The Ten Pounds

"JESUS was now near Jerusalem, and the people with HIM thought that GOD's reign was about to appear.  So as they were listening to HIM, JESUS went on to tell them a parable.  HE said, 'A man of noble birth went to a distant country in order to be crowned king, after which he planned to return home.  Before he left, he summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds of silver.  He said, 'Put this money to work until I get back.'  But his compatriots, who disliked him, sent a delegation after him with this message, 'We do not want this man to be our king.'

He returned, however, appointed as king.  At once he sent for the servants, to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made.  The first came in, and reported, 'Sir, your pound of silver has earned ten more pounds of silver.'

The master replied, 'Well done, my good servant!  Since you have proved yourself faithful in a small matter, I can trust you to take charge of ten cities.'  The second reported, 'Sir, your pound of silver earned five more pounds of silver.'  The master replied, 'And you, take charge of five cities!'

The third came in, and said, 'Sir, here is your money, which I hid for safekeeping.  I was afraid of you, for you are an exacting person: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

The master replied, 'You worthless servant, I will judge you by your own words!  So you knew I was an exacting person, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow?  Why, then, did you not put my money on loan, so that, when I got back, I could have collected it with interest?'

Then the master said to those standing by, 'Take from him that pound, and give it to the one with ten pounds.'  But they objected, 'Sir, he already has ten pounds!'

The master replied, 'I tell you, everyone who has will be given more; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.  As for my enemies who did not want me to be their king, bring them in, and execute them right here in front of me!'

So JESUS spoke, and then HE passed on ahead of them, on HIS way to Jerusalem. - Luke 19:11-28 

(Galileans go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and JESUS goes with them.  HE knows that death awaits HIM: they, nonetheless, are convinced that HE will be proclaimed king and liberator of Israel.

In HIS parable JESUS invites them to hold onto another hope.  HE will rule on HIS return from a faraway land [HIS own death] at the end of history.  Meanwhile, HIS people are in charge of riches, which HE has given them and which they must multiply.  They should not wait in idleness for HIS return, since HIS enemies will take advantage of HIS absence to struggle against HIS influence.  JESUS' servants will participate in HIS triumph to the degree that they have worked.

This page is closely connected with the parable of the talents [Mark 25:14].  Two differences are pointed out in what follows.

For one thing, in the introduction and in the conclusion JESUS refers to HIS country's political life.  The country depended on the Roman Empire and its kings had to be acceptable to the Roman government that protected them.

On the other hand, the parable insists on GOD's justice: everyone receives according to his merit.  Heavenly happiness is not something that can be distributed equally.  Everyone will know GOD and will share HIS riches to the degree that one has been able to love throughout life.  Every step we take by way of obedience, sacrifice and humility, develops our capacity to receive GOD and to be transformed by HIM.)

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"Do Not Be Afraid, I Have Conquered The World."

"O YAHWEH, how great in number are my foes!

How numerous are they who rise against me!

How many are they who say of my soul:

'There is no help for him in GOD!'

But YOU are my shield, O YAHWEH,

my glory; YOU lift up my head.

Aloud I cry to YAHWEH,

and from HIS holy Hill HE answers me.

If I lie down to sleep,

again I awake, for YAHWEH supports me;

no fear of the thousands standing against me.

Arise, O YAHWEH!

Deliver me, O my GOD!

YOU strike all my enemies on the jaw,

YOU have broken the teeth of the wicked."

- Psalm 3:2-8

(The 'enemies' are always trying to undermine the psalmist's trust in GOD.  The psalmist sees their political or personal hostility as a test of his confidence in the shield that protects him.  It follows that though we and the psalmist have different enemies we are fighting in a common cause: to keep the supply-lines open between GOD and ourselves.  Difficulties from outside us and struggles within are not in themselves good things: they are only good challenges, opportunities, or urgent invitations to turn to the only place where help is to be found.

The psalm has a Christian projection in the exhortation of JESUS: "Do not be afraid, I have conquered the world" [John 16:33].  No matter what the odds against him, with his undeniable faith in GOD, the Christian will be a winner.  The believer will thus be able to face the present-day adversities.)

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Son Of David!

"When JESUS drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road, begging.  As he heard the crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening, and they told him that JESUS of Nazareth was going by.  Then he cried out, 'JESUS, Son of David, have mercy on me!'  The people in front of him scolded him, 'Be quiet!' they said, but he cried out all the more, 'JESUS, Son of David, have mercy on me!'

JESUS stopped, and ordered the blind man to be brought to HIM; and when he came near, JESUS asked him, 'What do you want ME to do for you?'  And the man said, 'LORD, that I may see!'  JESUS said, 'Receive your sight, your faith has saved you.'  At once the blind man was able to see, and he followed JESUS, giving praise to GOD.  And all the people who were there also praised GOD." - Luke 18:35-43 

(GOD is the one who moves us to ask something of HIM.  The blind man understands that if he lets this opportunity go by, there will not be another chance, which is why he shouts all the more while the rest try to silence him.

Son of David!  was a way of designating the Messiah)

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Humanity Has Found The Way To Liberation And Salvation

"... with melody of the lyre and with music of the harp.

With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, YAHWEH!

Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all its people.

Let rivers clap their hands, hills and mountains sing with joy before YAHWEH, for HE comes to rule the earth.  HE will judge the world with justice, and the peoples, with fairness."

- Psalm 98:5-9

(Our LORD founded the kingdom of GOD on earth: and yet we pray: 'YOUR kingdom come.'  The work of our redemption has been accomplished, but we still pray for this salvation, to be perfected throughout the world: GOD has come; but we look for HIS final coming, to take possession of HIS kingdom.

Sing to the LORD a new song.  Humanity has found the way to liberation and salvation.  It is in the coming of CHRIST, GOD-made-man and in HIS resurrection.

For the LORD came down to earth, showed us HIS love and also by HIS death and resurrection, the path to eternal salvation.)

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If There Is A Just GOD, Why Does HE Not Do Justice?

"JESUS told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart.  HE said, 'In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared GOD nor people.  In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, 'Defend my rights against my adversary!'  For a time he refused, but finally he thought, 'Even though I neither fear GOD nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.'

And JESUS said, 'Listen to what the evil judge says.  Will GOD not do justice for HIS chosen ones, who cry to HIM day and night, even if HE delays in answering them?  I tell you, HE will speedily do them justice.  But, when the Son of Man comes, will HE find faith on earth?'" - Luke 18:1-8 

(If there is a just GOD, why does HE not do justice?  [Psalm 44:24; Hebrews 1; Zechariah 1:12; Revelation 6:10].  JESUS answers: Do you desire and ask for the justice of GOD with enough faith?  HE will undoubtedly do justice, but you will have to wait.

A judge who neither feared GOD nor people: many people upon seeing what is unjust and absurd in life, view GOD this way.  If we pray with perseverance, we will gradually discover that things are not as absurd as they seem, and we will come to recognize the face of the GOD who loves us in what happens.

Who cry to HIM day and night.  JESUS, who so insists on our responsibility to the world, is the one who also urges us to call on GOD day and night.  Why are people so readily divided [or why do we divide them] into prayers and doers?

Will HE find faith on earth?  JESUS confirms an opinion already found among the Jews of HIS days.  In the last days before Judgment, the power of evil will be so great that in many love will grow cold [Matthew 24:12].

In fact, with the first coming of JESUS, the Old Testament ended in seeming failure; few had believed in HIM  and, later, most were influenced by the confusion, the false saviors and the violence which precipitated the fall of the nation forty years after the death of JESUS.) 

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Materialists Ignore GOD

"The natural helplessness of humans is seen in their ignorance of GOD.  The experience of good things did not lead them to the knowledge of HIM who IS.  They were interested in HIS works, but they did not recognize the author of them.

Fire, wind, air, the sphere of the stars, rushing water and the lights in the sky were held as the rulers of the world.

If charmed by such beauty, they took them for gods, let them know how far superior is their sovereign.  And if they were impressed by their power and activity, let them understand from this how much mightier is HE who formed them.  For the grandeur and beauty of creatures lead us to ponder on their Author, greater and more magnificent.

No doubt these people are not to be blamed severely, for possibly they strayed though they searched for GOD and desired to find HIM.  They pondered over the created things that surrounded them and were captivated by the sight of such beauty.

Even so they are not to be excused, for if they were able to explore the world, why did they not discover first the world's Sovereign?" - Wisdom 13:1-9 

(Materialists ignore GOD.  The proud believe they can achieve everything on their own.  They use things as their own, without giving them a deeper meaning and without seeing them as gifts from GOD.

Simple and humble people see the hand of GOD in everything.  The water, the wind, the mountains remind them of the Perfect Being. who created them; even more do the riches they discover in their loved ones.  Human intelligence is meant to discover GOD who fills everything and is the end of everything.  Paul will say something very similar in Romans 1:19.)  

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Evil Cannot Prevail Against Wisdom

"...because Wisdom, who designed them all, taught me.

In her is a spirit that is intelligent, saintly, unique, manifold, subtle, active, concise, pure and lucid.  It cannot corrupt, loves what is good and nothing can restrain it; it is beneficent, loving humankind, steadfast, dependable, calm though almighty.  It sees everything and penetrates all spirits, however intelligent, subtle and pure they may be.

Wisdom, in fact, surpasses in mobility all that moves, and being so pure pervades and permeates all things.

She is a breath of the power of GOD, a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; nothing impure can enter her.  She is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of GOD's action and an image of HIS goodness.

She is but one, yet Wisdom can do all things and, herself unchanging, she renews all things.  She enters holy souls, making them prophets and friends of GOD, for GOD loves only those who live with Wisdom.

She is indeed more beautiful than the sun and surpasses all the constellations; she outrivals light, for light gives way to night, but evil cannot prevail against Wisdom.

Wisdom displays her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things rightly." - Wisdom 7:22-8:1 

(Wisdom comes from GOD: it is the same Wisdom that gives order to the universe and which is the presence of GOD in us--HIS presence, as always, through HIS Son.

Nothing impure can enter her.  Note the optimism found in this description.  Because she is "holy and pure" the wisdom of GOD penetrates everything, even what is impure and imperfect, enlightening our slow and limited spirit.  The Jews of the time learned from the law that they had to remain "clean" and stay away from all that is "unclean": for example, when two people touched each other, the unclean person contaminated the other [see Leviticus 11:1; Haggai 2:11].  Here, it is the wisdom of GOD that overcomes darkness and impurity [see Ephesians 5:13].  Nothing is absolutely bad in itself: it is bad if it could have been better, and it is good if in a concrete way nothing better could have been accomplished.

She is a pure emanation of the glory of the ALMIGHTY.  For the Hebrews "glory" was something "heavy," something that imposes itself and is not pure appearance.  In the language of the Greeks, "glory" becomes what is radiant: the radiance of GOD in the universe, and still more "on the face of CHRIST" [2 Corinthians 4:6].  Wisdom, mirror of GOD's activity and image of HIS perfection, is CHRIST, as Paul says in Colossians 1:5; Hebrews 1:3; John calls CHRIST "word of GOD" [see John 1:1].

She enters holy souls, making them prophets and friends of GOD.  It was said in 2:24 that the devil corrupted creation by introducing death.  Now, the Wisdom of GOD overcomes the ravage of death.

Evil cannot prevail against Wisdom.  The Christian, roofed in GOD's word, brings light where darkness rules: he must be present and active, without fear of such involvement, wherever problems of his country, his work, his daily life are being decided.  Light and justice will triumph and renew the face of the world.)

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No True Wisdom Without Religious Truth

"Pay attention, you who rule multitudes and boast of the numerous subjects in your pagan nations!

For authority was given you by the LORD, your kingship is from the Most High who will examine your works and scrutinize your intentions.

If, as officials of HIS kingdom, you have not judged justly or observed HIS law or walked the way GOD pointed out, HE will oppose you swiftly and terribly; HIS sentence strikes the mighty suddenly.

For the lowly there may be excuses and pardon, but the great will be severely punished.

For the LORD of all makes no distinction, nor does HE take account of greatness.  Both great and lowly are HIS work and HE watches over all, but the powerful are to be judged more strictly.

It is to you then, sovereigns, that I speak, that you may learn Wisdom and not stumble.

For those who keep the holy laws in a holy way will be acknowledged holy, and those who accept the teaching will find in it their defense.

Welcome my words, desire them and they will instruct you." - Wisdom 6:2-11 

(Here begins the "discourse to the kings about wisdom."  As we said in Ecclesiastes, it was common to attribute the Books of Wisdom to Solomon.  This can also be seen in this book: the author pretends to be Solomon and puts the words about wisdom on Solomon's lips.)

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The Souls Of The Just Are In The Hands Of GOD

"Indeed GOD created man to be immortal in the likeness of HIS own nature, but the envy of the devil brought death to the world, and those who take his side shall experience death.

The souls of the just are in the hands of GOD and no torment shall touch them.

In the eyes of the unwise they appear to be dead.  Their going is held as a disaster; it seems that they lose everything by departing from us, but they are in peace.

Though seemingly they have been punished, immortality was the soul of their hope.  After slight affliction will come great blessings, for GOD has tried them and found them worthy to be with HIM; after testing them as gold in the furnace, HE has accepted them as a holocaust.

At the time of HIS coming they will shine like sparks that run in the stubble.  They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD will be their king forever.

Those who trust in HIM will penetrate the truth, those who are faithful will live with HIM in love, for HIS grace and mercy are for HIS chosen ones." - Wisdom 2:23-3:9 

(Those who take his side shall experience death.  Those who do evil begin to experience death.  There is a physical wearing down caused by vice [alcoholism, licentiousness], but there is an even greater deterioration of enthusiasm, generosity and trust.  "The person who sows for the benefit of his own flesh shall reap corruption and death from the flesh" [Galatians 6:8].  See also Romans 6:21.

The text considers what JESUS will do; that behind a mass of evil that tear humanity, and behind our disbelief there is a presence of "the Enemy" [see Matthew 13:39; Hebrews 2:14-15].

The souls of the just are in the hands of GOD.  This is the great revelation in this book.  In the previous books of the Scriptures, the soul only means the breath of a person, that is to say, the life in him which disappears at death.  Now, the soul means the person who does not die when the body does.

Their going is held as a disaster.  Whether the just die in the hands of violent people, or naturally die as we all do, the end of their lives seems to contradict GOD's goodness.  It is a scandal that death can overcome the just.  [We know that the just are those who fulfill the hopes that GOD placed in them.]  It is only the body which dies.  They are alive before GOD as JESUS will also state [Luke 20:38].

But they are in peace.  They will forever enjoy what they hoped for here on earth.  That is to say, we only see one side of death: we shall never know how everyone experienced his departure, even less how he awakened in GOD's world.

At the time of judgment we will see that the just are the only ones who have been truly alive.  The death of the friends of GOD brings peace to those who were at their side.  Through their death the martyrs bring the triumph of the cause for which they lived.)  

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How Can We Express The Nearness Of The In-Accessible And Holy GOD?

"Love justice, you who rule over the world!  Think rightly of GOD, seek HIM with simplicity of heart, for HE reveals HIMSELF to those who do not challenge HIM and is found by those who do not distrust HIM.

Crooked thinking distances you from GOD; and HIS Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish.

Wisdom does not enter the wicked nor remain in a body that is enslaved to sin.  The Holy Spirit who instructs us shuns deceit; it keeps aloof from foolishness and is ill at ease when injustice is done.

Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man, and will not leave the blasphemous unpunished, because GOD knows his innermost feelings, truly sees his thoughts and hears what HE says.

For GOD 's spirit has filled the whole world; and HE holds together all things, knows each word that is spoken." - Wisdom 1:1-7 

(GOD is more present to us than we are to ourselves.  We need not look very far for authentic wisdom: it appears as spirit coming from GOD that becomes present to us interiorly but is only revealed to the just.

How can we express the nearness of the in-accessible and holy GOD?  Here the author speaks of Providence, Wisdom, Justice, the Spirit of GOD.  HE speaks of them as if they were persons sent by GOD to look after us.  In fact, it is a way of presenting GOD HIMSELF who, though HE preserves HIS mystery, is close to people and to events.)

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