1WHO’S RESPONSIBILITY IS IT?

(LUKE 19:11-27)
INTRO: Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the very last time. Those that followed Him
were expecting that He would now take the throne of His kingdom and reign on earth and
that they would reign with Him. Instead, He tells them this parable of what He expected
of them and of all Christians until He returns in glory some day.
*Different characters and objects that need identification in parable.
I. Situation (vs. 12-15) (Read vs. 11-15 and then pray)
A. The Nobleman (v. 12)
1. Jesus the Son of God (“a prince).
2. Archelaus (Ar’-ke-la’-us), son of Herod the Great went to Rome to
receive kingdom. Custom in time of Jesus.
3. Jesus has gone to receive honor & glory in heaven, His kingdom on
high. (Phil. 2:9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and
given him a name which is above every name.”)
4. Jesus will return someday to receive His kingdom on earth (Acts
1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up
into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
heaven.”)
B. The Servants (v. 13)- those that are saved
1. His Servants- who’s servant are you? Self? Satan? Christ? Many
claim to be Christians. (Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye
yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness.”)
2. Called- none had CPA’s, business majors, store-front operators, not
hire financial firm. Christ calls us not because we deserve it but to
help us to grow more into His image. (2 Timothy 1:9 “Who hath
saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given
us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”)
3. Warned- Christ himself warned of his second coming :
a. Are you ready? (Matt. 25:13 “Watch therefore, for ye know
neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh.”)
b. We weren’t left here to sit back and enjoy. (2 Cor. 5:14 & 15
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus
judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he
died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live
unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose
again.”)
C. The Money (vs. 13)
 1. Not talents as in Matthew 25.
2. Each servant is given an equal amount.
3. The money represents the gospel message (1 Peter 4:10 “As every
man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”)
-every Christian is given the responsibility and opportunity to
witness to
the lost. (Can’t say that you don’t have the gift, it’s not a talent).
D. The Citizens (v. 14)
1. Rejected Jesus as their king (John 1:11 “He came unto his own, and
his own received him not.”)- wanted worldly not heavenly kingdom.
2. Represented the Jewish nation at this time specifically but ultimately
all the lost of the world.
I The Servants (vs. 16-26) (Judgement Seat of Christ)
A. The faithful servants (vs. 16-19)
1. The hundred percent Christian (vs. 16 & 17)
a. “thy pound” (Psalm 115:1 “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy
truth’s sake.”) it’s through the Word of God and the working
of the Holy Spirit that people are brought under conviction
and get saved. We are just tools in the Masters hand. (1 Cor.
2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit
and of power.”)
b. This servant was faithful (Matt. 16:24 “...if any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me.”)- Penalty for having Bible in Russia before
Iron Curtain fell.
c. Gained 10 pounds.
d. Received 10 cities- reward proportionate to service (1 Cor.
3:8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and
every man shall receive his own reward according to his own
labour.”)
2. The half-hearted Christian (vs. 18 & 19)
a. Jesus elaborated on all three for a reason
i. Only gained half as much
ii. Not told “well, thou good servant
iii. Rewarded for faithfulness, not numbers
iv. He that soweth sparingly, he that soweth bountifully
b. Not willing to give all but want their own life still (God’s
time)
c. Not as “successful” (Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
 not.”)- 1st witness- frustrated- Christ in charge of the increase,
not us.
d. Received 5 cities (Rev. 2:26 “And he that overcometh, and
keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over
the nations.”)
B. The failing servant (vs. 20-26)
1. His actions
a. Hid his masters money (v. 20)- took great pains in keeping it
safe (napkin)- Christians hide in Church, come and get fed
but won’t feed others; maybe planning to invest @ later date
(Prov.27:1)
b. Harbored in excuse (v. 21)- the sinners view of God is one of
being unfair and overbearing.
2. His attitude- different attitudes of Christians why they can’t witness.
a. God can do it all by himself (v. 21)
i. Ordered to (Matt. 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations...”)
ii. Consequences of not (Ezekiel 3:18- turn to)
b. Too shy (1 Cor. 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty,
not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath
chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things
which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which
are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh
should glory in his presence.”)= moron
c. Lifestyle evangelism- must confront the lost with their sins.
(Jude 22 & 23 “And of some have compassion, making a
difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the
fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”)
d. Not enough time- ILL. Hudson Taylor & Peter- Oct. 10, 1856
3. His allowance (vs. 22-26)
a. Nobleman not trying to get rich but to see who faithful and to
build character- let them keep their pound.
b. Remained masters servant but lost all that he had (1 Cor. 3:15
“If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but
he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”)
*C.H. Spurgeon said “The heir of heaven serves his Lord
simply out of gratitude; he has no salvation to gain, no heaven
to lose,...now, out of love to the God who chose him, and who
gave so great a price for his redemption, he desires to lay out
himself entirely to His Master’s service.” ( Isa. 6:6-8)
III The Sentence (v. 27) (Great White Throne Judgement)
A. Enemies in the parable
1. Didn’t want nobleman to reign over them but he did (Phil. 2:10 & 11 “That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”)
2. They suffered for their rejection of the Nobleman (Rev. 20:15 “And whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”)
*Illustration- Sir Francis Newport, the head of an English atheist club, said to
those gathered around his dying bed, “You need not tell me there is no God for
I know there is one, and that I am in His angry presence: You need not tell me
there is no hell, for I already feel my soul slipping into its fires. Wretches,
cease your idle talk about there being hope for me! I know I am lost forever.”
B. Four things I’d like us to consider:
1. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23 “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God.” & Ecc. 7:20 “For there is not a just man upon the earth, that doeth good,
and sinneth not.”)
2. All deserve death (Rom. 6:23 “For the wages for sin is death...” & Psalm 9:17
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”)
3. Christ paid the price (Rom. 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” & Isa. 53:5 & 6 “But he
was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”)
4. Everyone must make a decision (Rom. 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved.” & John 1:12 “But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believed on his name.”)

Dave Jaspers- February 17, 1991