He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ But his citizens hated him […] saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us’” (Luke 19:11–14).
It is so like human nature to receive a small amount of information and filter it through our prejudices to reach expanded and unintended conclusions. This is exactly what the disciples of Jesus did as He approached Jerusalem. They believed Jesus was about to establish His earthly Kingdom. Implicit in this parable and in other statements the Lord made was that there would be a time between that period and when He would return from heaven to set up His kingdom on the earth. Jesus told a parable depicting His departure from earth to heaven in order to receive a kingdom and return; while He is away, His servants would have different responses to His absence. Some would be dutiful as though the master was present, but others would conduct their lives as if the master was never going to return. Although the master in this parable had admonished his servants to ‘do business till I come,’ many would be slothful and unconcerned.
A question we must ask is, “how are we conducting our lives while the master is away?” For He will surely return! Are we expecting His return? Do we live each day as if His return is imminent? Jesus has instructed us to do so/to live so! Another question is, are we doing His business or our own? What is the business of the kingdom while the Lord is away? The answer is: “Go therefore …” (Matthew 28:19).
Expecting His Return,
Pastor