The Kingdom You Have
“11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant region to receive royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves and gave them ten pounds and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves to whom he had given the money to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why, then, did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to rule over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’ ” Luke 19:11-27
I love Luke’s Jesus. His heart is for the poor. “Blessed are the poor in Spirit” is what Matthew says. Luke says, “Blessed are the poor.” Luke has a point and he is trying to make it clearly. Unfortunately, we are so far removed from those days and times that we forget the urgency and radicalness of these words.
Most of us assume this parable, known as the Parable of the Talents/Pounds/Faith Servant/Unfaithful Servant, is about God being the King who is coming and angry with the one who did little. However, the context does not support that nor do the words.
This king is known as being ruthless and harsh. He punishes the poor, not because he did not make money, but because he knew he was a, “harsh man; you take what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.” Who else takes what they did not deposit and reap what they did not sow?
The juxtaposition is envisaged in the next verses as Jesus, the humble, servant king riding on an ass, enters into Jerusalem. Jesus did not enter as a “conquering hero” or a “usurper”. Jesus entered willing to die for the seeds of a future kingdom to arrive on earth as it is in heaven. A kingdom without end, which is here, but not yet fully. One with abundance and joy, so that no more shall go without and there shall be no more tears.
My friends, the kings of the world, ruthless or not, will let us down. We cannot dare put our faith in these institutions to do justice in the world. We must put our faith in the one who showed us that a kingdom is not about success, wealth, and fame at all costs, but the Beloved Kingdom is a place of love, peace, joy, harmony, and, most importantly, all are invited to God’s Table.
Zac