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 19:27 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Luke 19:27, is part of the Parable of the Ten Minas, where Jesus is teaching about the responsibilities of those who are given charge of things and the consequences of their actions.

The king in the parable, who represents Jesus, gives funds to his servants to see how they will use them.

Those servants who are faithful in their service are rewarded, while the one who does nothing with the mina is punished.

The line in question, "But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." is what the king says concerning those who reject his authority outright. Literally, it could be interpreted as a call for the death of those who oppose the king.

However, metaphorically, it demonstrates the gravity of rejecting the lordship of Jesus, which is symbolically akin to spiritual death or separation from God.

This verse is not a prescription for violence but rather a stark representation in parable form of the ultimate consequences of rejecting divine authority and grace.

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Historical Context

The passage is located in the Gospel of Luke, which was written to a primarily Greco-Roman audience around 80-110 A.D.

Jesus' audience was Jewish, and they would understand the context of a lord leaving and then returning to see what his servants had done in his absence since absentee landlords were common in that culture.

Historically, the parables were a means by which Jesus could communicate deep truths about the kingdom of God in means that were accessible to his listeners.

Theological Insights

Theological interpretations of this verse vary.

Some Biblical scholars emphasize the concept of divine judgment reflected in the finality of the king's command. This view often correlates with themes of accountability and the feared Day of Judgment.

Other theologians focus on grace, proposing that this verse starkly contrasts the potential outcomes for those who accept or reject Christ's sovereignty.

They stress that the dire consequences demonstrated symbolize the severity of ignoring the offer of salvation and the kingship of Christ in one's life.

Practical Applications

In application, this verse serves as a warning about the importance of recognizing and living under divine authority.

It challenges individuals to take seriously their responsibility to act in accordance with their professed beliefs, understanding that inaction or rejection of divine rule has significant spiritual implications.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:14-30 - The Parable of the Talents, which shares a similar message to the Parable of the Ten Minas.
Matthew 22:7 - King reacting violently to those who rejected his invitation.
Matthew 21:43-44 - A warning of the kingdom of God being given to a nation producing its fruits, and the stone crushing those who reject it.

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek text is “οἱ ἐχθροί μου οἱ μὴ θέλοντές με βασιλεῦσαι ἐπ’ αὐτούς” (hoi echthroi mou hoi mē thelontes me basileusai ep' autous).

“Εχθρός” (echthros) means "enemy," “θέλοντες” (thelontes) translates to "those who do not want," and “βασιλεῦσαι” (basileusai) means “to reign.” The term “βασιλεύς” (basileus) is significant as it refers to a king, a sovereign, often used in the context of divine or appointed authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The depiction of a king executing judgment or punishment upon his subjects or enemies is not unique to the Christian Bible; it is a motif that appears in various forms in many ancient cultures, including Greek and Roman myths.

In some of these cultures, kings were seen as representatives of their deities, and their judgements were sometimes seen as divine.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly relate to scientific perspectives as it deals with issues of moral and spiritual consequence rather than empirical phenomena.

However, the use of parables to convey complex concepts is akin to modern pedagogical methods used in education, including in the communication of scientific ideas.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and commentators offer diverse views on Luke 19:27.

Some, like John Wesley, view the parable as symbolic of God's judgment on those who reject Christ's rule.

Others suggest it was a common expectation that a ruler's opponents would face such a fate and that this speaks to the harsh realities of the historical context rather than to a prescribed behavior for Christians.

Contemporary commentaries often discuss the potential for misinterpretation when taking this verse in isolation from its parabolic and literary context.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:27 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 19:27 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?