Intro: In verse 13 of our reading the KJV reads

Luke 19:13  ... said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Whereas the NIV renders it

I rather prefer the more ambiguous word, "Occupy" of the KJV. Why? Because, although the servants were given money, it was more than money they were to manage.

For the story was probably taken from actual case histories. For example Herod the Great, Antipas and Archelaus had each in turn gone to Rome to receive a kingdom. They were rulers but everyone wanted the title of king and had to go to Rome to get permission for it. Herod went and Antipas. and gained that title.

Archelaus, whose palace was at Jerico went to Rome leaving his palace and all his interests including his money and the financial affairs of his jurisdiction in the hands of his bond slaves. But in the case of Archelaus, a delegation of 8000 Jews also made their way to Rome to protest and Archelaus never received the title and was later, in fact, disposed as ruler.

So you see, "occupancy" fits the story better since those servants Many of the Jews of this time would have been aware of what happened to Archelaus.

I Purpose of the Parable

Expected Kingdom Immediately v. 11

The emphasis on "immediately"

Why this expectation?

Morgan –"Jesus had been up and down in their land, in Judea, Galilee; and for a long period (6 months) in Peraea, going here and there preaching the Kingdom of God; and everyone felt the time was ripe for something to happen"

Excitement was in the air. Josephus says, 2 million people above the normal population of Jerusalem was in the area.

Were they wrong to expect the Kingdom of God?

The parable reinforces their understanding of the Kingdom of God to come.

The misunderstanding was expecting it immediately.

Only mistake was when "the kingdom of God was going to appear"

"appear’ = clear, outward, open manifestation"

 

Parable Intrepretation

Jesus illustrated himself as the one who was to go into a far country (his ascention into heaven) to receive a kingdom and return. (return to earth, second coming)

Set up those who will believe on him as the ones being left with his interests while he is away.

The delegation against Jesus was the Jews.

Luke 19:14  "But his subjects hated him ...

John 19:21  The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ...

Often Repeated Mistake

How many times has this same mistake been made?

Cecil telling me of a new, obscure method showing that Jesus will return right at the year 2000

Very few ever come a time in the distant future. The take the present and count backwards. The want the answer to be now, so they generate the problem.

Jesus then taught two things:

No man knows the day or hour

Matthew 24:36  "No one knows about that day or hour, ...

It would be a "long" time between his leaving and his returning.

Matthew 25:19  "After a long time the master of those servants returned ...

What about the perception of the disciples that he was coming back in their lifetime?

They did not believe that

Reference to the "end" was not the "end of the world"

1 Peter 4:7  The end of all things is near. ...

Prophecied end of Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel that happened 70 AD

Peter was written in the 60’s!!!

Simple solution to this confusion. When Jesus and the disciples mean "end of the world" (sunteleia) and when they meant the end of something else they use another word end (telos).

Now we can safely say its been a long time.

OCCUPY!

A BIG word

To busy oneself, trade; from business, work, from word to do something repeatedly

Big in its implication

The very work, the very business, the total worth of the king left in the hands of his servants.

Reason for the LONG delay- so that his servants can continue this work of the gospel.

So that "Zacchaeus’s" can continue to find God v. 1-9

"Waiting’ for the Lord’s return is not idleness.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO OCCUPY?

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