Text: Luke 18:18-30
Date: April 6, 2025

Introduction

Opening Illustration: Years ago, I was sitting with an older gentlemen when his son, who was in his mid-twenties walked into the room. The father and spoke for a minute, and then the son left the room. And when the son was gone, the father looked at me and said, “I love that boy. He has so much potential, and he’s wasting it.” He said, “There’s nothing that drives me more crazy then seeing wasted potential.”

Personal: Every follower of Christ in this room has a potential usefulness in the Kingdom of God. If you’re a Christian God has bestowed upon you, not only resources to steward, but gifts to utilize, and responsibilities to fulfill. Are you maximizing that which God has assigned you? Or are you wasting that which has assigned you?

Context: Today we encounter another parable of Christ’s. Parables, as we have seen, are short stories designed to teach a lesson in a creative way. As we have seen, we must be careful with parables to not read into the details too many things. The point of the parable is not that all the details are literal, but rather the point of the parable is a broad stroke theme, a key concept that needs to be instilled. This parable is the very last part of this section in Luke. After this we begin the Jerusalem narrative in Luke’s gospel, which documents the final days of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. So let’s read this parable together.

Luke 19:11–27 “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…”

Explication

Let us begin by simply walking through this parable and noticing some of the details so that we might properly understand it. And then we will look to apply this parable into our lives by considering five attitude that should drive Christian living.

The Nobleman (12): The parable begins with a nobleman going to a far country to receive a kingdom for himself. This language is a bit foreign to us, but it was somewhat commonplace to the people of Christ’s day. So for example, Herod the Great, who was the Herod who had tried to have Jesus killed when he was an infant, was given his kingdom in this way, by making a pilgrimmage to Rome where Caesar granted him legitimate rule as a King. When he left on that trip, the people of his area knew when he returned he would likely be returning as their King. For our parable today, it is clear that the nobleman is Jesus. And his “going away to a distant land” tells us that Christ knew that the Church age we are currently living in would be lengthy. Jesus left for two reasons according to verse 12. He went “to receive a kingdom” and then “to return”, and you can be sure he will accomplish both.

10 Servants (13): There are two groups of people in this story. The first group are the chosen stewards. Before he departs on his journey, he leaves his wealth in the charge of ten different servants, and he gave those ten servants very specific instructions.

Luke 19:13 “Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’”

This is a vital detail in the story. The nobleman did not leave them clueless on what to do. There were instructions. There was a commisisoning. They were to utilize the nobelman’s resources in doing business in his stead, while he was gone. These servants in our story, represent Christians, those whom in this Church Age—the age between the Christ’s ascension and his return—those whom have been entrusted with the work of the Kingdom.

Hateful Citizens (14): The second group we come across are the angry citizens. We read in verse 14 about these citizens and their posture towards the noblemen.

Luke 19:14 “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’”

Of course, in this parable, these angry citizens represent those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They represent those who refuse to acknowledge the legal authority that Christ has over their life. They refuse to bow the knee to King Jesus. They are not simply neutral bistanders, but in their refusing to bow the knee to Christ, they are in fact angry rebels to Christ. They hate Christ. No matter how much the unbelieving worlds wants to coat their unbelief in kind language or empathetic language, at the end of the day, they have rebelled against God, they have established themselves as enemies of Christ. And their end in this story is awful. Verse 27 says,

Luke 19:27 “But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ””

With parables I am very slow to try to read into this some very literal understanding of Hell. Nevertheless, Jesus is certainly teaching that those who reject Christ in this life, will pay for it at the judgment in an awful way.

The Stewardship: The main portion of this parable has to do with the accounting that takes place at the master’s return. Once he has been given a kingdom, he calls his servants to see what they have done with the master’s resources while he was gone. We only get the report of three of the ten servants, but that report gives us enough to understand the point Christ is making. Two of the servants followed the master’s instructions. One doubled his money. And the other made half that amount. Both of them are rewarded accordingly. But this third servant did nothing. He was afraid to move, afraid to act, afraid to invest. And so he just hid the money in a napkin and waiting until the King returned. And clearly, while his ending is not as bad as the citizens who were slaughtered, we get the point, that we don’t want to be the third servant. We don’t want to waste our responsibilities away. As Christians, we want to please God. We want to fulfill the commands of God.

The Doctrine: And so, perhaps we can boil this down to a principle that sounds something like this. Jesus Christ, has entrusted to every Christian unique Kingdom Responsibilities. When he returns in judgment, he will evaluate our work. Some will receive more and some will receive less as a result.

Application

Now, as I considered how this doctrine should be practically experienced in our day to day life, I believe there something about our attitudes towards God and towards His Kingdom that we need to reflect upon. I would like to offer four attitudes that should be clearly present in every Christian’s life as a result of this parable.

I AN ATTITUDE OF AWE AT THE MAGNITUDE OF OUR ASSIGNMENT

First, I believe this text demonstrates that we are to have an attitude of awe at the magnitude of our stewardship.

Christ Has Entrusted: This parable teaches us that Christ has very intentionally created a gap of time between his first coming and his second coming. And we now live in that time, as his servants. We have been entrusted with the Master’s resources, and commissioned to follow his instructions to invest those resources properly.

Most of Us: Most of us have very little idea of the extent of our responsibility. Most of us in this room have very little sense of the magnitude of what Christ entrusted us with. But let us consider the reality of what Christ has entrusted you with.

The Gospel: First and foremost, you who are Christians have been entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You did not find this on your own or discover it by your strenth. Christ found you. He saved you. He went to the cross to forgive you of your sin, and died in your place underneath the wrath of God so that you could be forgiven, redeemed, and restored. He deposited the Word of God in your heart, and sealed it by the Holy Spirit, so that wherever you go, you know the Gospel, the truth of what Christ has accomplished for you on the cross. This is more precious than gold, more valuable than any asset.

Spiritual Gifts: You have been assigned unique spiritual gifts to be used in teh Kingdom of God. Each Christian in this room, has been filled by the Spirit and entrusted with particular gifts to equip and build the Church. He deposited with you tools for Kingdom Building and commissioned you to do the work.

Age: Perhaps we can even get more simple than this. Let us consider the age at which we live, the time period of Church history that has been assigned to us.

Internet: You don’t just live in the age of the printing press, because keep in mind that before the invention of the printing press in the early 1500’s, it was only the priestly class who had access to the Word of God. You have been assigned not just the days of the printing press, but the days of the internet, where you have access to every and any resource you could ever imagine. What a stewardship.

Democratic Republic: Secondly, you are living in the age of a Democratic Republic like America. What a gift this is that we take for granted. The idea that you, Christian, can not only live privately by your own Christian values and worldview, but that you can shape your city and your country according to those Christian values. What a stewardship!

Travel: You are in the living in the age of travel. Not that long ago faithful missionaries boarded boats with all their belongings in a coffin, as a symbol to their friends and family that they would likely never see them again, planning to die on the mission field. They would travel for months, sometimes years, to get to places that you and I can get to now in 8 hours on a plane. And by the way, with the phone in your pocket can translate a conversation into almost any language on the planet.

Families & Children: Some in this room have been entrusted with wives and with children to your care. Precious gifts from God placed in your hands, to steward, to disciple, to care for. Those are your primary responsibilites and stewardships.

Miscellaneous: You have been granted your jobs, your income, your networks, your life story, your trials that have shaped you, your people that have formed you. All of this from God. All of this Mina.

Illustration – What If: Put it another way. What if you had born in the deserts of the Middle East to a Muslim family and had little to no access to the gospel? And there was no pastor nearyby to inform of the grace of Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, but all you knew was the endless tyranny of earning God’s love through our works, and the very distant god of Islam. What a mercy it is that you are in this room this morning! And what a responsibility!

Wrap Up: What are you doing with it all? How will your work be evaluated?

II AN ATTITUDE OF COURAGE FOR KINGDOM WORK

Second, I believe this parable teaches us that we need to have an attitude of courage towards the work that must be done.

The Third Servant: If you recall the third servant, when he was called before the nobleman, he gave the excuse as to why he did not invest the money entrusted him, that he feared the nobleman, knowing that he was a “severe man.” In other words, this servant was content to just play it neutral. I’m not going to invest. But I also won’t lose it. I’ll just play it safe. When the nobleman returns the words he says to this servant are heart wrenching,

Luke 19:22 “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?”

And in the judgment, that man has some of his stewardship taken from him and given to others.

No Playing Neutral: We are not called to play neutral. Jesus instructs to actively invest his resources that he has given to us to manage. Not to bury them, or put them in a handkerchief. It is far easier to attempt to play neutral. Why? Well because from a human perspective, actively investing in the Kingdom looks like the higher risk. What will people think of you? What will people say if you stand strong on your convictions? What will people say if you confront sin when you see it? What will people think if you don’t just hold your moral opinions privately, but seek to shape our city in accordance with God’s clearly defined word? What will your old friends say of you when the see your social media posts are thoroughly Christo-centric? What if you begin a ministry in alignment with your passions and it fails? What if, what if, what if?

What if?: Some of the greatest spiritual advice I can give is that we not stop saying “What if” about our strategic Kingdom ideas. What we need to do is pray fervently to God, seek his favor, seek his counsel, seek his will. Let him form your heart and let him give you a vision to how to use your time to the glory of God. And then simply go and do it. You don’t need approval. You don’t need validation. Sometimes the more counsel you seek the less likely you are to do anything courageous.

Practical Counsel: Every Christian needs to ask themselves how am I personally getting about the master’s work with the resources he’s assigned me. Let me give some practical counsel on this.

Start at Home: First, start at home. Don’t try to save the world if your home is out of order. Get your marriage in your order, learn to disciple your children properly. Build a properly Christian home, built on prayer, the Word of God, and joy in the Lord. That is your first and primary obligation. When somebody comes to me with a massive idea to reform some area of the church, and I look in their home and its out of order, I am very hesitant to move to quickly on their ideas. Be courageous in your home.

Small Gains: Second, look for small gains. Sometimes we hear a sermon like this and we get the idea that we have to have a big idea. We need to start a non profit. We need to get 20 people to show up for a new event. No, that’s down the road. Start small. Courageously pursue your neighbor by having them over for a meal and hearing their story. Courageously confront a straying Christian who has left the Church, in order to prevent them from backsliding any further. Courageously disciple somebody in your work place.

Balance: Third, I want to caution against confusing hyper-busyness as a sign of excellent Kingdom building. There are some in this room who say yes to far too many things. This is not a sermon about keeping ourselves constantly busy. In fact there are many good kingdom opportunities which we will need to say to no to, in order to the do specific work that God has assigned us to excel at.

Test Yourself: We all have boldness and courage when it comes to the things we really care about. For many, you will muster the courage and seek a promotion, or apply for a stretch job. For others, you’ll muster the courage to climb mountains. We do that because we love those things, we believe in those things. But all of those things are secondary to the most important thing, to Christ and his kingdom.

III AN ATTITUDE OF CAREFULNESS TO ABIDE BY THE MASTER’S INSTRUCTIONS

Third, we need to have an attitude of carefulness to abide by the Master’s instructions. Jesus placed ten minas in the servants hands and then he gave specific instruction.

Luke 19:13 “Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’”

The instructions were clear. And the servants that were rewarded were those who followed the instructions.

The Lord’s Instructions: We, as the Church, have been given extraordinary level of instruction on how to conduct the Lord’s business until Christ returns. In this parable, he gave just one sentence, but we have an entire Bible filled with instruction on what we are to do, and how we are to do it.

The Church: Today, one of the great tragedies that I see happening among us, is that church, especially in the west have changed and modified Christ’s instructions. The instructions are clear, they are in the Bible. There is no confusion. But in an effort to appeal to modern sensibilities we have dressed up the bride of Christ like a prostitute, and tried to sell her to the masses. Very often, in our modern sensibilities we believe that God’s instructions are outdated and need our help in accomplishing his purpose most effectively, and so we modify, we adjust, in order to help God out a bit. How has this happened.

Morally: Morally, we are watching denomination after denomination cave to secular pressures to lower our moral prophetic witness by affirming all kinds of sin. Bending their prophetic witness by adopting the mentality of the world. This is not new to our generation. The Apostle’s fought this tendency even in the scriptures. But today we see Churches adopting the falsities of Liberation Theology, that sees Christ as a great liberator of the oppressed but not savior of the sinful. We see churches adopting Queer Theology, affirming that which God calls sin. We see Churches outwards proclaiming to detach themselves from the Old Testament because there are stories that are difficult to hear.

Practically: Practically, Christ has given great detail to the structure and the order of the Church. What it is we are to be doing and to be expecting when we gather together. How is God’s Word to be preached? How is God to be exulted through song? But as they have done with doctrine, many churches of the living God have adjusted the Lord’s instructions. They have sought to appeal to nonbeliers sensibilities by making church trendy through entertainment. And while they haven’t necessarily joined forced with the evil one by adjusting the Word of God, they are very selective on what portions of Scripture they teach.

Entertaining False Prophets: A third way we have done this is by entertaining false teachers, and failing to have the discernment to recognize false voices. Between youtube and podcasts, the amount of false teaching that has shaped our daily doctrine is startling. I read the results of one survey from Gallup that said that 70% of born-again Chrsitians believe that Christ is not the only way to Heaven. Many more folks believe themselves to be Christians, but because they are detached from a gospel preaching chuch, they have absorbed all kinds of false teachings, believing Christ was not sinless, believing God is not a Trinity, believing additional books ought to have been included in the canon. They are destroying their faith. But remember Jesus’s words to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2,

Revelation 2:2 ““ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”

Wrap Up: We cannot play with this. Not just any worship we offer God is accepted by him. Remember Cain and Abel, the two brothers who both brought a gift to the Lord. But Cain’s was rejected, while Abel’s was accepted. Worship that has been detached from God’s instruction, is does not rise up to Christ as a fragrant aroma, but rises up to Christ as an awful stench. We must be diligent and careful to abide by his instructions. We are the Church, ushering people into the presence of God! The God who has the authority and the power to cast true and final judgment over our actions. Let us be sure to follow his instructions.

IV AN ATTITUDE OF STRIVING FOR THE GREATER REWARD

Fourth, we must adopt an attitude of striving for the greater reward.

Passage: In our passage today, various rewards are given to different people. The man who invested the ten minas and made ten more, was given authority over ten cities. The man who made five minas more, was given authority over five cities. And the man who made none, had much taken from him. The lesson here is obvious, strive to have ten cities given to you.

Saved by Grace!: First, I do believe, that at the final judgment there will be different rewards given to God’s people based on their work here in this life. [I should acknowledge that there are some very faithful bible believing scholars who don’t believe this]. I think the testimony of Scripture is clear. Our entrance to heaven will be singularly and solely based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our works have nothing to do with whether we will be permitted into heaven or not. Our permission is by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. He earned it all. And if you have not believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin, and for life everlasting, then there is no talk to be had of rewards in heaven. As it stands you are in league with those citizens who rejected Christ and whose fate was to be slaughtered. Today your first act is to believe in Jesus, to become a servant of the king. Then and only then can we begin to talk about degrees of reward in heaven.

Develop the Doctrine of Rewards: Let us take a moment and develop this doctrine of rewards in heaven. There is much that could be said that I will not cover today. But a few words will suffice.

What Are the Rewards: First, what are the rewards. Will some people have bigger homes and nicer yards? Lakefront properties? I tend to think that when we speak of rewards in heaven we are speaking more about responsibilities and capacities, not physical treasures, though I could be wrong. Notice in our text, they were given authority over cities. In other words, they were given responsibility in the Kingdom. In Heaven I believe we will have responsibilities in our life there. Not burdensome responsibilities, but meaningful, substantive, heavenly responsibilities. And some will be entrusted with more, and some will be entrusted with less.

No Jealousy: Heaven is such however, that nobody is jealous or upset at the distribution of gifts. He who earned five cities does not sit in jealousy at him who earned ten cities. Because heaven is a world of love, where petty jealousy has been cast out. Jonathan Edwards discussing this says,

“Every vessel that is cast into this ocean of happiness is full, though there are some vessels far larger than others; and there shall be no such thing as envy in heaven, but perfect love shall reign throughout the whole society.”

Full Humility: Further, he who has more in heaven, will never boast in anything more that he has than anyone else. Rather God will grant levels of humility in accordance with the treasure one has in heaven, so that not one person will think one boastful or arrogant or proud thought about their belongings in heaven.

Lay Down Our Crowns: And of course while the scriptures speak about wearing crowns in heaven. Whatever that crown we have earned looks like. Whether it is full of ten emeralds, or only one, we all together will remove our crowns from our heads and lay them at the feet of Jesus, as worship the lamb who was slain.

Strive for the Reward: Now, some say “Striving for a reward as a Christian is a bad motivation.” And to that, I say that I see where they are coming from. Striving for a reward should not be our chief motivation. Our chief motivation is the glory of Christ, and the honor of our king. But make no mistake, this is a healthy motivation in a Christian’s life.

Conclusion

I close today by pleading with you to evaluate your stewardship now. Are you making the most of what Christ has entrusted to you? What areas of your life have you buried, have you put in a napkin and placed off to the side? Christ is returning very soon. May we be found faithfully doing the Lord’s work in the Lord’s way, when he returns.