Daily Readings and Thought for September 26th. “SLAUGHTER THEM BEFORE ME”
Today in the 19th chapter of Luke we read one of the last parables of Jesus; it is usually called, ‘The parable of the Ten Minas’ – a ‘mina’ is an amount of money – which is said to be about 3 months wages for a labourer.
The parable features a “nobleman” who “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.” [v.12] As he went away his servants were each given “ten minas” and were told, “Engage in business until I come.’ [v.13] But the citizens, as distinct from the servants, “sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’” [v.14]
Let us make sure we are effectively using our “minas” – that is – our opportunities and talents.
How depressingly true is the attitude in the world today – just about everyone thinks this life is all they have and want to do indulge in their own thing – and what a variety of ‘things’ there are available to them! How distracting this often is – especially for the younger generation – they ask themselves – do I really believe there is a “nobleman” who is going to return – and how soon now? Tomorrow? How well am I using my talents?
There is a saying that “Tomorrow never comes.” But one day it will – and how soon now!? And then, what of the “citizens” who do not want” Christ to return to reign (and prevent the continuation fleshly sinful ways)? We cannot envisage what the literal application is of edict to “slaughter them before me” will mean in reality for those who have been totally godless!
The LORD gave Jeremiah an awesome prophecy “against all the inhabitants of the earth” which we read last month. The prophecy pictures the day when, “disaster is going forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth! “And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other.”[25 v.32,33] Is this the “slaughter” the parable is referring to!?
What an awesome time awaited those who rejected and crucified Jesus – how many would experience the destruction of Jerusalem!?
Our final thoughts come from the words of Jesus in today’s chapter; as “he wept over” Jerusalem,! He said, “Would that you … had known …the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” [v.42] Let us help each other to make sure they are not “hidden from (y)our eyes.”
