemi –
to put to; to add; i.e. to join to, gather with any company, the number of
one’s followers or companions
nigh – eggus – near, of
place and position
they thought – dokeo – to
be of opinion, think, suppose; to seem, to be accounted, reputed
immediately – parachrema –
immediately, forthwith, instantly
appear – anaphaino – to
bring to light, hold up to view, show; to appear, be made apparent
The parable that Jesus is going to give will be about what we are to be
doing while He’s gone.
:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to
receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
nobleman – anthropos
– a human being, whether male or female
nobleman – eugenes
– well born, of a noble family; noble minded
country – chora – the
space lying between two places or limits; a region or country i.e. a tract of
land
far – makros – long; of
place: remote, distant, far off
to return – hupostrepho –
to turn back; to return
There is an historical event that is similar to the parable that Jesus is
giving.
When Jesus was a young boy, Herod the Great had died and left the kingdom
in disarray. Originally he had said he
would give the kingdom to his son Antipas, but just before dying, he change his
mind and gave the kingdom to his son Archelaus. There was quite a bit of turmoil for a few years as both brothers
vied for the kingdom. There was a whole
group of people who didn’t want Archelaus to rule over them. Finally, Archelaus left for Rome to plead
with Caesar to give the kingdom of Palestine to him. There was a long court case before Caesar, and after both sides
pled their case, Caesar decided to give the kingdom to Archelaus. (Josephus, Antiquities
of the Jews, Book 17; Chapters 8-9).
This was an event that would have been common knowledge to Jesus’ listeners.
(Mat 2:22 KJV) But when he heard that Archelaus did reign
in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:
notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts
of Galilee:
Note: Jesus has been in
Jericho, the Roman Jericho. When
Archelaus returned from Rome, one of the first things he did was to rebuild a
royal palace that had been in Jericho.
Perhaps this might have been part of the backdrop to Jesus telling this
story.
The implication is that the nobleman would be gone for a long time. He wouldn’t be back in a day or two.
:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said
unto them, Occupy till I come.
This is very similar to a parable Jesus tells in Matthew 25, the parable of
the “talents”. But though they are the
same, there are some very big differences.
In the parable of the “talents”, the servants are given differing
amounts, while here, they are given the same.
In the parable of the talents, the faithful servants double their
investment, while here, one will make ten-fold, another will make five-fold.
ten – why ten? Why not? Perhaps it’s just meant as a round number.
pounds – mna – In the NT,
a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a
pound equalled 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm).
Though this isn’t something to sneeze at, it’s only 1/100th
of a “talent”. This is sort of a small
amount.
Occupy – pragmateuomai –
to be occupied in anything; to carry on a business; to carry on the business of
a banker or a trader; from pragma –
that which has been done, a deed, an accomplished fact
(Luke 19:13 NIV) 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I
come back.'
(Luke 19:13 NASB) 'Do business with this until I come back.'
till – heos – till, until
I come – erchomai – to
come
Lesson
Keep busy till Jesus comes
This is one of the main lessons of this parable.
There is a sense in which we are to live each day as if Jesus might come
back again.
But if we’re not careful, we can take this in the wrong way. We can think, “I don’t have to get up and go
to work, because Jesus might come back today.”
We might think, “I think I’ll go out and run up my credit cards because
Jesus might come back to day and I won’t have to pay them off!”
The Thessalonians had a problem in the church. Apparently there were some in the church who wanted to go out and
wait on a mountain top for the Lord to come.
(2 Th 3:5-13 KJV) And the Lord direct your hearts into the
love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. {6} Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves
from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which
he received of us. {7} For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we
behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; {8} Neither did we eat any man's
bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we
might not be chargeable to any of you: {9} Not because we have not power, but
to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. {10} For even when we were
with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he
eat. {11} For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly,
working not at all, but are busybodies. {12} Now them that are such we command
and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat
their own bread. {13} But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
We are to be “waiting” for Jesus to return. Yet we are also to be busy about our work.
Though we are to live each day as if Jesus might come back, that should be
something to spur us on to work harder, not take things easier.
Occupy.
:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We
will not have this man to reign over us.
citizens – polites – a
citizen
hated – miseo – to hate,
pursue with hatred, detest; to be hated, detested
sent – apostello – to
order (one) to go to a place appointed; to send away, dismiss
a message – presbeia –
age, dignity, right of the first born; the business normally intrusted to
elders, spec. the office of an ambassador, an embassy
we will – thelo – to will,
have in mind, intend; to be resolved or determined, to purpose; to desire, to
wish
to reign – basileuo – to
be king, to exercise kingly power, to reign; metaph. to exercise the highest
influence, to control
When I read this story, I tend to see this “nobleman” as being a picture of
Jesus, like he’s a “good guy”. It’s
interesting to think that Jesus might have been patterning the nobleman after
Archelaus, whom the people did not like.
After Herod’s death, before Archelaus went to Rome, there was a lot of
people who didn’t want him to be king.
There was a riot of sorts during the Passover and Archelaus had sent his
troops in to quiet things, and in the end had killed something like three
thousand men (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 17:9:218)
When Archelaus got to Rome to plead before Caesar, his brother Antipas
followed him with his own delegation as well.
When Antipas got to Rome, many of the people that were supposed to help
Archelaus defected to help Antipas because they hated Archelaus so much. Antipas had a friend named Antipater who
spoke for him, trying to persuade Caesar not to allow Archelaus to rule
Palestine.
Lesson
Will you let God reign over you?
In our studies in 1Samuel, we’ve seen how the people wanted a king because
they didn’t want God to rule over them.
(1 Sam 8:7 KJV) And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto
the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not
rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
If God is reigning over you, then you will do the things that He asks you
to.
(Luke 6:46 KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not
the things which I say?
:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the
kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had
given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
he was returned – epanerchomai
– to return, come back again
to be called – phoneo – to
sound, emit a sound, to speak; to call, to call one’s self, either by one’s own
voice or though another; to send for, summon
had gained by trading – diapragmateuomai
– thoroughly, earnestly to undertake a business; to undertake a business
for sake of gain; This is a form of the word translated “occupy” back in verse
13, but a more intense form.
:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
came – paraginomai – to be
present, to come near, approach; to come forth, make one’s public appearance
hath gained – prosergazomai
– to work besides; by working or trading to make or gain besides
pounds – mna – in the OT,
a weight of 300 shekels was one pound; In the NT, a weight and sum of money
equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled 10 1/3 oz.
(300 gm)
ten pounds – This first servant did so well that he had been
able to produce as much as the Lord had given all the servants when he had
left.
:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been
faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
well – eu – to be well
off, fare well, prosper; acting well
good – agathos – of good
constitution or nature; useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful,
happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable
servant – doulos – a
slave, bondman, man of servile condition; a servant, attendant
a very little – elachistos –
smallest least
faithful – pistos –
trusty, faithful; of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of
business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one
who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust; that can be relied on
authority – exousia –
power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; the power of authority
(influence) and of right (privilege); the power of rule or government (the
power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
over ten cities – I have tended to look at this parable in
terms of the Lord’s Second Coming and the receiving of cities around the world,
but the people in Jesus’ day are probably thinking of how Archelaus handed out
governorships in the land of Palestine.
Lesson
God rewards faithfulness
(1 Cor 4:2 KJV) Moreover it is required in stewards, that a
man be found faithful.
We are stewards of all that’s in our life.
It doesn’t really belong to us.
What will we do with what we’ve been given?
I think there is a sense in which God is evaluating our lives based on how
we handle the “little things”.
The “mina” doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of money.
Yet God knows how we’ll handle big things based on how we handle little
things.
(Luke
16:10-12 KJV) He that is faithful
in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the
least is unjust also in much. {11} If therefore ye have not been faithful in
the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? {12} And
if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you
that which is your own?
Don’t despise the “little things”.
Sometimes we can fall into a trap of dreaming of what we
“could” do if we were given the opportunity.
And sometimes those dreams are pretty big. But the bigger question isn’t our dreaming of big things, the
bigger question is what are we doing with the “little things” that are right in
front of us?
:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
hath gained – poieo –
to make; to do. This is an entirely
different word than what the other servant used in verse 16.
:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have
kept laid up in a napkin:
kept laid up – apokeimai –
to be laid away, laid by, reserved; reserved for one, awaiting him
a napkin – soudarion – a
handkerchief; a cloth for wiping perspiration from the face and for cleaning
the nose and also used in swathing the head of a corpse
:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that
thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
I feared – phobeo – to put
to flight by terrifying (to scare away); to put to flight, to flee; to fear, be
afraid; to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm; to reverence,
venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience
austere – austeros –
of mind and manners: harsh, rough, rigid; not necessarily an unfavorable
meaning. It is well represented by the word “austere”; it means one who is
earnest and severe, strict in his ways, opposed to all levity. By implication
it may have the unfavorable meaning of harshness or moroseness. NAS –
“exacting”; NIV – “a hard man”
takest up – airo – to
raise up, elevate, lift up; to take upon one’s self and carry what has been
raised up, to bear; to bear away what has been raised, carry off; to
appropriate what is taken; to take and apply to any use
layedst – tithemi – to
set, put, place
reapest – therizo – to
reap, harvest
sow – speiro – to sow,
scatter, seed
This “Lord” had a reputation of taking things that didn’t belong to
him. He was a tough cookie.
:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou
wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid
not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
wicked – poneros – full of
labours, annoyances, hardships; bad, of a bad nature or condition; in an
ethical sense: evil wicked, bad
austere – austeros – of
mind and manners: harsh, rough, rigid; not necessarily an unfavorable meaning.
It is well represented by the word “austere”; it means one who is earnest and
severe, strict in his ways, opposed to all levity. By implication it may have
the unfavorable meaning of harshness or moroseness. NAS – “exacting”; NIV – “a
hard man”
The words of the wicked servant are used against him.
:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my
coming I might have required mine own with usury?
the bank – trapeza –
a table; the table or stand of a money changer, where he sits, exchanging
different kinds of money for a fee (agio), and paying back with interest loans
or deposits. Our English word “bank”
comes from the word “bench”.
usury – tokos –
birth; the act of bringing forth; interest of money, usury (because it
multiplies money, and as it were "breeds")
I might have required – prasso
– to exercise, practise, to be busy with, carry on; to accomplish, perform;
to manage public affairs, transact public business; to exact tribute, revenue,
debts
This is the very basic root of the word translated “occupy” (vs.13) and
“gained” (vs.15).
:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give
it to him that hath ten pounds.
:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
The King James has this verse in parentheses because it is possible that
this isn’t part of the story, but the crowd around Jesus interrupts Jesus and
asks this question.
:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and
from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
Lesson
The Lord continues to bless your
faithfulness
If you are being faithful in what the Lord gives you, He will continue to
give you more and more. He will
continue to entrust you with more and more things. He wants you and your effectiveness to grow.
Lesson
Use it or lose it
I think that there are some things that God isn’t going to take away from
us. I’m not sure that He takes away
spiritual gifts.
(Rom 11:29 NASB) for the gifts and the calling of God are
irrevocable.
But I wonder if He might not remove a ministry from us if we are not doing
what we’re supposed to.
A good manager will keep his factory working. If a worker isn’t pulling their weight, you put in someone who
will.
What has God given you? Are you
using what God has given you for His kingdom?
When Esther balked at the idea of asking the king for help, Mordecai told
her:
(Est 4:14 KJV) For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at
this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from
another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who
knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Perhaps God has given an opportunity to you. He could use another person, but this is your
chance.
:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them,
bring hither, and slay them before me.
Is this what Archelaus did?
I didn’t find any record that this is what happened with him, but his story
sounds an awful lot like another parable of Jesus.
When Archelaus returned from Rome, he put his own man in as the high
priest, but basically just lived a selfish life. After ten years of his rule, the people got fed up with his
partying lifestyle. They sent word to
Rome, and Caesar sent a man to check things out. Archelaus had married his own brother’s wife. He was supposed to live a life of
“moderation” by Caesar’s command but instead was a guy who partied. When Caesar’s man arrived to ask Archelaus
to come back to Rome, they found him partying with his friends. When he got back to Rome, he was banished to
Vienna (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 17:13).
Jesus ends the parable with a word of warning for those who don’t want God
to rule over them.
It’s possible that Jesus is referring to the eventual destruction of
Jerusalem that would come in AD 70.