The people with Jesus on His last journey to Jerusalem knew the words of the Old Testament about God’s holy rule over the earth. They believed Jesus the promised King, so they expected when the city was reached He would take the place of King.
They did not understand the writings of David and others that the Holy One must suffer and be rejected as King (Psalm 2:22The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, (Psalm 2:2); Psalm 22:77All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, (Psalm 22:7); Psalm 69:44They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. (Psalm 69:4); Isaiah 53:33He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)). Jesus also told them He must die, yet they were hoping for His reign as King to begin. So, when near the city, He told a parable to teach that He would be gone for a time, and they must wait for His reign: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds [money], and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him and sent this message after him, We will not have this man to reign over us.”
Our Nobleman
It is plain to us now that the “nobleman” was the Lord Jesus, the “far country” heaven, and the “citizens” who hated him and sent the wicked message, were the leaders of the nation, who said plainly as a written message, “Away with Him, crucify Him” (John 19:55Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! (John 19:5)). The servants were those who knew His words and should serve Him.
The parable told what will happen when “the nobleman” returns as King: he will call the servants to give account of the money he gave them. Each had the same amount: the first used his pound so well, it earned ten times as much and the King said because he had been faithful with a little, he should rule ten cities. The next earned five times the pound, and he was given rule over five cities. All we are not told of, but one came with the pound wrapped in a napkin, never used at all, because he feared the King was not just. But the King was very just and gave that pound to the servant who had been most faithful in working for him.
That “nobleman,” the Lord Jesus, has been gone a long time; the parable gave no time, only those certain words, “he ... returned.” The people who heard Jesus’ words were His first servants; now many more have heard His words in the Bible, and each has the same Word to use for Him.
Some people love the Lord, and think of His words and tell them to others; so much is gained for His honor. Others hear His Word but do not love Him, so they do not use His words and are not true servants.
Do you suppose we who have heard His words and love Him, do not often also keep that Word tied “in a napkin”? We do not read it, or think of it, or tell it to others, and must lose His reward. The pound in their money was not a large amount, so even in small ways the Lord looks for faithfulness, as in trying to follow His words and being patient and humble. Christ will be the just judge.
Further Meditation
1. Does the Lord only look for faithfulness in big things?
2. What has the Lord entrusted to our care to use for Him? How did Barzillai use what God had given him for God’s glory?
3. The whole subject of our responsible service to God is covered in a very accessible way in The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy: Individual Responsibility in Service in a Time of Collective Failure by B. Anstey.