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Series 4:
Lesson 69: |
PARABLES
THE TEN POUNDS |
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Passage to study: Luke 19:11-28.
Read with the class: Luke 19:11-28.
Memorization Text: Younger children - Rev. 22:12 "Behold I come
...".
Older children - Rev. 22:12.
OBJECTIVES - To teach that:
1. Each person has a "pound", something of value that ought to be used for the
One who gave us life.
2. The Lord Jesus Christ will return one day to reign and will recompense those who have
served Him.
3. Every person is accountable to God for what He has entrusted to him/her.
4. Each person will appear before a glorified Lord Jesus Christ and will see Him either as
king or as judge.
5. A proper concept of God is essential to respond correctly to His requirements of the
individual.
Note: The Lord Jesus told this parable during His public ministry. People hoped He
would quickly establish His kingdom. He taught that first there is a time of service
during which He would be absent and His servants would have the responsibility of looking
after matters that concerned the kingdom. The principle lesson is that each servant
must be faithful to the Lord and will have to answer for the use made of what was given
him/her. A "pound" was a coin weighing between 10-12 ounces or about
300 grams. It was calculated to be a fair amount of money. In the parable it
is used as a figure of something valuable and negotiable.
SCENE No. 1. VISUAL AIDS: Figures of a man talking to a group of people.
DEVELOPMENT:
- Notice is being given to the servants of the pending journey of the nobleman and his
purpose to receive a kingdom.
- Some receive the news with indifference, others show respect.
- Before leaving on the journey, the nobleman calls ten of his servants.
- To each is given the responsibility of attending to some part of his business and
provision is made for them to represent him.
- Each is given a pound, which represents the resources to be used to do business during
the absence of his master.
Cns. Each student has something given by God to be used for His glory, and is therefore
responsible for what he has received.
Apl. Each student's LIFE comes from God and ought to be used in service whose object is
the furtherance of the Lord's interests here on earth.
- The unsaved person is responsible to use the opportunity of accepting the gift of
eternal life, the only way to share in the nobleman's future kingdom.
- The saved person knows that along with the gift of eternal life comes the responsibility
to preach the Gospel, live righteously in a wicked world, and show kindness.
- In view of the master's return, those who love him work faithfully.
Apl. The response of each person depends on his/her love and appreciation of the Lord
Jesus.
Cmt. The comment made by the servant about the character of the nobleman, (v.21) shows
that besides love and appreciation for him, there must be an understanding of his
righteous impartiality in his assessment of service.
Sug. The teacher can give examples of people who out of love for the Lord have served Him,
thus using their pounds.
Exm. A linguist may use his abilities to translate the Scriptures. There are doctors who
attend patients in primitive clinics and conditions. There are also artists,
musicians, accountants, painters, carpenters and craftsmen who use their skills for the
Lord. The sisters who cooperate in Christian conferences, cooking, and young people who
wait on visitors also use their "pounds". Others who show hospitality are
doing the same. They are all using their "pound" for the Lord.
Cmt. It is understood that spiritual gifts that have been received must be used for the
glory of God.
- There are those who do not accept they have any responsibility toward the nobleman.
These are the evil "citizens" who hated him.
- They send a delegation after him telling him they will not have him reign over them.
Apl. Many today reject the Lord Jesus instead of accepting Him as King in their lives.
Their rejection is the same as saying: "We will not have this man to reign
over us". (v.14)
SCENE No. 2. VISUAL AIDS. In the room of a house, figures of the servants coming
before their lord. Each one brings bags which represent his earnings. One has ten
bags, another five, and another only one. A picture of a group of cities represents
the reward they will receive.
DEVELOPMENT:
- When the kingdom has been received, the man returns as promised and first calls his
servants who had been in charge of his affairs.
Cmt. There are differences in the areas of service and therefore results will
differ.
- The master has the right to require a "report" of what was achieved during his
absence.
- The pounds continued to be property of the master. See Luke 19:18 "THY
POUND". The servants were to put the money to work in his absence.
Apl. At the coming of the Lord for His church, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be set up
in heaven and each servant will give account to the Lord. See Scene 3.
Apl. Later, the Lord will judge the unsaved at the Great White Throne.
- Every one of the faithful servants that used his "pound" well is given a
reward in proportion to what he had earned.
- The reward was a certain number of cities which the faithful servant would govern.
- The reward was much greater than the work done by the servant during the absence of the
king.
- The reward had to do with the capacity and effort shown by the servant.
Apl. Our efforts in the Lord's service show how deeply we appreciate the One who saved us.
- The one who was capable of doing more with his pound showed that he was capable of
ruling over more cities.
- The one who did no work at all showed lack of love for his master, and a false concept
of his character.
- He seems to have believed there really would not be a day of judgment. (v.21-22)
"thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not
'sow'".
- The servant who claimed to be afraid and therefore did not work, had a mistaken idea
about his master who above all is righteous and a rewarder of those who serve him.
Cns.. An incorrect interpretation of the Lord's character can lead to inactivity or
indolence.
Cns. Hebrews 11:6. "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him."
Apl. Use the lesson to speak of God's "strict impartiality", but in the sense
that He is thoroughly just or fair, in accordance with what He has provided for each
person. God is righteous.
- The words of the mistaken servant are offensive, but they show that he did know what his
duty was.
- He is judged by his own words and loses the prize.
- He has shown that he does not deserve to be called a servant.
Apl. Everyone has received life, strength and health, and many opportunities to serve God.
Sug. Present the idea to the students that all that they possess such as intelligence,
abilities, and the space they occupy here on earth, makes them responsible before God for
the use they put to these things.
Apl. To use drugs or other substances that alter thinking and behaviour represents a poor
investment of what the Lord has given us.
- The Bible does not say he lost his position of servant, but he did not receive any
award.
Apl. The person described as a "wicked servant" will mourn for all eternity the
failure of not having "served".
Cns. There is a difference made between the wicked servant and the enemies who are judged
for their rejection of the king.
- The strictness and severity of God is seen in the punishment which is applied in a
decisive way to the enemies.
Apl. Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will be judged at the Great White Throne, at
which place no one is saved but all go to the Lake of Fire.
Cns. Although this parable refers the first place to the Israelites, it shows that there
will be a day of recompense for believers and also a day of punishment for those who
reject Christ.
SCENE No. 3. VISUAL AIDS: A background divided in two parts, with a figure
representing the Lord enthroned in glory. Before Him, all humanity is divided into
two large groups. Those who love and obey Him are represented by figures of people
occupied in doing some act of service, or
rejoicing with others who love the Lord. Include a figure that represents Heaven and the
words in print, "ETERNAL GAIN". On the other side, figures of people
showing their rejection of Christ and a figure that represents Hell, with the words in
print, "ETERNAL LOSS".
DEVELOPMENT:
- Following the coming of the Lord to the air, the Judgment Seat of Christ will take place
in heaven. (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10)
- At that time, all that the believer has done for the Lord will be rewarded.
- More than a thousand years later, when the earth is no more, the Great White Throne
judgment will take place.
- Those who did not submit to Christ during their lifetime will meet Him as their Judge
and receive the punishment that comes to those who wasted the privileges and abilities
that God gave them.
Apl. One of the greatest "pounds" people receive is the opportunity to be saved.
Those who fail to take advantage of it will suffer eternal loss.
- On both occasions (the Judgment Seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment),
there will be people present from all periods of time, from every race and nationality,
and of different ages. These people have been raised again to respond to the
summons which can not be avoided.
Sug. Have each student ask him or herself, What will be my situation before a
glorified Christ? |
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