Parable of the Pounds, #4 (Luke 19:11-27)

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin begins by setting the historical context of the sermon and reviewing the previous messages in the series on Christ's second coming, emphasizing its certainty…

The disciples watching Jesus ascend into heaven, and the angels' promise of His return, illustrates the certainty and manner of Christ's second coming, setting the stage for the sermon's theme.

And grip the hearts and minds and wills and affections of all who receive your word. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen. The eleven disciples stand gazing wide-eyed in wonder as they see their Lord ascending into heaven, until he is enveloped by a cloud and is hidden from their view.

5:42 - 6:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the historical setting of the Parable of the Pounds, noting Jesus' journey to Jerusalem for His death, contrasting it with the disciples' expectation of an…

Jesus's knowledge that Jerusalem meant suffering and death, contrasted with His disciples' expectation of an immediate glorious kingdom, highlights the misunderstanding that prompted the Parable of the Pounds.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem to die. He knows that at Jerusalem he will face the specific things that he has passed on to his disciples. In chapter 18 verses 31 to 33 he knows that at Jerusalem, he will be delivered up to the Gentiles. He shall be mocked, he shall be shamefully treated, he shall be spit upon, he shall be scourged, and he shall be murdered.

11:42 - 12:14 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It's what we are doing now that determines the sphere of responsibility and of service in the age to come.

The nobleman's act of entrusting his slaves with money, despite having no obligation, illustrates the graciousness of Christ's dealings with His servants, giving them opportunities and rewarding their faithfulness.

Secondly, we are reminded in this parable that every aspect of Christ's dealing with his servants is suffused with grace. He describes himself as the nobleman who before he goes into the far country gathers ten slaves. People in whom he has property without in any way opening up the discussion is slavery a legitimate institution among men. I bypass that discussion completely as Jesus bypasses it.

16:06 - 16:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: wrong conceptions of the disposition and the ways of Christ make it impossible to render joyful service to Christ.

The unproductive slave's slanderous description of the nobleman as 'austere' is used to show how wrong conceptions of Christ's character prevent joyful service and are often a projection of one's own unwillingness to obey.

inflexible insensitive unsympathetic man and perceiving you to be such I didn't want to run the risk of losing the minor let alone not presenting any gain being an austere man I could not contemplate your frown the back of your hand now of course it was slanderous the very fact that the nobleman called him in along with the other seven and gave him a minor showed that he was not an austere man an austere money-grabbing unprincipled immovable insensitive character but he projects his own twisted notions for one reason alone

19:22 - 20:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If you sit here this morning with that notion, may God help me in love to dismantle it. Because it is delusive.

The analogy of 'yo-yos and lollipops' for rewards in heaven is used to critique the false doctrine of 'carnal Christians' who believe they are saved but can be utterly unproductive without eternal consequence.

All of the books and all of the preaching and all of the seminars notwithstanding that talk about, quote, carnal Christians. That is, people who've trusted Jesus, they're saved. If their ticker stopped, their souls would go to heaven. But in the final day, when the Lord gives out the goodies, they won't get as many yo-yos and lollipops.

28:12 - 28:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine your life for genuine spiritual fruit, not just outward decency or behavior learned from parents.

Martin uses the example of polite, well-behaved children to distinguish between behavior that is the result of good parenting and schooling versus genuine spiritual fruit produced by the Holy Spirit.

You sit and listen to me when I preach. Come and give me hugs and kisses at the door. Everything about you is lovable. Now I know there's another side of you that your brothers and sisters see sometimes at home.

37:56 - 38:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin applies the truth of fruit-bearing directly to various audiences: children, teenagers, husbands, and wives. He challenges them to examine their lives for evidence of the…

The example of a child confessing a mean thought to a sibling, not just out of parental prompting but from a conviction of unconfessed sin before God, illustrates true spiritual fruit.

Hunger for God. Love for His Word. Not just reading it because daddy's going to ask me if I had my devotions. But reading it because you've tasted even as a boy or a girl the sweetness of fellowship with Jesus.

39:38 - 40:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Ensure that your faith is internalized and truly yours, not just a product of your upbringing or peer pressure.

The metaphor of a 'cocoon' built around teenagers by parents and church, which God 'splits' as they go off, illustrates the testing of their faith to see if they are a 'dead caterpillar' or a 'live butterfly' with internalized faith.

Hallelujah. May your tribe increase. But I tell you that ain't enough. If there's not been an internalization and some of you have been testing this during this year as you've gone off and for the first time God has split the cocoon that's been built around you.

42:47 - 43:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Reflect on whether your spouse could bear witness to the Holy Spirit producing fruit in your life.

Martin shares personal sobering realities—his son's father's death, buying grave plots, and his wife's illness—to underscore the urgency and seriousness of dealing with God and the truth of Christ's return.

Brethren, I'm not here just earning my salary. My son's father died this morning. And the Lord tarries word is going to go out someday. Have you heard?

46:21 - 46:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The fifth and final point addresses the fate of the nobleman's enemies, those citizens who hated him and refused his reign. Martin explains that Jesus, the returning King, will…

The historical context of delegations appealing to imperial seats under Roman rule is used to explain the citizens' delegation against the nobleman, making the parable relatable to the original audience.

Then I hastened for just a few moments to deal with that second group of people. You remember, I trust, when I sought to expound the passage, I said that when the nobleman left the country, servants and apparently he was not too far on his way to the imperial seat where his rightful claim to be king back in that area a delegation came from that area where he had rightful claims to be king presenting their appeal to the monarch wherever he was and this would have been something these people would have understood under roman rule it happened right in that time frame in which

47:39 - 48:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Behold the goodness and the severity of God. And if the true and living God is revealed in Jesus Christ, in Christ supremely, we behold the goodness and the severity of God.

Paul's words from Romans are quoted to summarize the dual nature of God's character—goodness to His servants and severity to His enemies—as revealed in Christ.

it's graphic, even brutal language. The same Jesus, full of grace, calls his slaves in grace, entrusts mina to them, calls them at his return and said, faithful and little, I entrust you with much. And as I reflected upon, this, the words of Paul in Romans came to me so vividly. Behold the goodness and the severity of God. And if the true and living God is revealed in Jesus Christ, in Christ supremely, we behold

52:17 - 52:58 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin connects the citizens' hatred and refusal to the natural human condition, where the carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot submit to His law. He emphasizes that the…

Martin's story about his children asking 'Can I go outside and play?' and his distinction between 'can' (ability) and 'may' (permission) illustrates the moral inability of the carnal mind to submit to God, as stated in Romans 8:7.

And that's the picture God gives of every man by nature. Romans 8 in verse 7, the carnal mind, the mindset, the prevailing disposition of the heart by nature in every man, woman, boy or girl, the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God. Neither indeed can it be. When my kids used to say, Daddy, can I go outside and play? I'd say,

53:31 - 54:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: he who will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will be ruined by the wrath of Christ.

The crowd's initial 'Hosanna' and later cry 'We have no king but Caesar' when Jesus entered Jerusalem illustrates the citizens' rejection of His reign, echoing the parable's enemies.

Now, he says to you, by his cross, remember this is the Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. A bunch of people around him, ready to make him an earthly king. That's what they do as he enters Jerusalem. Hosanna, son of David.

56:04 - 56:21 Read in full sermon

Driving home: he who will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will be ruined by the wrath of Christ.

Matthew Henry's quote, 'he who will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will be ruined by the wrath of Christ,' succinctly summarizes the consequence of rejecting Christ's reign.

As dear old Matthew Henry said, he who will not be ruled by the grace of Christ will be ruined by the wrath of Christ.

56:43 - 56:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Stop resisting God's gracious invitations and abandon yourself to Christ in joyful faith.

The phrase 'wrath of the Lamb' from Revelation 6 is highlighted as a striking conjunction of words, emphasizing the terrifying nature of judgment from the One who offered salvation.

It says they will cry to the rocks and to the hills. Those fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. What a conjunction of words. Whoever thinks of being afraid of a lamb.

58:54 - 59:15 Read in full sermon