We Will Not Have This Man • Luke 19:11-27

Notes

When a kid refuses to submit to his teacher he can’t learn anything. It’s not a knowledge problem, it’s a will problem. Kids who resist authority can’t learn.

People who resist the authority of God will never learn peace. The greatest teacher in the world is about to walk into a city full of people who refuse to obey Him. Because they will not submit to Him they don’t learn this is their time to receive the kingdom of God. They’re choosing disorder and death because they won’t submit.

But what about the kingdom of God? It’s coming, and for those who submit, the kingdom of God comes right now.

I’m reading in Luke 19 from verse 11.

1. Jesus tries to warn His disciples about what’s going to happen in Jerusalem.

A. They’ve been on the way since chapter nine. They’re finally about to enter Jerusalem, it’s just over the Mount of Olives.

B. There’s a lot of crowd coming along, there’s a lot of buzz. Everyone’s excited because they think this is it: we’re going to go over the Mount of Olives, there’s the Temple Mount the very first thing you see, we’re going to see the kingdom of God appear! Wow!

C. Jesus tells a parable to warn the guys, no, it’s not going to be immediately. He’s trying to warn them to not get carried away with the hype. It’s not going to be like people think, like you think.

D. Unreal expectations only lead to disappointment. But you don’t have to lose faith. You need to understand what’s really going to happen.

2. In the parable, a nobleman is taking a trip to receive a kingdom, and he gives his slaves authority and freedom while he’s gone.

A. He’s already a nobleman, high born, he already rules to some extent. He’s got citizens that he manages somewhat.

B. He’s used his authority, his freedom to make choices, to keep order.

1. When lawbreakers are punished people understand that you can’t get away with doing exactly as you please. You have to follow the law, live by the rule of law.

2. When there’s order in society, there’s peace.

C. Some higher authority, we’ll call him the emperor, likes what the nobleman has done so far with his authority. He wants a realm of order and peace. He wants to exalt the nobleman and give him supreme authority, give him the kingdom.

D. To receive the kingdom the nobleman must go away and meet the emperor. And while he is away he wants ten of his slaves to each manage for him a certain weight of money called a mina, around six months’ wages.

1. He gives them authority over this money, freedom to invest or use this money as they see fit, to make more money. That’s how you use money, to make more.

2. He doesn’t give them specific instructions. But they’ve probably seen what he does with his money so they have an idea of what he would like. Use this like I would. Do this until I return.

3. The nobleman receives the kingdom though he is opposed and rejected by some of his own citizens.

A. A delegation of citizens follow the nobleman to protest him becoming king. We hate this guy. We don’t want this man ruling over us.

B. Why do these people hate the nobleman? Because he’s a bad guy.

C. So there’s the emperor looking at the nobleman, whom he knows is doing a great job managing the people and providing for order and peace, and here’s a bunch of people who hate this guy and say, don’t have him rule over us. Who is he going to listen to? We get the answer in verse 15: The nobleman receives the kingdom.

D. The emperor understands that when they reject his choice, who is under his authority, they’re rejecting him, too. They are unruly, given to resisting authority or another's control, not restrained by or under the control of legal authority.

E. They have been somewhat free under the nobleman, which means they break the law and don’t get caught. But when his authority increases they know their freedom to be disorderly is over.

F. The emperor says, “He’s king over you. My decision is final.”

4. The king returns and settles up with two of his slaves.

A. He’s exalted above all nobles, he’s a king with supreme authority given by the emperor himself. From now on we refer to him as the king.

B. The first slave gives account of his work while the king has been away: “Your mina has made ten minas.”

1. He says, “Well done, good servant.” He’s pleased with the faithfulness of the servant with the authority entrusted to him. He managed the money under his control and it increased. The slave says, “Here’s your money.”

2. The king says, “You have been faithful with the least valuable thing. Now have authority over ten cities.”

C. The second slave comes and says, “Master, your mina has made five minas. Here’s your money.” And the king says, “You also be over five cities.”

1. The king doesn’t chew out the second slave and say, “Why didn’t you do better like him? Get out there and get me five more minas, you loser!”

2. It was never about the money. It’s about faithfulness. The slaves have been personally faithful to the master. They thought, “This man is worthy of my devotion and loyalty. I’m going to do what he asked as long as he’s away.”

D. Notice, the king wants to exalt his slaves with more authority, which is freedom under authority. He can trust them to make good decisions that benefit others. They make order which brings peace. The emperor exalted him, he exalts those under him.

5. A third slave rejects his king and ruins his own life.

A. He says, “Here’s your mina which I kept safe. You didn’t lose any money and you didn’t gain any money, but here is your money, and it’s safe.

B. He says he didn’t work for the master because he was afraid.

1. He was afraid because in his opinion the master lets others work for him and then he takes what they have achieved for himself. He exploits his labourers because he’s a harsh man. He’s only out for himself.

2. And I said, “There’s no way I’m helping that so-and-so get rich, like I was his slave. In my heart I’m free. I’m not having him rule over me.”

3. So here ya go, nice try, pal, but I’m too smart for you. Better luck next time. By my reckoning we’re even.”

C. The king convicts the slave of his wickedness by what he just said.

1. “You ‘knew’ that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping where I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?

2. “We’re not even. By doing nothing with my money you stole interest from me. You’re a lawless thief.”

D. So take that mina from him and give it to the one with ten minas.

1. Somebody objects, “Hey, he already has ten!” And the implication is, “That’s not fair!”

2. Ah, but this isn’t about being fair. “To him who has, more will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

3. Jesus doesn’t explain that. You have to figure it out. Or wait a few minutes, and I’ll figure it out for you.

6. The king gives the citizens who rejected him what they deserve.

A. He commands, “Bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them in my presence.”

B. He doesn’t give them any more chances to step out of line. They are unruly, they reject lawful authority. They aren’t going to change, and neither will he. He wants order and peace. No more arguments. They’re done.

7. So what?

A. Jesus is going to walk into Jerusalem, full of people who are unruly, given to resisting authority. They don’t submit, can’t learn, don’t recognise the time of their visitation. Therefore they choose death rather than life.

B. When you abandon the proper and good authority of God, you open yourself up to the control and influence of another, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. If you will not have this Man Jesus rule over you, the devil already rules over you. You don’t experience freedom, you experience disorder and anarchy. Do you experience disorder in your life? Do you enjoy having your life messed up? It’s because you resist authority. You choose death over life.

C. Now, the kingdom of God will appear in power. Jesus will slay everyone who resists His rule. Judgment is coming.

D. Even so, the kingdom of God does come to your heart right now. Remember Jesus said, the kingdom of God is within you. If you submit to Him and learn Him, you will find order and peace in your heart.

1. He died to put your sinful, disobedient self to death. Your unruliness died with Jesus on the cross.

2. His resurrection gives you new life like His. You can obey God when you receive Jesus.

3. If you don’t want to obey God, it shows you have not received Jesus. I meet people who haven’t submitted to Jesus. They quote Bible, they speak with spiritual words, yet on this one point they are unchanged. They will not obey Him.

4. This is why you must be born again. You must receive Jesus in His death to your self in order to experience His resurrection.

E. You must have “it”, as Jesus said. To everyone who has will be given. From him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. What is “it”?

1. The slaves who pleased their master knew their master. Because they knew what a great person he was, they loved him and were faithful to him. They had a connection to him. That is relationship.

2. The slave who didn’t please his master did not know the master. He had no idea that the master was preparing to give him greater authority, to exalt him. He suspected the master was out to steal from him and mistreat him. He didn’t consider himself that master’s slave. No connection, no relationship.

F. Are you connected to Jesus? Are you born again? Do you have a relationship with God so that He is the boss of your life? Or are you unruly?

Let’s pray.