Luke 19:12 Commentary and Bible Study

‘He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.’ In the Roman Empire all those nations that had been subdued and were now dominated by the Roman authority very often had local kings and local rulers. When a king died in any remote region or a ruler was appointed, it was necessary for the king's son, the new king, the new ruler, to make that journey up to Rome to be formally given his credentials. He would only rule because the Roman Emperor allowed him to do so in that region and gave him authority to rule. The parable is based on that, and it wasn't only Rome. Almost all large dominant empires in ancient times had the same kind of procedure. This parable pictures a certain nobleman: in other words, he is a prince. He is somebody who would be the natural ruler, and he is going to go into a far country, the dominant nation, to receive for himself full authorization to rule and to reign. The nobleman pictures the Lord himself. He is shortly going to go to the cross. He is going to suffer and die. As far as this earth is concerned he is going to go away. He is going to ascend up to his Father, having successfully borne away the punishment of sin for all who would be saved. The world will go on, but he has gone away to a far country, and the parable suggests it will be some while before he returns. But when he returns, having received the kingdom, then he will fully exercise his control and his reign. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords all the time. He always was; he always will be. He is the eternal Son of God, eternally God. This world, however, does not submit to his rule; this present period is the period of license, if you like. Sin is still committed; men and women still spurn the living God and turn away from him. But when Christ eventually comes back again, the period of human sin and license and disobedience will be ended. He will fully take up his reign and subdue and banish all his enemies, and all will be judged. Those who have been graciously forgiven by him will be with him forever, and those who have never been forgiven will go to eternal punishment. So in the parable he pictures himself. He is to go from the scene through his death, and he will be in heaven which is a distant country as far as this world is concerned. His departure will mark the beginning of the Christian age, the gospel age. How long it will last we do not know – 2,000 years so far. Maybe it will not last much longer; maybe it will be longer than we realise. During the Christian age the world will go on in its rebellious way, indifferent to God. But God will be gathering out of people for his own possession eternally, bringing them to the foot of the cross of Christ, saving their souls, relating them to himself, blessing them through life, and gathering them for all eternity. He will be in glory until the time he comes again and ends this present world, and ushers in the glorious eternal age. When the ransomed, the redeemed, the whole host of saved individuals are made up to the full number, then Christ will come again. He will come and bring about the judgment and take up his kingdom. That is the picture language of the parable in general.