Luke 19: What Salvation Looks Like

Question:

If you have gained wealth through sinful means, what does true repentance look like?

1. You must confess your sin and apply the blood of Jesus so it is blotted out.

2. You must confess your sin and give half of your wealth to help others.

3. We don’t have to worry about it because Jesus paid for all our sins.

Luke Chapter 19 begins with an event found in no other gospel. Zacchaeus ( zuh kay uhs) was a rich tax collector, who was known for his sinful ways. Hearing Jesus was passing by, the short man climbed a tree so that he could see Him. Jesus greeted Zacchaeus by name –even though they’d never met– and insisted that He would stay at his house. This was a divine appointment that began with the miracle of a word of knowledge: Jesus knew who he was, though they had never met.

The onlookers missed the spiritual interaction and complained that Jesus would stay with a sinful man since tax collectors were known for charging more than required and pocketing the extra. The miracle, however, was not missed by Zacchaeus, who immediately acknowledged Jesus as Lord and took the appropriate steps for repentance.

And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:8-10 ESV)

This is true repentance for those who have become rich through sinful means. Being Jewish, Zacchaeus knew that, according to God’s ways, when you had gained money through sin, you had to give back a portion of what you had earned. He was a manager of the tax collectors, so he needed to give half of what he had to help others. Zacchaeus’ actions were not only an acknowledgment of his sin, but also a demonstration of true repentance as well.

Answer: B

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

The Greek word homologeō is translated confess but more fully means to see it the way the other person does; in this case, God. If we see the money we gained as sinful, we will want to do good with it.

In Luke 18, Jesus said it was nearly impossible for a rich man to enter Heaven. Here, God gives us an example of what it looks like when a rich person really sees who Jesus is and understands what it means to call Him Lord –how a sinful rich person truly repents! Because of that repentance, Jesus acknowledged Zacchaeus as a true son of Abraham, one who would inherit eternal life.

Luke explains his next topic beautifully:

As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. (Luke 19:11 ESV)

Looking back at events often makes the reasons for them clear, though when they happen, their purpose may be hidden. As the group proceeded toward Jerusalem, Jesus used a parable to speak about His departure and what will happen when He returns:

He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ (Luke 19:12-13 ESV)

In this parable, Jesus is the nobleman. He came to Earth to establish His Kingdom, yet Jesus knew He wouldn’t stay, that He would return to Heaven. When He left, the Lord gave us spiritual provisions to do His work: The Holy Spirit.

Ten minas was two and a half years of wages: it is a sizable sum, but why did Jesus use “ten minas”, not five or 20? Ten is the number of ordination: our obligation and responsibility to God. One tenth of our income is called a “tithe,” and is considered to be God’s portion to be used for His work through the church. This was a very well-known aspect of God, and the number 10 would have evoked a sense of responsibility to those honoring God’s ways.

But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ (Luke 19:14 ESV)

It is only “his servants” that receive the mina. There were “citizens” who hated him and rejected his kingship; they received nothing. Only those who accept the price Jesus paid for them and who call Him “Lord” will receive the Holy Spirit. Taking someone as Lord means you are their willing bondservant: they have paid a debt you owed, and now you will serve them. This is who receives the Holy Spirit, but accepting Him is only the beginning.

In the parable, when the king returned, the servants produced different amounts with what they had been given. One made an additional ten minus, and they were called a “good servant,” receiving ten cities to rule over. Another made five minas and was given five cities to rule. The last servant…well, he had some issues.

Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ (Luke 19:20-23 ESV)

With the new king being a metaphor for Jesus, there is so much to learn from this simple exchange in this parable. First and foremost, our words have power. It was the servant’s claim that was used to condemn him.

Do you see the sarcasm in the reply of the king? “You knew I was ‘severe,’ huh?” The servant claimed that he was afraid of Jesus because He was a “severe” man, which is the Greek word austēros, which means concerning mind and manners: harsh, rough, rigid. When we see God as rigid, harsh, and inflexible, we reflect that to others. According to God’s Word, it is completely untrue!

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)

This is who Jesus is. He is not severe, rough, or harsh. The “servant,” and I use that title lightly, didn’t put in the effort to even learn about his new master. He didn’t serve him; he just put what he received away, ignored it, and did what he wanted. Then he made an excuse when his master returned.

This servant represents those who take Jesus as Lord, receive the Holy Spirit, then do nothing. They don’t take time to learn about who their Lord is. They simply set their salvation in a box, put it on a shelf in the closet, and forget about it.

The king asks why the money wasn’t in the bank to earn interest at the very least. From prior chapters in Luke, we know the “least” someone can do is be faithful with money. In this parable, the bank would be God’s storehouse, a church. Putting “money” in the bank would be supporting the church with the “least” of things, a tithe. The tithe is the portion of your income that belongs to God. You are bringing it to Him. You are supporting the work of others to increase the number of people receiving the Holy Spirit or minas as they learn about Jesus.

Think about it. Why did you hear about Jesus? Because churches were spreading the word about Him. The first thing the disciples did was create churches to help teach about God and reach others. As new members of the Kingdom of God, it is our first duty to support the continued growth of that Kingdom: to keep more people from perishing. The tithe is like the Kingdom of Heaven’s tax: supplies that will help the government function. If you aren’t at least connecting to God’s storehouse, then the fate of this servant will be your fate:

And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’” (Luke 19:24-27 ESV)

Heaven is an actual place. It operates under principles, just as our world does… they are just different principles. The physical world operates under guiding rules like gravity, mass, energy, and inertia. The spiritual realm operates under spiritual rules. The more you operate with the Holy Spirit in this life, the greater the abilities you will have in Heaven. But that is another teaching that you can find at the Living Word. Let’s stick to this parable. Those who are faithful to achieve all that God has designed them for will be eligible to receive additional bonuses in Heaven!

We know that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Why? Adam and Eve obeyed a spiritual being, Lucifer, who was one of three archangels. By obeying this angel, many refer to as Satan, they came under his rule.

Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:31-32 ESV)

Satan was the ruler of this world until Jesus died on the cross where he took back spiritual authority from Satan. Now we have a choice: stay with the old ruler, or accept the New One, accept Jesus as your Lord. Those who refuse to accept Jesus before He returns will not have a place in Heaven. They will have eternal suffering instead, just as those who refused the king were slaughtered in this parable.

So far in this chapter, Luke has shown what it takes for a rich person to get into Heaven, what those who accept Him as Lord should do, and the fate of those who refuse to submit to Him. Luke then recounts Jesus entering Jerusalem in the way that was prophesied.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9 ESV)

When a new ruler entered a city on a horse, it meant war and military power, and Jesus will return on a white horse at His second coming. This time, He fulfilled Zechariah’s prophecy and rode into Jerusalem on an unridden donkey symbolizing humility and peace. All four gospels speak about the miracles associated with this event, so let’s read it today:

When He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. (Luke 19:29-35 ESV)

This shows the true omnipotence of God. Jesus, listening to His Father, knew where the colt was and what to say so that they could use it!

And as He rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. As He was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:36-40 ESV)

The disciples were proclaiming that the Messiah had come. When the Pharisees demanded that they be stopped, Jesus made it clear that proclaiming His proper place could not be stopped. This is the very moment when Jesus became the ruler of Jerusalem. With that spiritual authority, He did two things: He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, and He put the center of God’s rule, His Temple, in order.

Jesus actually cried, mourning the blindness that surrounded God's people, keeping them from recognizing Him as the one who would bring peace. Then prophesied that Jerusalem would be surrounded by their enemies and every stone torn down. That happened around 60 AD when the Second Temple was destroyed.

As the new ruler, even if He was unrecognized, Jesus entered the Temple, His Father’s house, and drove out those who were selling things in the courtyard. Jesus had an obligation to put things in the proper order. Money is based on what the world sees as valuable; it does not belong where God is worshiped. Other gospels tell us they were selling doves and sheep used to worship God, yet that infuriated Jesus. His actions show us that we should not have anything connected to the world’s financial system within the church: nothing should be charged for.

Luke closes this chapter by declaring that Jesus continued to preach and teach, no doubt setting spiritual teaching back in order as well. The next few chapters will contain those priceless nuggets of correction. Throughout this chapter, we have seen what it takes to be saved by Jesus, what is expected after salvation, and how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and became the unrecognized ruler of Jerusalem. If you haven’t taken your obligations to your new Kingdom seriously, it isn’t too late. It is time to begin learning and applying what you learn so that you will not be the servant with no additional minas to present to your King!

References:

The dream about charging for what belongs to God and having to give 50% back can be found in these messages:

Baptism of Repentance for Leaders: https://youtu.be/V9fIneFirdY?si=6RWH35JKKAM1fDeI

Do Christian's have to Tithe: https://youtu.be/HNgqc-hqfwM