Luke 19:11–27: Living Faithfully Until Jesus Returns

September 18, 2026

The Ten Signposts of the Bible

CAMDE—400—CALY

Creation. Abraham. Moses. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come.

Luke’s “orderly account” of Jesus’ ministry began in Galilee, where crowds gathered around him. After his time there, we followed Jesus to Jerusalem. In this part of his ministry, Jesus often taught about the “kingdom of God.” As we have said before, the kingdom of God is the place where God reigns and rules. There is both a future kingdom (Luke 14:15) and a present one (Luke 17:20–21). To acknowledge this, we often say that the kingdom of God is “already…not yet.” This tension is reflected in Jesus’ parable, which we will look at in Luke 19:11–27.

An understanding of the kingdom of God is essential for today’s passage. Jesus is preparing to enter Jerusalem and begin the final days of his life. The people with Jesus, including the disciples, were convinced that he would enter Jerusalem and take over politically and militarily. Because of the supernatural powers they had witnessed, they believed that Jesus would set aside Roman rule and establish a powerful earthly domain. Israel would return to the glory days it experienced under the rule of David and Solomon. 

The Jews also expected the kingdom to begin at once. What they did not understand was that the kingdom of God included the cross, resurrection, ascension, and second coming. On this occasion, Jesus entered Jerusalem to be crucified, not crowned. 

So Luke says that “because [Jesus] was near to Jerusalem, and because [those with him] supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately,” Jesus “proceeded to tell a parable” (Luke 19:11). He said, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return” (Luke 19:12). Before the nobleman left to be crowned, he gave ten minas (about three months of wages) to ten servants and said, “‘Engage in business until I [return].’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” (Luke 19:13–14). 

The setting of this parable has a historical context familiar to Jesus’ contemporaries. After Herod the Great died, he intended for his son, Archelaus, to rule over Israel. But the Jews, who hated Herod, sent a delegation to Rome to appeal to Augustus, saying, in essence, “We don’t want Archelaus to rule over us.”^[1]

In Jesus’ story, when the newly appointed king returned, he called his servants to account for how they had used the money he had entrusted to them. Two servants had earned a profit with their minas, and both were duly honored with greater authority and responsibility for their wise stewardship. Because they were faithful with little, they were given more. This highlights Jesus’ call to remain faithful in stewardship until his return. 

But the exchange with the third servant was altogether different. This servant reported,

Luke 19:20–23

 “Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.”  He said to him, “I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?”

Many of Jesus' parables were difficult for the first hearers to understand, and this is one of them. Again, they expected Jesus to enter Jerusalem and establish a physical kingdom. But in the story, he is the king who goes away to be anointed king and then returns. Jesus’ going away would be his ascension after his death and resurrection, and he will return at his second coming. 

In the meantime, Jesus expected his followers to use the gifts he entrusted to them for kingdom investment. Those who use their gifts will receive heavenly rewards. Believers will be judged by the use of the gifts God has given us. Our spiritual gifts, resources, and time are to be used for eternal purposes. God will bless those who are faithful. 

Then Jesus turns the parable back on the religious leaders by saying, “But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me” (Luke 19:27). This seems out of character for Jesus to say, even in a parable. Yet Jesus never softens the severity of the final judgment for unbelievers. 

The apostle Paul says that one day every knee will bow before Jesus and every tongue will confess that he is Lord (Phil. 2:9–11). Luke 19:27 points to the judgment awaiting those who reject his kingship, and Philippians 2:9–11 shows the fuller outcome of that judgment: Christ’s lordship will be acknowledged by all. Believers will bow willingly, taking the posture before Jesus that they have shown throughout their walk with him. Those who rejected Jesus will bow, albeit unwillingly. They will have no other choice. 

Next time, we will follow Jesus as he enters Jerusalem and begins his journey to the cross. It will seem that the religious leaders have finally gotten their way, and they will lead the charge to have Jesus executed by the Romans. But what looked like the absolute end will become the glorious beginning. 

The King is alive. He ascended to heaven, where he sits at the right hand of God the Father, reigns as King, intercedes for his people, is present with us through his Spirit, and prepares for his return. 

The King is coming back! And every knee will bow before him!

Read and reflect on Luke 19:11–27: Jesus has entrusted each of us with time, abilities, resources, relationships, and opportunities. Think about what he has given specifically to you. 

Talking to God: Are you actively investing those things for his kingdom or primarily for yourself?

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