In the Face of Injustice, Work and Produce

Things I Never Noticed in the Bible

The parable of the talents is well known.  Jesus tells it, we assume, to call us to steward our resources wisely for Him until He returns and gives us the "well done, good and faithful servant."

What's less known is the context of the parable in Luke's account (19:11-14).

"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. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ "

Herod the Great actually did this, going to Rome to ask Caesar for kingship of Judea.  The Jews sent a delegation after him to appeal to Caesar NOT to give it to him, but Caesar did, anyway.  Herod was brutal, crucifying 6,000 Jews at one time for their violent protest against his putting a Roman image in their temple.

I'd known that before, but didn't realize until reading it today the enormous difference it makes in the purpose of the parable.  And it's right there in the text, highlighted above.

Jesus actually tells this parable to warn his hearers against contributing to an uprising against Herod to place Him on the throne in Herod's place.  They should instead focus on doing their work well so as to help prosper their society and nation, regardless of the injustices in it.

I don't think our usual reading of the parable is wrong.  I actually dissent from the mainstream Christian theologian's view that Jesus' parables have only one meaning.  They say that to avoid speculating on the peripheral details in the parables, which is wise.  But the parables are richer than just making one point.

Here, Jesus is saying BOTH:

• that we need to steward our resources well for Him, and He will reward us at the last day.
• AND, that people need to not force the arrival of utopia by violence against unjust rulers.

NO, Jesus says, be productive and work to multiply resources, even when you live under a brutal, harsh, and unjust regime like Herod's.

This is a message badly needed in our cultural moment - the pandemic, police brutality, and riots of 2020.

People.  

Please.  

Go back to work.  

Find more constructive ways to protest and work against evil.