Luke 19- Andy's thoughts

Historical Background
Taxes have never been an extremely popular part of our civil responsibilities. This was no different during the Roman era. The method of tax collection at the time usually consisted of provincial officials setting an estimated amount that was believed to be able to be levied in the region. This amount was then paid to Rome and it was up to the provincial officials to try to collect. The way to make a profit was to try to collect an amount greater than was paid to Rome. The town of Jericho was a border town and was one of the wealthiest cities of the Judean region. A chief tax collector would have been a very lucrative position.

There was a lot of resentment toward these tax collectors because they were usually citizens of the region who were helping Rome. The Jews viewed tax collectors as traitors; people who were profiting off of their fellow countrymen in an effort to help their political oppressors. If you have seen the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, think about the way that the Dutch townspeople treated the Dutch Nazi collaborators after the Nazis were expelled from the country.

Jesus Seeks the Lost
Zacchaeus was one of these tax collectors. I imagine that he was the subject of much derision and scorn by the other Jews of Jericho. I’m sure that the religious leaders preached sermons that used him as an example of a “bad guy.” Jesus shows his compassion by singling out Zacchaeus. That Jesus calls him by name is also pretty striking. That Jesus invites himself over for dinner at Zacchaeus’ house is even more surprising. But Jesus was on a mission to seek the lost. In verse ten, Jesus states explicitly that that was his mission.

The Kingdom of God- Part 2
The next section contains a story that Jesus gives to explain more about the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ time, there was a widely held belief that the Kingdom of God was coming soon. The Jews had spent the past 700 years under military occupation by various powerful empires. There was a longing to be set free and the Jews believed that God would send to them a Messiah. They believed that this Messiah would lead them to a military victory that would free them from their Roman overlords.

There was one faction in particular, called the Zealots that believed this. There was also confusion about whether this Kingdom of God would be just an earthly experience or whether it was just something for the next life. Throughout the gospels Jesus hints that the Kingdom of God is both currently on earth and also being established in heaven. He does not elaborate on the specifics, however, and so we are left to trust that there is still more to understand when he returns.

The Jews also believed that Kingdom of God was a strictly Jewish entity and they were resistant to the idea that there was a place for the Gentiles (non Jews) in the Kingdom. Jesus repeatedly alludes to the fact that he is also bringing the Gentiles into the Kingdom. The central teaching that Jesus conveys here about the Kingdom is that first- Jesus is the king of the Kingdom of God and second- that his subjects should serve him.

Understanding Parables
There are a lot of details in the story of the king and the talents (money) that can be potentially confusing. I think a key to understanding parables is to recognize that not all details of the story have direct spiritual application. I know that this can sound a bit jarring so I will explain.

When Jesus gives the parable of the lost sheep, it is not significant that he mentions 99 sheep and 1 sheep. What is significant is that the good shepherd goes to look for the one lost sheep. We would detract from that message if we tried to spiritualize some significance about the number 99. Or in the parable of the lost son, it is not significant that the father serves a calf for his son (as opposed to another animal). What is significant is that the father celebrates being reunited with his son who was lost.

As a good story teller, Jesus fleshes out his parable with images that enables his hearers to visualize the story. The details are not the purpose; the details are the means to a purpose. So in order to understand and interpret the story we should ask what the purpose of the story that Jesus tells is. Another helpful key to interpreting parables is to ask who the audience is that Jesus is talking to. Often times Jesus tells specific parables to specific groups of people in order to correct their beliefs or practices. So to summarize, don’t get hung up on the minutia of the parables. Instead focus on the central teaching of the parable.

Using our Gifts
In this parable, Jesus tells a story about a king who gives a few servants specific responsibilities. The king gives these servants some money and instructs them to do business for him with that money. When the king returns, he asks them what they did with the gifts he gave them. He expected them to use their gifts to bring a profit. He expected them to take risks with the money. Those who used their gifts well were rewarded and the one who didn’t was condemned.

How do we interpret and apply this parable? I think that the central message of the parable is that God has given us gifts and He expects us to use them. He tells us that he is a good God who loves us and gives us the freedom to take risks in order to build the Kingdom. When we do this well, he rewards us by giving us more gifts and more freedom to participate in building the Kingdom. I think that there is a real joy that comes from using our spiritual and material gifts to build the Kingdom.

Jesus also refutes the idea that God is a harsh judgmental God who is “out to get us.” If that is our understanding of God, then we will only try to minimize risk so as to minimize our potential for rebuke. But this type of thinking is not only wrong, it will backfire upon us. The words of the third servant are so rude toward the king.

I think about the difference between relationships where there is grace and ones where there is a lack of grace. In graceful relationships, there is the freedom from fear and so we boldly move forward to grow. We don’t worry about the other person freaking out on us and so we feel free to take risks, be creative, and live fully. When we are in controlling, judgmental relationships we feel diminished. We shrink within ourselves. We feel like we are walking on eggshells, trying our best to not arouse the anger of the other person.

1 John 4:17-18 tells us that “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” In a loving relationship, we don’t have to live in the constant fear of disapproval of the other. I think that Jesus is refuting that notion of relationship with God.

Kathleen and Steve, you asked about what it means for those who have to receive more. I think that it means that God will give more gifts to those who use them. These may be spiritual gifts and they may even be material gifts. So if your gift is hospitality and you use that gift in a way that brings people closer to Jesus, I believe that you will grow in your capacity to be more hospitable. If your gift is teaching and you use it to bring others to know Jesus, then you will grow in your ability to teach even more. If you are faithful with giving your money away in a way that builds the Kingdom, I believe that you will grow in your ability to give away even more money. You may not get more money, but you will find it easier and easier to part with it as you experience the joy of giving.

More Historical Background
The last part of the chapter recounts Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The act of riding on a colt (young donkey) paralleled Solomon’s inauguration as king. Solomon was the immediate biological son of David. When Solomon was made king, he was anointed with oil, rode a mule into Jerusalem, and all the people shouted that he was the king. Jesus was also called the son of David (and he was a direct descendant of David too) and was reinforcing his royal nature by reenacting this scene. In doing this, Jesus was very symbolically showing that he was the king coming into his Kingdom.

When Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem, he prophesies that the city will one day be destroyed. This actually happened about 40 years later. The Jews, led by the Zealots and one man in particular- Simon Bar Kochba, revolted against the Romans in A.D. 70. In a long battle the city of Jerusalem fell and was destroyed. There is a famous site of the last battle at a hill called Masada.

Application:
• What are the gifts that God has given you?
• Are you using those gifts in a way that is bringing people to Jesus?
• Are we celebrating Jesus as our King through our worship and service?