Read the Passage: Luke 19:11–48

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Luke 19:11–48.

Parable of the Minas (19:11–27)

Luke 19:11–27 gives the parable of the minas, which is only recorded in Luke’s Gospel. This narrative is similar to, but distinct from the parable of the talents (cf. Matt. 25:14–30). Observe that Jesus gave this parable because His disciples errantly believed that He was on the verge of establishing an earthly kingdom in Jerusalem. In this parable, Christ tells of a nobleman who “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return” (Luke 19:12). In the story, the nobleman gave each of his servants a mina to steward while he was gone. When he did return, the nobleman asked his servants to give an account of their stewardship, and he rewarded them according to their diligence and ability. This, of course, pictures Jesus’ imminent departure, His giving of spiritual gifts and opportunities to believers, and the accountability that will be required of all people at Christ’s return.

In the parable of the minas, the nobleman warmly commends and rewards his servant who had earned ten minas, as well as the servant who had earned only five minas. These rewards, which consisted of ten cities for one and five for the other, while proportional, were of much greater worth than the minas that were gained. Note, however, that a third servant who had merely hidden his mina was severely condemned by the nobleman. This servant attempted to justify his lack of productivity by claiming a supposed fear of the nobleman. Yet, as the nobleman himself observed, this rationale was a poor excuse, for had the servant truly feared his master, he could have at least deposited the mina in the bank, where it would have earned interest. In consequence, the nobleman took the mina from the inept servant and gave it to the diligent servant who already had ten minas.

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry (19:28–44)

Jesus’ triumphal entry is recorded in all four of the Gospels, with each account focusing on unique details. Luke records that when Jesus was near the village of Bethphage, which is halfway between Jerusalem and Bethany, He sent two of his disciples into the village to secure a colt for His ride into Jerusalem. Both Matthew and John report that the colt was obtained in order to fulfill the prophecy in Zech. 9:9, “Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Matt. 21:5; John 12:15). Mark and Luke each record that when the two disciples were untying the donkey in Bethphage, the owners asked about their intentions. The disciples simply explained, “The Lord has need of him” (Luke 19:34). This rationale, which they had been instructed by Jesus to provide, was apparently sufficient for, “They let them go” (Mark 11:6).

Luke writes that as Jesus approached Jerusalem riding on the donkey, great crowds gathered and spread their coats on the road, which was a sign of homage. Matthew and Mark mention that palm branches were also spread on the road (cf. Matt. 21:8; Mark 11:8). Luke observes that the crowds were motivated by Christ’s might works, and that they praised Jesus as the Messiah, quoting Ps. 118:26, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). This worship moved the Pharisees to command Christ to rebuke His disciples, which He refused to do. Only Luke reports Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem as He approached the city (cf. Luke 19:41–44). This shows that Christ knew that the peoples’ praise of Him was superficial. Moreover, it points to the impending razing of the city by the Romans (cf. Luke 21:20–24).

Cleansing the Temple (19:45–48)

Luke 19:45–48 records Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. Observe that this is a different occasion from the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Christ’s ministry (cf. John 2:14–17). As Jesus had alluded to in His earlier cleansing of the temple (cf. John 2:16), so here at the end of His life, Christ quotes from Isa. 56:7, saying, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’” (Luke 19:46). Although Luke does not record Jesus’ performing of miracles in the temple at this time, as does Matthew (cf. Matt. 21:14), Luke does report that Christ “was teaching daily in the temple” (Luke 19:47). This would have been during the Passion Week, between Christ’s triumphal entry on Sunday and His arrest on Friday. It is not surprising that Jesus’ ministry, His popularity, and the peoples’ praise of Him moved the religious leaders to seek to destroy Him.

Application Questions:

1. Given Jesus’ three years of teaching the disciples, why did they believe that He would immediately establish an earthly kingdom?
2. Why did the nobleman equally commend the first two servants, even though their earnings were not the same?
3. How can we explain when there are differing details in the various Gospel narratives of the same event?
4. Given that the crowds were praising His entry into the city, why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?
5. What aspects of Jesus’ teaching and healing ministry were so offensive to the religious leaders?