Sovereignty, Responsibility and Consequence
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Jesus tells a powerful parable on God's sovereignty, human responsibility, and sin's inevitable consequences.
Text: Luke 19:11-15,20-27
Date: 01/19/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 179
Description:
As we complete our study of Jesus' parable of the minas, our focus remains on one of the most difficult paradoxes in biblical teaching-- the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. These are two truths that sometimes seem to be in conflict with each other, especially in the context of God's sovereign election of His saints. In His final parable before the Triumphal Entry, Jesus tells a story grounded in history that reflects His relationship with three specific groups: faithful servants, unfaithful servants, and enemies. Having already discussed the first group in last week's message, we will concentrate on the last two groups and the consequences of their actions. This powerful parable will cap-off His teaching on the doctrines of redemption by firmly establishing that even though God is sovereign, sinners are still responsible for their transgressions against Him, and will inevitably suffer dire consequences if Christ and His Gospel are rejected.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 19:11-15,20-27.
A. Context
1. Keeping our perspective.
2. Anomalies
3. The historical background.
B. A parable of three groups, their culpability and consequences.
1. Setting the scene, vs. 11.
a. A change in venue.
b. An atypical, allegorical parable.
c. The reason for the parable, Acts 1:6.
2. The nobleman's departure, vs. 12-14.
a. The extended absence, vs. 12.
i. The nature of the absence,.
ii. The reason for the absence, Matt. 25:31.
b. The ten servants, vs. 13.
i. Noticing the numbers.
1) The significance of ten servants.
2) The value of ten minas.
ii. Noticing the task.
1) The business of the world.
2) The "business" of the Kingdom of God.
c. The rejected King, vs. 14.
i. The historical context.
ii. The spiritual significance, John 8:48, 15:18.
iii. The third group.
3. The king's return, vs. 15-27.
a. The reckoning, vs. 15.
i. The Second Coming, Rev. 19:11.
ii. The Final Judgment, 2Cor. 5:10.
b. The two faithful servants, vs. 16-19.
c. The unfaithful servant, vs. 20-26.
i. The third servant's report, vs. 20.
ii. Blaming the king, vs. 21.
1) The king was frightening.
2) The king was a thief and an extortioner.
3) The spiritual implications.
iii. The unfaithful servant's consequence, vs. 22-26.
1) Condemned by his own words, vs. 22.
2) The truth revealed by logic, vs. 23.
a) Security and increase.
b) Probing the spiritual state of the unfaithful servant.
3) The consequence, vs. 24-25.
a) An unexpected consequence, 1Cor. 1:27-28.
b) A seemingly mild punishment, Matt. 25:30; Job 21:7,13.
4) The principle of the consequence, vs. 26.
a) As a proverb for believers.
b) As a warning to false or nominal believers, Matt. 7:23.
d. The consequence for the enemies of the king, vs. 27.
i. The historical backdrop.
ii. The eschatological reality.
1) Keeping our perspective.
2) The horror of eschatological judgment, Matt. 22:12-13; Luke 13:26-28; Rev. 14:9-10.
3) The enemies of God, James 4:4.
III. Application, Rom. 9:19-21.
IV. Conclusion
