Daily Lesson for June 9, 2021

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Luke chapter 19 verses 11 through 27:

11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12So he said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds,* and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back.” 14But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” 15When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16The first came forward and said, “Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.” 17He said to him, “Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.” 18Then the second came, saying, “Lord, your pound has made five pounds.” 19He said to him, “And you, rule over five cities.” 20Then the other came, saying, “Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” 22He said to him, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.” 24He said to the bystanders, “Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.” 25(And they said to him, “Lord, he has ten pounds!”) 26“I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.” ’

I know you think you know what this parable is about. But do you?

Suppose you forgot everything you've been taught about what this parable means. And suppose you simply heard it on its own merits.

The nobleman in the parable -- he seems pretty awful. Who could be so cruel?

And somebody said this is parable about the kingdom of God -- but I'm not seeing where it says that.

And where would God be in the parable? I can't find Her.

Oh, and it says, Jesus told this parable because he was coming into Jerusalem. We remember what happened in Jerusalem. Jesus was killed just like the man in the parable. The noblemen killed him, because he refused to kowtow to their authority. The king killed him because he refused to bow to his kingship.

Is this a parable about what was going to happen to Jesus?

I tell you, you can find a lot of interesting stuff in the Bible when you set aside what you've been told it's all supposed to mean and start asking questions questions for yourself.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.