(Luke) 47 - Trinity-Parable of the Pound — Ed Miller

Our Father, we do thank you again that we can come in this place. Lord, for these moments we ask by your grace that you would detach us from all the cares and proper cares of life, that we might focus for these moments upon the Lord and find in Him our life and our strength.

The Parable of the Pound in Luke's Teaching Ministry

We thank you for all the word of God, but in a special way for this parable in Luke chapter 19, guide our meditation that we might behold a wonderful Savior. Thank you in advance that you're going to meet with us this morning because we come claiming it in Jesus' name.

Amen. Luke chapter 19, this morning we're coming to a break in the gospel of Luke, and by that I mean since chapter 9, verse 31, we have been discussing the master teacher, the teaching ministry of our Lord Jesus.

And that went all the way to chapter 17, verse 11. From that time on until now, we've been summarizing the message of the master teacher. And now we come to the very last parable, chapter 19, verses 11 to 27, the parable of the pounds.

And with this parable, God, through Luke, summarizes all of the teaching ministry of our Savior. Now, if you have a different translation, I'm using the new American standard, and it says mina or mina, M-I-N-A, instead of pound.

The Greek word, that's actually a transliteration. The Greek word is three letters, M-N-A, and that's where they get mina. So mina or pound. I think for our discussion, we need to know that it's a weight and a value of money.

That's what it was. A pound was a weight of money. It's not really important to know how much it weighed or how much money it was. I have a note in my Bible that says one mina equals 100 days' wages. I don't know if that's accurate or not.

Some commentaries didn't agree with that. But even then, back then, that wouldn't have been a lot of money, 100 days' wages. For our standards today, maybe a couple hundred dollars. But we know that it's a parable on the second coming of our Savior, and in this parable, he wraps up the whole section on teaching.

Reading the Parable of the Pounds

Now before we make some general observations about this parable, I'm going to ask you to follow along as we read it together. Begin at chapter 19, verse 11. While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem.

And they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So he said, a noble man went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. And he called ten of his slaves and gave them ten minas and said to them, do business with this until I get back.

I like the way the King James says, occupy until I come. I like that better. 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 after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves to whom he had given the money be called to him, that he might know what business they had done.

The first appeared saying, Master, your mina has made ten minas more. And he said to him, well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing. You are to be in authority over ten cities.

The second came saying, your mina, Master, has made five minas. He said to him also, and you are to be over five cities. Another came saying, Master, here is your mina, which I put away in a handkerchief.

I was afraid of you because you are an exacting man. You take off what you did not lay down, reap what you did not sow. And he said to him, by your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you not know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow.

We are in Luke 19 and we are at verse 23. Then why did you not put my money in the bank? And having come I would have collected it with interest. Then he said to the bystanders, take the mina away from him, give it to the one who has ten minas.

And they said to him, Master, he has ten minas already. I tell you, everyone who has, more shall be given. But from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. But these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.

Distinguishing the Pound from the Talents

Now let me make a couple of general observations about this summary parable. This is wrapping up now the whole teaching ministry, all the way from chapter 9, verse 11. Up until this point, God is summarizing all the teaching ministry of the Savior.

My first observation is this, don't confuse what we just read. Luke 19, 11 -27, the parable of the pounds, parable of the mina, with Matthew 25, 14 -30, the parable of the talents. Call attention to that, because they sound alike.

And in many ways they are similar. Especially when it comes to the guy who buried his talent in the earth. Might be a little different, one hid it in a hanky, and the other one buried it in the earth.

But it seems to be the same idea. But that parable was spoken at a different time, to different people, and it has a different message. For one thing, in Luke we are talking about a pound. In Matthew he is talking about a talent.

And what that means practically is, the talent is a hundred times more than the pound. The parable in Matthew uses a great deal of money to illustrate the point. And the parable in Luke uses only a small amount.

In proportion it is a hundred to one. In other words, Matthew illustrates with a dollar, Luke illustrates with a penny. That is the idea, that is the difference. Our second difference is this. In the parable in Matthew, the parable of the talents, everyone started off with a different amount.

In other words, one had five talents, another one had two talents, another one had one talent. They all started out with a different amount. But in this parable, everybody is on level ground. They all start off with the same thing.

In other words, everyone is given one. One pound each. Every Christian has a pound. Every Christian has a minor. All of that to say, don't confuse the two parables. There is a lot that they look alike, but there is a lot of difference.

The Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Delayed Kingdom

Now in another connection, I will call attention to the difference in the message between the talents and the pound. But for now, there is a difference. In our outline, I have summarized this parable under this title, the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

It is a second coming parable, but it is also a parable on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Glance, if you would, again at verse 11. And look at the occasion of this parable. In other words, why did he give it?

It says, while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable because. Because what? Because he was near Jerusalem and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

You see, one thing God accomplishes with this parable is that he clears up the confusion as to when the kingdom is going to come. You see, many believe Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem and they were wringing their hands.

You know, we say at Palm Sunday. Like I said, we are one week early because our next lesson will be on Palm Sunday. So we just missed it. But when they said, Hosanna, that is not praise God. Some people have that idea.

Come on in, welcome. Some people have the idea that Hosanna just means praise the Lord, like hallelujah. It does not. The word means save now. And they expected him to set up a political kingdom right then and there.

You see, that was part of the messianic hope. That God had promised that the son of David would come and regain the throne. And they thought, political, that someday Israel is going to be a political power again in the world and a nation in the world.

And they thought, he is going to Jerusalem, oh boy, this is the time. He is going to overthrow Rome and set up the government again. Even after the resurrection of the Savior, they did not catch on. Even after Jesus came out of the grave, they did not get the idea of a spiritual kingdom and of delay.

Listen as I quote Acts 1, verses 6 -9. They were therefore coming together and they asked him, saying, Lord, will thou at this time restore the kingdom? Is this after the resurrection? They are still expecting that political kingdom.

And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the time and the season which God has placed in his own power. But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and in the uttermost parts of the earth.

And when he had said these things while they were looking, he was taken up. And the cloud received him out of their sight. See, they never imagined that there was another kind of kingdom. A spiritual kingdom.

A kingdom of grace. This parable is given to show that it is not going to happen right now. There is a time lapse. The promised kingdom will come. But not overnight. We have been praying. Thy kingdom come.

It is still coming and it will come. And so verse 12 he says, a nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself. And then returned. And so that is what this parable is about. They said, is this the kingdom right now?

He said, no, I have to go away for a while. But I will return and then it will come to pass. Now there is a couple of things that illustrate the fact that this is not only a second coming parable, but also a parable on the lordship of Christ.

I love chapter 19, 13. Again, I quote King James because I like the authorize in this particular verse. Occupy till I come. You see, he called the slave, that is lordship. And said, I am going to provide you with something.

Now you have the provision. Use it until I come. The second evidence of the lordship is in verse 14. The attitude of the citizens. The citizens hated him. Sent the delegation after him saying, we do not want this man to reign over us.

There is always a group that rejects the lord. And they do not want his lordship. We do not want him to reign over us. And then the third evidence is in verse 15. When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that those slaves to whom he had given the money, be called to him that he might know what business they had done.

There is going to be an accounting when the king returns. And so you see, it is all lordship. He is going away. He has provided his servants. He has told them how to live. Some will reject him. He is coming back.

And some will all give a strict account. And will suffer loss or receive reward. And then verse 27, the sad verse in this parable. His enemies that reject him will be slain in his presence. And so this parable was given, not only to summarize all his teaching, but to show that there would be a delay in the kingdom.

To instruct us how to live under his lordship while he is gone. And to call attention to the great day of reckoning when the king returns again. I do not know of anything that could more summarize what we have looked at since 9 -11 than this wonderful parable.

It is so all-inclusive. Now rather than expound on the parable step-by-step as Luke does, what I would like to do is dip into the parable and touch on suggested by the parable and touch on either the second coming, it is the second coming parable, or lordship because it is a parable on the lordship of Christ.

So I will mention some wonderful truths and bear with me. It is in a random order. They are not in any particular order, but just as I have been meditating on this, some of the things that have blessed my heart.

Occupying Until Christ Returns

Notice again, let's go back to 13. Do business till I come. Occupy till I come. For years I did not understand that. I thought it was be occupied till I come. And a great emphasis in my life was busy.

Get busy, be occupied. He did not say be occupied. He said occupy. Especially if it is the second coming. It is amazing how many people are occupied with the second coming. They missed the point of the parable of the second coming.

Occupy till I come. He did not say be busy with things. He meant be busy in life. That is occupy, live until I come. So many people, I do not know, I used to be in on that. Poor Lillian had to put up with it.

I was into this prophecy stuff. Every time there was a prophecy conference, I would be at the conference. I would have my charts all over the place. I thought I knew something. What is going to happen and when it is going to happen.

The whole chronology of events. I told you on another occasion that I had the perfect chart. If you came out, you did not see wallpaper. You saw my chart. It went right around the room. From eternity to eternity, I had it all nailed down.

God scrapped my chart years ago. I think he is going to scrap a lot of charts. There is a difference between the second coming and the second coming. I missed the whole point. My eyes were on the second coming.

Rather than the one who is coming again. I missed the whole emphasis. God's attention is on the Lord. I was occupied with Israel and Russia and Antichrist. The false prophet and that strange beast. The confederation of ten nations.

The tribulation period. Who are the two witnesses? Where does America fit in prophecy? That kind of thing. He was saying, occupy until I come. Live. I will illustrate that in another connection. The second comment I want to make has to do with what we are to be occupied with.

Using God's Provision for His Glory

I am amazed at how many people look at this parable and do not see anything in it. Except some clues on how to manage money. That is the illustration. That is not the point. This is not a parable on how to compound interest.

How to make money, make money. That is not what this is about. You see they read this and say those who invested and got some return on their investment. They are going to be rewarded. Some people just wasted it and did not invest it.

God was angry with them. Because they did not do anything with the principle. Even the minimal. They did not even put it in the bank. In verse 23. But you know there is a spiritual side. As you have seen in all of our studies together.

It is illustrated by the investment of the mind. In the parable of the talents in Matthew. They all started with a different amount. I suggested to you. One had five talents. One had two talents. One had one talent.

And though they started with a different amount. They all ended up with the same reward. If they were faithful. The guy who was faithful was five. The guy who was faithful was two. They both ended up with the same reward.

And you remember that great reward. That Matthew quote. Well done. Thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord. See the parable of the talents teaches. Equal faithfulness receives equal reward.

That is the message of the talents. Let me say a word about that reward. Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord. I just returned from a weekend conference. In Delaware. Oh what a time we had.

You know it is always fun when the saints gather together. For the purpose of seeing the Lord in the word. It was just a wonderful time. I don't know if I have done it here. I may have. But I love to encourage the saints.

To write poetry. I just love to receive poetry. If you want to give me something. Give me a poem from your heart. Don't give me a thousand dollars. I don't want your money. Give me a poem from your heart.

And you couldn't bless me any more than that. And I encourage people. I think that poetry is sort of the language of the spirit. And you can say things in poetry. I love to vent my heart in poetry. Anyway a man handed me a poem.

And he had something on this well done good and faithful servant. Actually he had eight verses in the poem. This is just one. So many think that what they do will make God say well done. Thou good and faithful servant is the name they think they want.

But Jesus is the only one who can be thus adored. And we will only hear those words. Because we are in the Lord. And that is tremendous. Exactly so. Exactly so. I will. So many think that what they do.

Starting again. So many think that what they do will make God say well done. Thou good and faithful servant is the name they think they want. But Jesus is the only one who can be thus adored. And we will only hear those words.

Because we are in the Lord. The idea of course is all by grace. It is by what God does. I used to think it depended on me and faithfulness was how busy I was. And I was involved in so many things. I honestly expected God to say well done thou tired and blistered servant.

You have done so much for the Lord. I am so glad he started to open my eyes. We will hear those words. Every one of us will. Because we are in the Lord. And he is the one. It is his minor that is going to earn the reward.

Luke is a little different than Matthew. Matthew teaches equal faithfulness gains equal reward. Luke. Everybody starts out with the same thing. One minor. One power. Every Christian has the same thing.

And in this story they are not equally faithful. They all had one. One minor earned 10. Another minor earned fully faithful with their investment. The rewards they got were not equal. Notice verse 17.

One received authority over 10 cities. Another received authority over 5 cities. The message of Luke's parable is unequal faithfulness receives unequal reward. We will develop that as we go along. But this is more than money.

We are not just talking about how to invest your coins. He is talking about being faithful in life with what God has given. Of course there is so much discussion. You have probably been in on it. What is the talent?

What is the pound? What is represented by that? Is it our gifts? One has more gray matter. One is smarter than somebody else. Someone is more talented. Someone is more organized. God has given you certain gifts.

Maybe you are wise. Someone else is not so wise. Or maybe you are wealthy. Or maybe you can work with children. Or work with older people. Or work with prisoners or derelicts. Some people have that idea.

I am tempted to think. I can't prove this and I won't try. But I am tempted to think. Because in Luke everybody is equal. We all start with the same thing. That represents the grace of God. That we all have the grace of God.

I think maybe talent in Matthew. It might be those gifts that God has given you. And you better use them for his glory. But to know the principle. We don't have to nail down what it is. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in those questions.

We miss the main principle. We miss the main idea. The message certainly is this. Whatever it is. Whatever God has given you. Use it. I mean that is the basic idea. You say how shall I use it? One thing I get out of this parable that blesses me to death.

Is that the king gave them all equal something. And he didn't micromanage it. You know what I mean by that? He gave them the minor. But he gave them no detail. He didn't say now put that much in Sprint.

And put that much somewhere else. He gave no advice. No suggestion. He just said occupy Telecom. Do business with it. In other words I think he was saying. Use your head. And use it for my glory. Now this might sound like a strange way to express this truth.

Freedom From Micromanaged Guidance

But my burden is always to communicate. You may not always agree with me. But I hope when we are done. You say I know what he said. I know what he meant. You might not agree with it. But at least it is clear what I am saying.

And for years in my Christian life. I was in bondage to the will of God. Please don't misunderstand that. My view of his lordship was that God wanted to micromanage my life. That God had a will for everything.

And it was my job to find it. God had a will for my vocation. I better not miss it. God had a will for my location. I better not miss it. God had a certain person for me to marry. I better not miss her.

God had everything for me. What friends I had. What church I was to go to. My stewardship. If I was going to give money. Who to give it to. How much to give. When to give it. And I was praying my head off.

About everything. Because I didn't want to miss God's will. And Lord guide me. Should I call this person now? Should I write? What should I put in my letter? How long should my letter be? And I was going snaky.

Because my idea of the lordship of Christ. Was that God wanted to micromanage my life. And give every detail about everything. It's a lot easier than that. You know that wonderful verse. I'll bet if I start it you'll finish it.

Proverbs 3, 5 and 6. Trust in the lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him. And he will direct your path. And he will direct your path. I was looking for God's will.

But I wasn't acknowledging him. Do you realize if you set your heart to know the lord. You can't miss the way. If you run after the will of God. You're going to lose the will of God. You're not going to find it.

Because every time you go after a byproduct. Instead of the goal. You miss both the byproduct and the goal together. But if you run after the lord. If you acknowledge him. For 70, 80 years. Then look back.

You'll see all the guidance you ever want to see. Just seek the lord. And he will direct your path. I'll tell you it was a new day for Ed Miller. When I started seeking the God whose will it was. Instead of the will of God.

And this parable sets you free. God has given you liberty to make your own choice. He's given you a rational mind. And then he says decide. You don't need to pray about everything. You need to praise about everything.

But you don't need to pray about everything. This principle applies in all of life. You know God's will. Know the lord. Honor the lord. Please the lord. Glorify the lord. And whatever you do. Be honest.

Be industrious. Be faithful. Honestly. God doesn't have a preference. Whether you drive a cab. Or sell pencils on the street. Or become some business person. Do what you want to do. Unto the lord. And in the name of the lord.

Every Christian Receives Grace and a Gift

Verse 13. He called ten of his slaves and gave them ten minors. Said to them do business with this till I come back. I think those ten slaves might represent the whole body of Christ. It's all Christian.

I don't know if you're familiar. Or seven. You're probably familiar with that. God's favorite number. But number one. Number three. Number four. Number six. Number seven. Ten. Twelve. Forty. Seventy. Those mean something when you come to the Bible.

Some of that sounds fanciful to me. I think seven is sometimes used in a symbolic way. I think Job, what he had seven daughters. I think that's six plus one. I don't think that's the perfect number of daughters necessarily.

So sometimes it means something more. But I think the ten slaves here do represent every Christian. And I call attention to that because if every slave receives. Call attention to the fact that every Christian receives a wonderful gift of the lord.

Now I don't know if you've been through that gift thing. Some Christians are so gift centered. What's my gift? I heard one brother say, I found my place in the body of Christ on the appendix. I don't know if that's your place in the body of Christ.

But I know this. That every Christian has a minor. Every Christian. And if you say you don't. It's unbelief. Because God says you do. When I come to spiritual gifts. No passage has meant more to me than Ephesians 4 verses 7 to 10.

Verse 7. Each one of us grace was given according to the measure Christ gives. To each one of us. And then he comes into what I thought at first was a strange. That Jesus sort of brought it in. Therefore when he ascended on high.

He led captive a host of captives and gave gifts to man. Now this expression he ascended. What does it mean except that he also descended. Into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is he who has ascended.

Far above all heaven. That he might fill all things. Well what's that all about? Well quite apart from all the theology. I one time nailed down. In other words I studied the commentaries. And I found more than 50 different explanations on that verse.

So you know God's people don't agree on that particular passage. But here's common denominator. The Bible not only teaches that you have a gift. You might think oh I don't have a spiritual gift. You have one.

And how wonderful is it. It's measured by the humiliation of Christ. How great a step was it when God became man. See when he created. He created finite things. But in the incarnation he assumed the finite.

He became finite. If you can measure how great it was for God to become man. You get a little view of how great your gift is. Because he said it's as great as the humiliation of Christ. And then take the other side.

He that descended also ascended. How great is his exaltation. How great was it when he was received back to glory. After having accomplished redemption's work. You all have a spiritual gift. And that spiritual gift is just as great as the humiliation of Christ.

And as the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. You say well if it's all that great how come I don't know what it is. You're not supposed to know. You're not supposed to know your gift. You realize this.

At any moment when you're looking in simple faith to Christ. Any gift or gifts that he's given you. Are going to be manifested in your life. You might not even know it. You don't need to know it. One of the worst things you can do is go on a gift hunt.

Don't try to find your gift. And if you think you know what it is. Don't try to develop it. That's ridiculous. Look to Jesus. Look to the Lord. And when you look to the Lord. Your wonderful gift measured by the humiliation and exaltation of Christ.

Is going to be used. And when you get to heaven someday. There will be plenty of time. To realize how wonderfully God used your gift or gift. In this connection let me say something about the reward. You can't read this parable.

Temporal and Eternal Rewards

And not think about reward. First of all. Sometimes. When the Bible talks about reward. He talks about eternal reward. I think when you read Matthew's talents. Well done. You've been faithful over a few things.

Enter into the joy of the Lord. Are in heaven. But when you look at Luke. He doesn't say. Well done. Enter the joy of the Lord. He says well done. You have authority over ten cities. Verse 17. That's not heaven.

You have authority over five cities. That's not eternal reward. That's not heaven. There's no cities in heaven. You see. That's referring to that time we call the millennium. When Jesus is going to reign on the earth.

For a thousand years. So there are eternal rewards. And there are temporal rewards. On the earth. I don't know what it means. Authority over ten cities. I just hope it's not literal. Figuratively. I don't like politics.

And I don't want to get involved in it. I suppose by then. I'll have a new body. And I hope you don't set me over any cities or towns or something. I don't know. But I guess it's pretty wonderful. If you read something like that.

All I'm calling attention to is. That rewards are used in different ways. Perhaps you've heard this expression. Or used it. Someone dies. And you say. They've gone to their reward. They've gone to their eternal reward.

You see. That's only partially true. That's true. But it's only partially true. It's only partially true. Because of Hebrews 11. Verse 39 and 40. Hebrews 11. 39 and 40 says. All these having gained approval.

Through faith. Have not received what was promised. God has provided something better for us. That apart from us. They should not be rewarded. Paul didn't get his reward yet. He's waiting for me. And you know why he's waiting for me?

He didn't receive his reward. Because he's still earning. Those saints who go on. They don't enter into their reward. Because they're still earning them. Every influence. God alone can keep track of this.

But every time you have influenced anyone. God is going to reward you for that influence. And then if they carry that influence. Until the last ripple of your life dies out. Generations from now. So you talk to your children.

Or you talk to your grandchildren. Or you talk to your neighbor. Or some of the sisters and brothers at church. Or people you work with. You've influenced them. And you've touched them. And they touch somebody else.

And they touch them. God keeps track of that. God keeps track of every bit of that. And that is going to be rewarded. If you've ever blessed anyone. One of my great passages. I'm rewarded. Is that great 1 Thessalonians 2. 19 and 20.

Who is our crown? Our joy of exaltation. In the presence of the Lord Jesus. Is it not you? Have his coming. Say I can't wait to go to heaven. To be in the presence of the Lord. But I'm not only going to be in the presence of the Lord.

I'm going to be in the presence of the Lord in the presence of you. You 're going to be in the presence of the Lord in the presence of me. And it's better than that. You're going to be in the presence of the Lord.

In the presence of everyone you have ever influenced. In your whole life. God has kept track of that. And what a day of rewards that's going to be. For years I lived in fear and trembling. I thought about the reckoning and God calling and I'm going to give an answer, every word that I ever said.

I'd read 1 Corinthians 3, you know, each man's work will become evident. It will be tried, revealed with fire. Fire will test every man's work. If any man's work which he has built remains, he will receive a reward.

And that scared me to death. Someday I'm going to die and stand before God and there's going to be a reckoning. At first it bothered me because I said, did Jesus pay for my sin? Is God going to collect for the same debt twice?

He already took the wrath. He already died for me and I was puzzled how come He's going to judge me again for my sin when Jesus already paid for my sin. And as I began to meditate on that, it might shock you to think that, or maybe you think I'm full of presumption and arrogance to say I'm not afraid of the fire anymore.

But I'm not. I tell you, I can't wait for the fire. I'm excited about the fire. You say, why are you excited about the fire? That sounds scary. No. The day's coming. This is the glory side of the judgment seat of Christ.

A day is coming. When everything I have ever said or done or thought to dishonor my Savior will be burned. I can't wait for that day. When everything I've ever done to dishonor Him is turned to sinners.

You say that's a time of judgment. No, it's a time of reward. The whole idea of the judgment seat is a time where God is going to reward you and whatever can't be rewarded will just be incinerated. And praise God, that's gone.

Did you ever ask the question, what good are rewards? I don't want a reward. What am I going to do with a reward in heaven? You can't spend it. What are you going to do with a reward in heaven? Well, Revelation 4 suggests the four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat upon the throne, worshiped Him that lives forever and ever, and they cast their crown at His feet.

The rewards are not for you. They're for Him. They're for Him. And so what He does is He gives you grace. You use that grace. He rewards that grace. You gather these great rewards and someday when you stand before God you're going to have the privilege to say, here Lord, this belongs to you.

And you lay it at the feet of the precious Lord Jesus. So they're not even for us. The rewards are for Him. Of course the tragedy is that some will be naked, and they'll have nothing to lay at His feet.

By the way, if I read the scriptures right, it's at that point He wipes all tears from your eyes. It's right at the judgment seat when all this stuff is burned up. We cast down our crown. Some of us stand there with one thread of a garment, and we're embarrassed and naked and say, sorry about that.