On 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 19:11-27
Date: 01/12/2025, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 178
Description:
One of the most difficult paradoxes in biblical teaching is the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. These are two truths that sometimes seem to be in conflict with each other, but are both clearly taught in Scripture. 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. 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.
View:
Options:
I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 19:11-27.
A. Context
1. Keeping our perspective, Rom. 9:19-21.
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, Luke 12:43,45.
ii. The reason for the absence, Dan. 7:14, 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, Matt. 28:19-20; John 20:21, 21:15.
3) The call to Christ-likeness, 2Pet. 2:1; Matt. 7:21-23; Phil. 1:27.
iii. Noticing the two groups.
c. The rejected King, vs. 14.
i. The the meaning within the parable.
ii. The historical context.
iii. The spiritual significance, John 3:19-20, 7:7, 15:18.
iv. The third group, Phil 3:18-19; Matt. 16:18.
3. The king's return, vs. 15-27.
a. The reckoning, vs. 15, Luke 9:29; Rev. 1:14-16; 2Cor. 5:10.
b. The two faithful servants, vs. 16-19.
i. The report of business done.
1) Different increases.
2) Different capabilities.
3) The spiritual application.
ii. The reward.
1) Rewards commensurate with fruitfulness.
2) A reward far greater than the increase, Luke 6:23.
c. The unfaithful servant, vs. 20-26.
i. The third servant's report, vs. 20.
ii. The self-incrimination, vs. 21.
1) The king was frightening.
2) The king was a thief and an extortionist.
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, Luke 6:24-26.
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; James 4:4.
III. Application, Eph. 2:10.
IV. Conclusion
