The Thieving & Slaughtering King
September 4, 2023
Luke 19:11-28 | Exodus 22:25-27
Two important things to remember as you read this parable: 1. It’s in the context of Zacchaeus’ house and all that happened there - that this tax collector committed to giving back to all those he took from; and 2. The illustrative nature of a parable. (And this parable is a doozy.)
Try not to let a couple hundred years of Western capitalism’s dominance and Matthew’s similar, but different parable of the talents make you assume you know what’s what in this parable. Let it eat at you.
Luke 19:11-28
As they listened to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God’s kingdom would appear right away. He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return. He called together ten servants and gave each of them money worth four months’ wages. He said, ‘Do business with this until I return.’ His citizens hated him, so they sent a representative after him who said, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ After receiving his kingdom, he returned and called the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much they had earned. The first servant came forward and said, ‘Your money has earned a return of one thousand percent.’ The king replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good servant. Because you have been faithful in a small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’
“The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your money has made a return of five hundred percent.’ To this one, the king said, ‘You will have authority over five cities.’
“Another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your money. I wrapped it up in a scarf for safekeeping. I was afraid of you because you are a stern man. You withdraw what you haven’t deposited and you harvest what you haven’t planted.’ The king replied, ‘I will judge you by the words of your own mouth, you worthless servant! You knew, did you, that I’m a stern man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit, and harvesting what I didn’t plant? Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then when I arrived, at least I could have gotten it back with interest.’
“He said to his attendants, ‘Take his money and give it to the one who has ten times as much.’ ‘But Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!’ He replied, ‘I say to you that everyone who has will be given more, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for my enemies who don’t want me as their king, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
After Jesus said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Exodus 22:25-27
If you lend money to my people who are poor among you, don’t be a creditor and charge them interest. If you take a piece of clothing from someone as a security deposit, you should return it before the sun goes down. His clothing may well be his only blanket to cover himself. What else will that person have to sleep in? And if he cries out to me, I’ll listen, because I’m compassionate.
Prayer
God,
It’s hard to live in a world hell-bent on amassing money. It really is. I’m just being honest. I appreciate Zacchaeus’ story, confession, and commitment to rectify his wrongs. But I’ve never had that kind of money.
You tell us through Jesus that we don’t need much, to trust in your power that clothes flowers and feeds birds. That’s quite an ask. I do trust you, but you surely don’t mean for us to just sit there?
So help me know better the lines and boundaries of making money and hoarding it. I do not want to hoard money. Keep me compassionate, giving, generous, and wise.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.