Today, I am reading and commenting on Luke 19-20.

I have always loved the story of Zacchaeus.  He could not see Jesus over the crowd, so he went ahead and climbed a tree in order to see over the heads of those lining the streets.   When Jesus got to where Zacchaeus sat in the tree, He called him down so that He could eat at Zacchaeus’ house.  While everyone else around condemned Zacchaeus for his sinfulness, not without reason, Jesus welcomed his desire to change.  Let us similarly welcome those who desire to turn away from their sinful lifestyle.

However, I want to write about something in the Parable of the Ten Minas which Jesus told.  In the version given here the man who handed out the money to his servants for them to manage had been called away to be crowned king of a foreign country.  I am unsure that I have ever heard, or read, someone comment on that portion of this parable.  Some of those who were to be the subjects of this individual rejected him as king, but he was crowned king anyway.  Then, after taking the mina (coin) away from the servant who failed to invest it, he ordered those who rejected him as king to be killed.  Having taken the time to summarize this part of the parable, I understand why we pay so little attention to it: it is hard to see what to make of it.  But I think I understand why Jesus brought up the enemies of the king in this telling of the parable.  By doing so, Jesus distinguished between a servant of the king who failed to properly use the resources which the king gave him and those who completely rejected the king.  The lazy servant remained in the king’s service, but those who rejected him were put to death. I think we see here something which Paul expands on in 1 Corinthians 3. While the lazy servant did not receive the rewards which the more diligent servants received, he also did not receive death.  Of course, better yet to be a diligent servant of our Lord.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.