Page 6 - The Parables of Jesus

about accountability and judgment, but also about the Father’s great joy upon receiving those who were once lost.
Shortly before the Passover of 31 AD, Jesus left Jericho with His disciples on His way to Jerusalem. He knew they were very excited about the coming Kingdom and that they thought it must be just “around the corner.” Knowing this, Jesus told them about a young nobleman who went away to a far country to receive a kingdom – meaning entitlement to it – and then returned (Luke 19:11-27).
Before he left, the nobleman in this parable gave ten minas to ten of his servants, instructing them to use wisely what he had given them. When he returned, now with kingly authority, the nobleman called his servants to give an account. Each servant was rewarded with a position of government based on what he had accomplished while his master was away. One servant received rulership over ten cities; while another was given authority over five cities. But, one servant who had done nothing with what he had been given had his mina taken away. The lesson here is that the Kingdom would not be set up immediately, but rather that Jesus Christ would go to the Father and eventually return – at which point, He will reward His disciples according to their faithfulness and diligence while he has been gone.
A notable parable in Luke 14 points out the human quality of personal ambition to advance by political means. At a large Sabbath dinner hosted by a chief Pharisee, Jesus noticed how certain guests chose the most distinguished seats to gain recognition and special status. Jesus then proceeded to tell the guests about a wedding banquet where some of the guests who had sought the most important seats were greatly embarrassed when they were asked to take a lesser seat. However, others voluntarily took lesser seats and were pleasantly surprised when they were asked to take a higher seat. The point here is that those who seek to exalt themselves (by “hook or crook”) will be brought low or humiliated, whereas those who humbly take a lower spot themselves will be promoted.
All too often, in the governments of this world we see how the people who appear to advance are those who attain success by political means. But in God’s government, in God’s Kingdom, that will NOT be the case. The way to advance in God’s way of life, is by humbly pursuing service (Luke 14:11).
The final parable among the three that are found in all three synoptic (meaning taking a similar view) Gospels is one that Jesus gave in the context of His Olivet prophecy. Christ had made it plain that there will be definite signs preceding His coming and the establishment of God’s Kingdom – but He also stated that no one, not even the angels, knows exactly when it will happen. However, here is a hint: “Let the fig tree teach you a lesson. When its branches become green and tender and it starts putting out leaves, you know that summer is near” (Matthew 24:32, Good News Bible version).
Similarly, when the various signs that Jesus described (as found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) begin to occur, His true followers will recognize that the Kingdom is imminent! Just as summer follows the budding of the trees, the Kingdom of God will follow the signs that Jesus
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