Luke 19

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;

Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

What does Luke 19:11 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:11 serves as a preface to the Parable of the Minas, which immediately follows in the verses that come after.

In this verse, Christ is informing his listeners that they should not expect the Kingdom of God to materialize instantly.

It suggests that there is a misunderstanding among the listeners about the nature and timing of the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is addressing this expectation and is about to explain through a parable that the realization of the Kingdom will be a process that requires responsibility, service, and patience.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The verse is set as Jesus is approaching Jerusalem, a moment loaded with expectation for many Jews who anticipated a messianic kingdom to be established with power and immediacy.

Many of his followers believed Jesus was the Messiah who would inaugurate the kingdom, overthrow the Roman oppressors, and restore Israel to glory. Understanding this cultural expectation helps to frame the purpose of the parable Jesus is about to tell.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints interpret this verse in distinct ways.

For dispensationalists, this verse suggests a future physical kingdom to be established by Christ.

For non-millennialists, the kingdom is more spiritual and present in the influence of Christ's reign in believers' hearts.

Preterists may interpret this as referring to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, considering it as a form of God's kingdom coming in judgment.

Practical Applications

This verse reminds the modern reader not to hold onto unrealistic expectations about the timing and manifestation of God's promises.

It encourages patience and understanding that God's plans unfold on a divine timeline.

It also is a caution against expecting instant gratification and fosters an attitude of continued faithfulness and diligent work.

Cross-References

Mark 13:32 - "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."
Acts 1:7 - "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power."
Matthew 25:14 - "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods."

Language Study

The original Greek word translated as 'kingdom' is "βασιλεία" (basileia), which can refer to the spiritual reign or authority of a king. 'Nigh' comes from the Greek "ἐγγίζω" (eggizō), which means to be near or close by.

Unraveling these terms helps in understanding the nuances of proximity and the nature of the kingdom being discussed.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Many ancient cultures had myths about kingdoms being restored or established through divine or heroic figures.

The Jewish expectation of a Messiah to restore Israel has parallels in other cultures where a savior figure is anticipated to bring about an age of peace and prosperity.

Comparing these can illustrate common human desires for liberation and restoration.

Scientific Perspectives

The understanding of kingdoms in a literal sense would bring to discussion concepts of governance and society that can be analyzed sociologically or anthropologically.

However, from a scientific perspective, the 'kingdom of God' as a spiritual or moral force does not have a direct scientific correlate but could be discussed in terms of psychological or social impact on individual and communal behavior.

Commentaries

Scholars offer various insights on this verse:

Matthew Henry's Commentary points out that Jesus spoke this parable because he was near Jerusalem, and the people were in great expectation that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.

He addressed a common Jewish misconception about the Messiah's role.

The MacArthur Study Bible notes that because Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, the disciples' messianic expectations were heightened, anticipating an immediate fulfillment of the promised kingdom.
The Pulpit Commentary states that the followers of Jesus thought that the kingdom of God would manifest itself at once in the majesty of a temporal sovereignty and that the parable was designed to correct this notion.

These commentaries agree that the verse serves as an introduction to a teaching meant to realign the expectations of Jesus' followers with the reality of the coming kingdom.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 19:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?