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LUKE 19 11-27 TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 01 Understanding the Jewish mind
📖 Luke 19:11-27
09Dec2020 - *Understanding the Jewish mind* - Luke 19:11-27 - TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN 1 - Bible reading: _Isaiah 9:6-7_
We begin a fresh study from today on the parable of the ten minas found in _Luke 19:11-27_. We’re titling this study as TO EVERYONE WHO HAS, WILL BE GIVEN.
_Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately._
We need to understand this parable from the Jewish mind. They have been waiting for the Messiah from the time of Moses and they await the Messiah even today. They are and they have been conscious that they were the chosen people of God but that they are far removed from how God wanted them to be.
There are several prophesies of the Messiah and the description of the kingdom of God that they hold on to and await with all eagerness and anticipation. As we begin the study of this parable, this is the backdrop that we need to keep in mind.
When Jesus came on the scene, the Jews thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Jesus had openly declared that He was the Messiah and that He had come to inaugurate His kingdom.
_John 4:25-26 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." (26) Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."_
_Luke 4:43 but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."_
So, when Jesus was declaring that the kingdom had come and that He was the Messiah, they could not contain themselves. They were now expecting all that the prophets foretold of how the kingdom of God would be, would now be brought to reality by Jesus.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this._
The disciples, very specially, were eager as to when Jesus would set up His kingdom and they were elbowing among themselves and trying to establish amongst themselves as to who was the greatest and who would get to be closest to Jesus when He sets up His kingdom.
Jesus had raised their hopes. _Luke 22:28-30 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. (29) And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, (30) that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."_
_Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"_
On the road to Emmaus, the two disappointed disciples shared their grief with Jesus and it was about the kingdom of God.
_Luke 24:20-21 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) *But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel*. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened._
Even after the resurrection of the Lord and at His ascension, the disciples were still expecting Jesus to start up His kingdom. _Acts 1:6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"_
I trust you are able to see the mindset of the Jews.
Now, let us look at the difference for us, the New Testament church. The focus and our entire understanding of the gospel message is of the work of Jesus on the cross. We are overwhelmed by what the Lord has done for us through His death, burial and His resurrection and rightly so.
To us, the message of Jesus is about our personal reconciliation with God and how we need to reconcile others to Jesus through the cross so that they will not perish.
This is right, but what we, New Testament believers, have not grasped (sufficiently) is that the purpose why Jesus reconciled us to Himself is to make us His workers in His kingdom.
We are, therefore, citizens of His kingdom, redeemed by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, fulfilling His work as His kingdom representatives, awaiting the Messiah to return, to set up the fullness of His kingdom, and to rule along with Him.
*Thought to ponder*
```The Jews did not grasp the cross, we are not grasping the kingdom of God.```