Kingdom Kernel #48 – The King’s Expectation to Multiply – Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27

As Co-Regents We are Expected to Multiply the King’s Resources

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 25:14-30)

Introduction

The Parables of the Talents and Minas both point to the King’s expectations for His Co-Regents to multiply what they have been given for the sake of His kingdom and glory. In this essay we will look at both the rewards of wise investment and the consequences of inaction. We will also investigate the potential “resources” the Master has entrusted to us and how to multiply them.

Key Words and Phrases

“For it is just like…” – In the context of Matthew 25 Jesus first starts with a different parable; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins…” Jesus is explaining the kingdom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins emphasizes the need to be ready for Christ’s return by being vigilantly prepared. Jesus continues to talk about the kingdom of God in the Parable of the Talents using the pronoun “it” to refer back to the kingdom He is still describing in parabolic fashion.

“They supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately…” – Luke sets the stage for Jesus’ Parable of the Minas with this statement. He uses it as a transition and explanation on why Jesus is telling the parable. The parable of the Minas is both instructive of “when” the kingdom will be coming and “what” we should be doing as we wait for its arrival.

Talents – τάλαντον (Strong’s G5007 – talanton) A sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency. A talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg) So ten talents would be worth approximately $120,320,000 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

Minas – μνᾶ (Strong’s G3414 – mna) In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled to 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm) So ten minas would be worth approximately $60,028,800 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

“Each according to his own ability…” – This is an interesting distinction Jesus makes between the two parables. In the Parable of the Minas, each is given the same amount (Ten Minas). In the Parable of the Talents, each steward is apportioned an amount based on their abilities or managerial skills.

Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ example

Jesus’ parables of the Talents and Minas cover two basic principles; Stewarding God’s kingdom resources and being ready to give an account for that stewardship on a moment’s notice. Jesus modeled both of these principles in an exemplary manner. He was always ready to do what the Father wanted done when He wanted it done. Jesus had perfect compliance and stewardship and His timing was completely synchronized with the Father.

Jesus’ Complete Obedience to the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 6:38; 8:29; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8)

Stewardship According to the Father’s Will (John 4:34; 12:49; 17:4)

Jesus’ Perfect Synchronization with the Father (John 2:4; 7:6; 7:30; 12:23; 13:1)

Key Theological Implications

Understanding our identity and purpose is essential to making any sense of these two parables. They emphasise God’s expectation for us to steward and multiply what He has given us. We must go back to the beginning for our first clues.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28)

We were designed from the very beginning to be “like” God, created in His image. This is our identity. As we look further at His plan we see it also includes a creative element (be fruitful and multiply) and a stewardship element (fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over). This is our purpose. Of course once sin entered the picture, we were subject to confusion and abuses that derailed our understanding and application of our identity and purpose. Every event in history either proves our absolute failure to embrace God’s intentions for us or examples of people totally dependent on Him to bind, nurture, and direct His poor fallen people.

This can be seen in the Old Testament from the Tower of Babel to the flood to the waywardness of God’s chosen nation (Israel) and the murders of His spokesmen. We need go no further than the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ in the New Testament. We have mismanaged the creation and God’s kingdom from the start.

Part of Jesus’ mission was to restore our original identity and purpose. From “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to His definition of discipleship, “A disciple is not above His teacher but when he is fully trained he becomes like the teacher” (Luke 6:40). He became everything we were meant to be and provided a model for what being a good steward looks like.

Jesus’ parables remind us that we are God’s stewards and we have been entrusted with His creation. God expects us not only to maintain what has been created but to “be fruitful and multiply” what He has given. This extends from the relationships in our lives, our property, our gifts and talents, our personalities, our time, even down to every breath we take. We are to have dominion and multiply all that He has given us for the sake of His glory. This is the way of the King and His kingdom.

Contemporary Spiritual Significance

As we survey all that God has entrusted to us and align ourselves with the example Jesus set during His time on earth, we are challenged to make good on the gifts God has given us. We are to be good stewards with the realm and capacity He has provided and even bring increase to what we have. When we align ourselves with God’s original intentions, we obey His first commands and reap incredible benefits at the same time.

The Transformative Power of Being Fruitful and Multiplying

God’s design for us was meant to help us thrive under the responsibility to create, manage, lead, and nurture. We were placed in a supreme place of significance in His creation with a purpose. Our identity as image bearers reflects the very purpose of God. Alignment with these principles and activities makes life adventurous, fulfilling, and meaningful. Drifting from the original mandate and design of God causes us to become unmoored and confused as to why we were created and what we were meant to do. Jesus finished the work He was given. (John 17:4) Paul finished his work. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) In the parables the servants finished their work and received praise and reward from the Master; “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” Now we too are challenged to finish the work set before us. (Ephesians 2:10)

Conclusion

Jesus is describing not only the King’s expectation in these two parables but gives direction for the kingdom’s citizens. We are to be faithful stewards of the gifts He had given and to multiply them for His glory. Obedience brings great praise, reward, and more responsibility. Failure has disastrous consequences.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

Ducks, Devotion, and Discipleship

The decoys bobbed like dark apostles in the pre-dawn gray, their silhouettes sharp against water that held the last of the night. Chad watched them through the brush screening, his breath condensing in small clouds that disappeared into the Louisiana cold. Beside him, Burt sat rigid as a heron, his shoulders hunched forward.

They’d been out here since four-thirty, wedged into the blind Chad had built on the property his grandfather left him—a slip of wetland that flooded reliable every winter, pulling pintails and teal down from the sky. The coffee in Chad’s thermos had gone lukewarm an hour ago. The two hadn’t spoken in forty minutes.

“So,” Chad said finally, his voice low and gentle. “You want to tell me what’s actually going on, brother?”

A flight of coots chattered past, too far out. The eastern sky was starting to leak orange at its edges.

Burt’s hands worked the stock of his shotgun, thumb tracing the checkering pattern over and over. The silence stretched until it felt like something physical between them.

“I’m not ready,” Burt said finally, his words barely audible.

“For what?” Chad asked, though he already knew.

“What you’re asking. Discipling someone.” Burt’s voice was tight. “Danny asked me two months ago if I’d meet with him weekly. I keep putting him off.”

Chad waited, letting the question form itself.

“Because what if I mess it up?” The words came faster now, pressure releasing. “What if I tell him something wrong, or I can’t answer his questions, or—what if he ends up worse because of me? I’m barely keeping my own head above water most days. How am I supposed to pull someone else up?”

Chad poured himself another cup of coffee, the thermos cap catching the growing light. He took a sip, let the warmth settle.

“There’s this parable,” he said. “The talents. You know it?”

“Yeah.”

“Walk me through it.”

Burt exhaled slowly. “Rich man goes on a trip. Leaves money with three servants. Different amounts—five talents, two talents, one talent. First two double what they’re given. Last guy buries his in the ground.”

“Why’d he bury it?”

“He was afraid.”

“That’s right.” Chad’s voice carried no judgment, just invitation. “Master comes back, and that servant’s got his excuses ready. ‘I knew you were a hard man,’ he says. ‘I was afraid of losing it, so I kept it safe.'”

Burt was quiet, watching the water.

“And the master calls him wicked,” Chad continued softly. “Not for lacking ability—for lacking action. For choosing fear over faithfulness.”

A crow called from the tupelos behind them, harsh and certain.

“But here’s what I want you to hear, Burt. Really hear.” Chad shifted to face him more directly. “The master didn’t give everyone the same amount. It wasn’t about equal distribution—it was according to ability. The guy with five talents could handle five. The guy with two? That was his measure. Even the one-talent man had exactly what he could steward if he’d just tried.”

Burt’s face had gone pale in the growing light.

“I’m not asking you to be me,” Chad said. “I’m not asking you to teach seminary classes or lead a ministry. I’m asking you to be faithful with what God’s already given you. One talent. One guy. One hour a week.”

“But what if—”

“What if you fail?” Chad’s tone was kind. “Brother, the failure’s already happening. That talent’s already in the ground.”

The words landed soft but solid.

“You know what the master told that servant?” Chad continued. “‘At least you could’ve deposited it and earned interest.’ The bare minimum would’ve been better than nothing. Meeting with Danny once a week over coffee—just showing up, being honest about your own struggles, pointing him toward Jesus when you can—that’s not nothing. That’s something. And something beats a hole in the ground every time.”

Burt’s eyes were wet. “I just don’t want to let him down.”

“So don’t let Jesus let him down.” Chad’s hand found Burt’s shoulder. “That’s what discipleship is. Not you being perfect. You being faithful to what you’ve got. You being willing to multiply what God’s given you, even when it feels small.”

Movement on the water—a small raft of teal, still too distant.

“Jesus finished the work He was given,” Chad said quietly. “Not anyone else’s work. His. And He did it perfectly, so we could do ours imperfectly and still hear ‘well done.’ That’s grace, brother. You get to steward what you’ve been given, and Jesus covers the rest.”

Burt nodded slowly, something loosening in his posture. “I want to be like that. Like Jesus. Finishing what I’m given instead of running from it.”

“Then start with Danny,” Chad said simply. “Text him this afternoon. Set up coffee for this week. Don’t wait until you feel ready—you’ll never feel ready. Just be faithful with the one.”

The sky had turned from orange to pale blue, darkness retreating to the treeline.

“Okay,” Burt said. “Okay. I’ll text him today.”

A whistle of wings—sudden, close. Both men looked up as a pair of mallards cupped their wings and dropped toward the decoys, their approach steep and committed. Chad’s hand moved to his call, but he didn’t blow it. The birds were already coming, already convinced.

They landed in a splash of white water, settling among the decoys like they’d always belonged there.

“Legal light in two minutes,” Chad whispered.

They waited together in the blind, two men with different measures but the same call, watching the sky fill with possibility as morning broke clean and cold across the Louisiana marsh. The decoys rocked gently in the wake of the real ducks.

Burt checked his safety, and for the first time in weeks, his hands were steady.

And Chad watched the sky, praying silently that his friend would find the courage to multiply what he’d been given—one conversation, one get-together, one faithful step at a time.

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A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 2) – #147

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see what Jesus says about being the Good Shepherd.

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 10:11–16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

My Thoughts

As we continue to explore Jesus’ metaphors about Himself we come to His moniker of the Shepherd. But not just any shepherd, the Good Shepherd. What makes Him so good? Four distinct characteristics. First, His sheep know His voice. In verses 3-4 of chapter 10, He says,

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

A true disciple of Christ hears and knows the voice of the Savior. They follow Him. They flee from other voices.

Secondly, He lays His life down for His sheep. The hired hand will run at the first sign of danger because the sheep don’t belong to them. Not Jesus, He proved His sacrificial love by the way He lived and by the way died.

Third, He knows the sheep. He knows them as well as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. How well do they know each other? Completely! How does it feel to be known and understood to the nth degree?

And lastly, He gathers the whole flock. He says,

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well”

This is what He came to do, “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And it’s all the lost people, not just the Jews but Gentiles alike. And not just in one particular place but the entire globe (Acts 1:8).

When Jesus says He’s the Good Shepherd, He is not exaggerating. He has an accurate assessment of His identity and purpose.

What does this mean for us as disciple makers? Well, simply put, we are not THE Good Shepherd, He is. We hate to admit it but we’d probably cut and run when the flock is assaulted. So it’s essential that we keep pointing people to Jesus as THEIR Good Shepherd and help them follow His lead and look to Him for ultimate protection.

My Story

When you ask me what my spiritual gifts are, shepherd comes up as one of the top. I have a compassion for people and want to see them taken care of. I like to pray for people and I try to think the best of them and paint them in a good light. But there is a weakness that comes with the gift of shepherding and that is letting your shepherding get in the way of The Good Shepherd. You can start to think that you are the answer to everyone’s problems and over estimate your abilities to be the solution.

This has some significant consequences. The first error in thinking this way is that you begin to lead the sheep astray. People start making you their “Holy Spirit” and depending on you to answer all the questions and fix all their boo boos. This is a huge mistake for a disciple maker. So I’ve trained myself to ask the questions, “What did Jesus say? Or “What do you think Jesus wants you to do?” This keeps me in the right place of authority, an under-shepherd.

Another thing that I have learned is that you can’t shepherd people adequately by just preaching at them. You have to roll up your sleeves and get down into the messes of the flock’s lives. Making disciples takes a “hands on” approach. You can’t very well take care of the sheep if you have no clue what’s going on in their lives (Proverbs 27:23). Being with them and asking a lot of questions helps you be a better shepherd.

Lastly, I’ve learned that I can’t shepherd everyone and solve every problem. I have capacity issues. But you know what? So did Jesus! He was confined to time, space, and energy just like us and He had to rest, steward relationships, and even say “no” when it was appropriate. Not even the Messiah had the ”messiah complex.” Remember, burn out is not a badge of honor. It’s a character flaw.

So disciple makers, shepherd wisely. Know your limitations. Know your lane. Point them to THE Good Shepherd.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

Are we becoming a Jr. holy spirit to those we are discipling?
What are some indicators that we are interfering with what the Good Shepherd is doing?
Ask those you are discipling “What does Jesus want you to do?”

Are we pointing people to Jesus as THE Good Shepherd? Or are we getting in the way of an intimate vibrant relationship He wants to have with His own sheep. Let’s keep reminding them and ourselves that there is only one Good Shepherd.

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Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 2) – #147

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver lo que Jesús dice sobre ser el Buen Pastor.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Juan 10:11-16

Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas. El asalariado no es el pastor, ni las ovejas son suyas. Cuando ve venir al lobo, abandona las ovejas y huye. Entonces el lobo las ataca y dispersa el rebaño. El hombre huye porque es un asalariado y no le importan las ovejas. Yo soy el buen pastor. Conozco a mis ovejas y mis ovejas me conocen, así como el Padre me conoce y yo conozco al Padre. Y doy mi vida por las ovejas. Tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; también a ellas debo traerlas, y oirán mi voz. Entonces habrá un solo rebaño y un solo pastor.

Mis Pensamientos

Mientras continuamos explorando las metáforas que Jesús usa para describirse a sí mismo, llegamos a su título de Pastor. Pero no cualquier pastor, sino el Buen Pastor. ¿Qué lo hace tan bueno? Cuatro características distintivas. Primero, sus ovejas conocen su voz. En los versículos 3 y 4 del capítulo 10, dice:

“Las ovejas oyen su voz; él llama a sus ovejas por su nombre y las saca. Cuando ha sacado a todas las suyas, va delante de ellas, y las ovejas lo siguen porque conocen su voz. A un extraño no lo seguirán, sino que huirán de él, porque no conocen la voz de los extraños.”

Un verdadero discípulo de Cristo oye y conoce la voz del Salvador. Lo siguen. Huyen de otras voces.

En segundo lugar, da su vida por sus ovejas. El asalariado huye al primer signo de peligro porque las ovejas no le pertenecen. No así Jesús; demostró su amor sacrificial con su vida y con su muerte.

En tercer lugar, conoce a las ovejas. Las conoce tan bien como el Padre lo conoce a Él, y Él conoce al Padre. ¿Qué tan bien se conocen? ¡Completamente! ¿Cómo se siente ser conocido y comprendido a la perfección?

Y por último, reúne a todo el rebaño. Dice:

“También tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; a esas también debo traerlas.”

Esto es lo que vino a hacer: “buscar y salvar a los perdidos” (Lucas 19:10). Y se refiere a todos los perdidos, no solo a los judíos, sino también a los gentiles. Y no solo en un lugar en particular, sino en todo el mundo (Hechos 1:8).

Cuando Jesús dice que es el Buen Pastor, no exagera. Tiene una evaluación precisa de su identidad y propósito.

¿Qué significa esto para nosotros como hacedores de discípulos? Bueno, en pocas palabras, nosotros no somos EL Buen Pastor, Él lo es. Nos cuesta admitirlo, pero probablemente huiríamos cuando el rebaño sea atacado. Por lo tanto, es esencial que sigamos señalando a Jesús como SU Buen Pastor y que les ayudemos a seguir su ejemplo y a buscar en Él la protección definitiva.

Mi Historia

Cuando me preguntan cuáles son mis dones espirituales, el de pastor es uno de los primeros que me vienen a la mente. Siento compasión por las personas y deseo verlas bien atendidas. Me gusta orar por ellas e intento pensar lo mejor de cada una y verlas con buenos ojos. Pero este don de pastoreo conlleva una debilidad: dejar que nuestro papel de pastor se interponga entre las personas y el Buen Pastor. Podemos empezar a creer que somos la solución a los problemas de todos y sobreestimar nuestra capacidad para resolverlos.

Esto tiene consecuencias importantes. El primer error de este modo de pensar es que empezamos a desviar a las ovejas del camino correcto. Las personas comienzan a vernos como su “Espíritu Santo” y a depender de nosotros para que respondamos a todas sus preguntas y solucionemos todos sus problemas. Este es un grave error para quien se dedica a formar discípulos. Por eso, me he acostumbrado a preguntar: “¿Qué dijo Jesús?” o “¿Qué crees que Jesús quiere que hagas?”. Esto me mantiene en el lugar de autoridad que me corresponde: el de un subpastor.

Otra cosa que he aprendido es que no se puede pastorear a las personas adecuadamente solo predicándoles. Hay que arremangarse y adentrarse en las dificultades de la vida del rebaño. Formar discípulos requiere un enfoque práctico. No se puede cuidar bien de las ovejas si no se tiene ni idea de lo que ocurre en sus vidas (Proverbios 27:23). Estar con ellas y hacerles muchas preguntas ayuda a ser un mejor pastor.

Por último, he aprendido que no puedo pastorear a todos ni resolver todos los problemas. Tengo mis limitaciones. ¿Pero saben qué? ¡Jesús también las tenía! Él estaba limitado por el tiempo, el espacio y la energía, al igual que nosotros, y tenía que descansar, cultivar sus relaciones e incluso decir “no” cuando era necesario. Ni siquiera el Mesías tenía el “complejo de mesías”. Recuerden, el agotamiento no es una medalla de honor, sino una debilidad de carácter.

Así que, formadores de discípulos, pastoreen con sabiduría. Conozcan sus limitaciones. Manténganse en su lugar. Señalen a las personas hacia EL Buen Pastor.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Nos estamos convirtiendo en una especie de “mini Espíritu Santo” para aquellos a quienes discipulamos?

¿Cuáles son algunos indicadores de que estamos interfiriendo con la obra del Buen Pastor?

Pregúntales a quienes discipulas: “¿Qué quiere Jesús que hagas?”.

¿Estamos guiando a las personas hacia Jesús como EL Buen Pastor? ¿O nos estamos interponiendo en la relación íntima y vibrante que Él desea tener con sus ovejas? Recordemos, tanto a ellos como a nosotros mismos, que solo hay un Buen Pastor.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #47 – The Wretched Stewards – Matthew 21:33-44

The King’s Expectations of His Co-Regents

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“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT AND DUG A WINE PRESS IN IT, AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. “When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” (Matthew 21:33-44)

Introduction

In Jesus’ parable of the unworthy stewards we see not only a gross misunderstanding of ownership but also the preposterous actions of servants to wrest land and proceeds from its rightful owner. In this essay we will explore the motivations and faulty thinking of the stewards and its consequences. We will also examine Jesus’ actions as a faithful steward and how His example applies to us today.

Key Words and Phrases

Owner – κύριος – kyrios (Strong’s G2962)

Meaning Lord, lord, master, sir, Sir. The “owner” was not only the rightful owner of the property but had authority over the renters.

Rented – ἐκδίδωμι – ekdidōmi (Strong’s G1554)

Meaning to give out of one’s house, power, hand, stores, to give up or give over, to let out for hire

Wretches – κακός – kakos (Strong’s G2556)

Meaning to be troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful

“and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons” –

The phrase encapsulates not only the expectations of the landowner in the parable but of the King telling the story.

Messianic Model – Jesus the Rightful Owner and Righteous Steward

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23 to affirm the unknown author’s prophecy of the rejection of the Messiah by the “builders.” This was being fulfilled in real time as He rebuked the Jews. They rejected the Chief Corner Stone. As we have seen in previous kingdom passages, the kingdom was given to the Son by the Father (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 28:18, Luke 22:29). The Son was the perfect steward of what was entrusted to Him (John 5:19, 17:4-6, Revelation 5:9-10). He is a model and gives us co-regency in His kingdom (Luke 12:32, 22:29). And after all things are accomplished under His stewardship, He will give the kingdom back to His Father (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

Key Theological Implications

Stewardship in the kingdom should not be a strange or new concept to us as Bible believing disciples of Jesus. We were created in God’s image to have dominion over His creation from the beginning (Genesis 1:26-28). However, we have wrestled with God over true ownership from the very beginning (Genesis 3:1-7). Through history there have been those who understood and embraced their responsibilities as co-regents in God’s kingdom (Deuteronomy 34:10-12, Acts 4:33,13:22) and others who abused their position as stewards and tried to take God’s kingdom for their own (1 Samuel 22:17-19, 1 Kings 21:1-16, Matthew 25:24-30).

This kingdom stewardship or abuse thereof, is what Jesus is addressing with the religious leaders. He exposes their hearts in a story that they initially don’t identify as a scathing rebuke from Jesus for themselves. They don’t connect the stewards’ absolute delusional efforts to acquire the vineyard with their own equally deranged efforts to hijack God’s kingdom. The stewards in the story actually think they will receive the son’s inheritance by killing him. This would be the exact thinking of the religious leaders later when they murdered the Son of God.

But the lesson of the parable is not lost on those who abuse kingdom stewardship. It is also instructive for those who want to honor and serve their Master. We are charged with the care of the vineyard (the kingdom), to nurture and protect it as good and faithful farmers. And the Master has an expectation that we will multiply and give the proceeds back to Him (as also alluded to in the parables of the Talents, Minas, and Hired Workers). We know from Scripture that Jesus set the ultimate example as a steward in the kingdom through His life, death, and resurrection. He became that “grain of wheat” (John 12:24) that dies and then produces a crop. He was the first fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) of a bumper crop being brought before the Father.

Contemporary Spiritual Significance

Good leadership is often learned from bad examples. Such is the case as we read this account of Jesus’ rebuke for the religious leaders of the day. We see what they did wrong and we elect to go in the opposite direction to do what is right. In this case, right looks like being a good steward in the kingdom of God and bringing the produce back to the rightful owner. The King has an expectation for multiplying His goodness and righteousness and His loyal subjects joyfully meet those expectations with wisdom, faith, and love.

The Transformative Power of Being Good Stewards

God designed us to be good stewards. When we were created in His image, we were created to “rule” like He does, with His attributes. As we do so, we take on more and more His characteristics which include but are not limited to;

Diligence
Patience
Nurture
Intentionality
Gentleness
Wisdom
Endurance
Assurance
Loving
Generous
Etc.

Conclusion

Many of the Jews and religious leaders of the day rejected Jesus’ rightful ownership of the kingdom of God. They essentially tried to hijack what was God’s and selfishly obtain it for themselves. Rulership, responsibility, and production are not wrong values unless we try to move out from beneath the umbrella of God’s authority and run things our way. Jesus issues a stern rebuke to His generation and a sober warning to subsequent generations of God ordained co-regents. Yes, we are meant to lead and rule in the kingdom. But always the way the Master directs and for His glory.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

When Leaders Fail

The windshield wipers carved desperate arcs through the November rain as Sarah gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white against the black leather. In the passenger seat, Claire dabbed at her mascara with a crumpled tissue, her shoulders shaking with each suppressed sob.

“Twenty-three years,” Claire whispered, her voice barely audible above the rhythmic thrum of rain. “Twenty-three years I’ve sat in those pews, Sarah. I taught Sunday school in the basement where he—” Her words dissolved into a choked gasp.

Sarah’s jaw tightened as she navigated the familiar streets that suddenly felt foreign. The elder’s monotone announcement still echoed in her mind: inappropriate conduct with multiple women… resignation effective immediately… asking for privacy during this difficult time. The clinical language couldn’t sanitize the devastation left in its wake.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Claire said, crumpling the tissue into a tight ball. “I can’t sit there pretending everything’s holy and sacred when the man who performed the marriage for my daughter and her husband, who baptized my grandson—” She pressed her fist against her mouth, stemming another wave of tears.

“Claire—”

“No, Sarah. I’m done. I’m done with church, done with trusting people who claim to speak for God, done with—” Claire’s voice cracked. “How could I be so blind? All those years, I defended him when people whispered about his ego, his need to control everything. I made excuses.”

Sarah pulled into Claire’s driveway but didn’t turn off the engine. The rain intensified, drumming against the roof like impatient fingers. She stared at the modest ranch house where she’d shared countless cups of coffee with this woman who’d become more than a mentor—a spiritual mother.

“Do you remember,” Sarah said slowly, “that parable Jesus told about the vineyard?”

Claire’s laugh was bitter. “A Bible story? Really, Sarah? After what we just heard?”

“The landowner plants this beautiful vineyard,” Sarah continued, ignoring the edge in Claire’s voice. “He builds walls, installs equipment, creates everything the tenants need to succeed. Then he goes away and trusts them to care for it.”

“Sarah, I don’t—”

“But the tenants forget it’s not theirs.” Sarah’s voice grew stronger. “They start thinking they own it. When the owner sends servants to collect what’s owed, they beat them. Kill them. Finally, he sends his own son, thinking surely they’ll respect him.”

Claire turned in her seat, studying Sarah’s profile. The younger woman’s dark eyes reflected something deeper than grief—a fierce determination that hadn’t been there an hour ago.

“They killed the son too,” Claire said quietly. “Thinking they’d inherit everything.”

“Yes.” Sarah finally looked at her friend. “But here’s what I keep thinking about—the vineyard was never the problem. The vines didn’t become corrupt because the stewards were wicked. The soil didn’t turn bitter because the workers were faithless.”

Claire’s tears had stopped, but her voice remained fragile. “Pastor Mitchell wasn’t just a bad steward, Sarah. He was supposed to be different. Called by God. Set apart.”

“And maybe he was, once. But somewhere along the way, he forgot whose vineyard he was tending.” Sarah turned in her seat to face Claire fully. “The thing is—we’re not just victims here, Claire. We’re workers too. Tenants in the same vineyard.”

“What do you mean?”

Sarah’s eyes grew distant. “All those people we ministered to together. The young mothers you encouraged when they felt overwhelmed. The teenagers I counseled through breakups and college anxiety. The meals we cooked for grieving families. That wasn’t Pastor Mitchell’s work—that was ours. The Master’s work, through us.”

Claire shook her head. “But how can I face them? How can I tell people to have faith when my own is hanging by a thread?”

“Because,” Sarah said, reaching over to grasp Claire’s weathered hand, “our faith was never supposed to be in Pastor Mitchell. It was supposed to be in the Son who the wicked tenants killed—and who rose again anyway. The one who became the cornerstone after being rejected by the builders.”

The rain had gentled to a whisper against the windows. Claire stared at their joined hands—her seventy-year-old fingers intertwined with Sarah’s thirty-five-year-old ones, representing decades of shared service and separate storms weathered.

“I feel so foolish,” Claire admitted. “Like I should have seen the signs, should have spoken up when something felt off in my spirit.”

“Maybe. But wallowing in that guilt won’t help the vineyard heal. And it won’t honor the Master who trusted us with it.” Sarah’s grip tightened. “Claire, you taught me that Jesus didn’t just come to save us—He came to show us how to live. How to serve. How to be faithful stewards even when other stewards fail spectacularly.”

“But what if I can’t? What if I’m too old, too hurt, too disillusioned?”

Sarah smiled for the first time that morning, though tears still tracked down her cheeks. “Then you remember that the Master’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. That He chose foolish things to confound the wise. That He delights in using broken vessels because it makes His glory shine brighter.”

Claire was quiet for a long moment, watching the rain create rivulets down the passenger window. Finally, she spoke: “The youth group still needs someone to coordinate the Christmas outreach program.”

“And Mrs. Henderson’s cancer treatment starts next week. She’ll need rides to appointments.”

“The Johnson family just had their third baby. They could use meal trains.”

“See?” Sarah squeezed Claire’s hand. “The vineyard’s still there, Claire. Still needs tending. Still belongs to the same Master it always has.”

Claire nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with her free hand. “I suppose if we abandon our posts now, we’re no better than those wicked tenants.”

“Worse, maybe. Because we know better. We know that our hope was never supposed to rest in human leaders—no matter how charismatic or seemingly godly.” Sarah’s voice carried a conviction that seemed to surprise even her. “Our hope is in the Chief Cornerstone, the one who was rejected and yet became the foundation of everything that matters.”

They sat in comfortable silence as the storm moved eastward, leaving behind the clean scent of washed earth and the promise of clearer skies. The crisis hadn’t passed—there would be months of difficult conversations, institutional rebuilding, and personal healing ahead. But somehow, in the space between heartbreak and hope, they’d found their footing again.

“Sarah?” Claire’s voice was stronger now, tinged with the maternal authority that had guided so many through spiritual storms.

“Yes?”

“Next Sunday, when we walk back into that sanctuary—we’re not going to be the same women who walked out today.”

Sarah nodded, understanding the weight of the moment. They would return as stewards who’d been tested and refined, who understood more deeply that their ultimate allegiance belonged not to human institutions or charismatic leaders, but to the Master of the vineyard Himself.

“The funny thing about cornerstones,” Sarah mused as Claire opened the car door, “is that they have to bear the weight of the entire structure. Everything else can crumble, but if the cornerstone holds, the building can be rebuilt.”

Claire paused, one foot on the driveway, rain misting her gray hair. “Twenty-three years,” she repeated, but this time without bitterness. “Twenty-three years of learning to distinguish between the vineyard and the stewards. Maybe it took this heartbreak to finally understand the difference.”

As Sarah drove away, she caught sight of Claire in her rearview mirror—shoulders squared, walking toward her front door with the measured pace of someone who’d remembered her true calling. The vineyard was still there, still fruitful, still belonging to the Master who’d never abandoned His post, even when His under-shepherds had wandered astray.

The cornerstone would hold. Everything else could be rebuilt.

AI used for formating original thoughts and observations from the Scriptures.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 1) – #146

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to discover the right for Christianity to be exclusive.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 10:1–10

“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.” Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

My Thoughts

In John 10:1-21 Jesus describes Himself in three ways; a Gate, a Shepherd, and a Sacrificial Lamb. We were taught in High School English to never mix metaphors. Apparently, the greatest story teller to ever live didn’t get the memo. In this first part of a three part series we will concentrate on the aspect of Jesus being the Gate.

Jesus uses the metaphor of a gate to point to His being the only way to have a right relationship with the Father. Anyone trying to get in through alternate means is considered sinister, a thief and a robber. Then He talks about the Gate Keeper who opens the gate for the Shepherd. We can safely assume that the Father is the Gate Keeper as He is the One who sent Jesus to facilitate entrance into the kingdom of God. But in this part of His story He explicitly says, “I am the gate.”Jesus points to His exclusive right to determine who enters and who doesn’t.

Many are put off by the exclusivity of Christianity. But it is Jesus Himself who makes this claim. He is the One who says “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) I’ve even heard Christians talk about how unfair this sounds and that it couldn’t possibly be true. But the Author of the Way is the one who determines the standards for eternal life, not us.

Every religion is exclusive at some point. Even to say “Christianity can’t be the only way to God” is an exclusive statement. To state something is not true about a religion is to exclude an essential truth of that religion and therefore the one making this assertion is by nature exclusionary. The problem is not being exclusive. The problem lies in which exclusionary statement is true. Jesus rightly claims not only to be exclusionary but the very truth as well.

As disciple makers this is the “narrow way” we proclaim, live, and direct others in. To seek to be “inclusive” to avoid hurting feelings, conflict, or even persecution, is to lead people astray and deny the faith. This is not popular but critically true nonetheless. Jesus is the Gate, the only way.

My Story

When I was a chaplain in the Army I would often get questions like this;

“Chaplain, aren’t all religions the same? I mean, we are just using different names for God aren’t we?”

Or the more hostile would make statements like, “How could a loving God possibly send a Buddhist or Muslim to hell when they are just believing what they were brought up as.” Or “All religions are the same, you just have to be a good person.”

When I would try to explain that Jesus was the only way to the Father, it was most often met with disbelief, anger, and contempt. They would say something to the effect of “Your God is narrow and mean.”

Then I would put on my story teller’s hat and give them this illustration;

You and your platoon had come upon a minefield and there is no way around it. Your Platoon Leader designates a Squad Leader to find a safe path through using mine detection techniques and instructs the rest of you to follow right behind him. The Platoon Leader reiterates, “Stay right behind him, do not stray to the left or to the right. Where he steps, you step.”

Then I would ask these questions. “Is your PL being mean or unreasonable?” and “Why is he giving such narrow detailed instructions about staying in the path of the Squad Leader.”

It would dawn on most of my soldiers that just like the PL’s instructions in a very dangerous situation, Jesus is trying to save us and not just being narrow minded. His exclusive statements like “I am the Gate” are not cruel or ignorant. They are the most true and informed words of compassion ever uttered.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s questions and ideas;

Do those you are discipling hold to the exclusive claim that Jesus makes when He says He is the gate?
How are you helping them answer pluralistic or universalist arguments?
Have them memorize John 14:6 to have a ready answer for those who wonder if Jesus is indeed the only way.

Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself, describes Himself as a Gate. He is the passage in which mankind must enter in order to inherit eternal life and enter God’s kingdom. All other ways are deceptive lies of the enemy, Satan. This is a truth with life or death consequences.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 1) – #146

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para descubrir la justificación de la exclusividad del cristianismo.

¡Comencemos!

Juan 10:1-10

«De cierto, de cierto les digo: El que no entra por la puerta al redil de las ovejas, sino que sube por otra parte, ese es ladrón y salteador. Pero el que entra por la puerta es el pastor de las ovejas. El portero le abre la puerta, y las ovejas oyen su voz. Él llama a sus ovejas por su nombre y las saca. Cuando ha sacado a todas las suyas, va delante de ellas, y las ovejas lo siguen porque conocen su voz. Pero a un extraño jamás lo seguirán; al contrario, huirán de él porque no reconocen su voz.» Jesús les contó esta parábola, pero ellos no entendieron lo que les decía. Entonces les dijo de nuevo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo: Yo soy la puerta de las ovejas. Todos los que vinieron antes de mí fueron ladrones y salteadores, pero las ovejas no los escucharon. Yo soy la puerta. El que entre por mí será salvo; entrará y saldrá y hallará pastos. El ladrón solo viene para robar, matar y destruir. Yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia.»

Mis Pensamientos

En Juan 10:1-21, Jesús se describe a sí mismo de tres maneras: una puerta, un pastor y un cordero sacrificial. En la escuela secundaria nos enseñaron a no mezclar metáforas. Al parecer, el mejor narrador de historias de todos los tiempos no recibió ese mensaje. En esta primera parte de una serie de tres, nos centraremos en el aspecto de Jesús como la Puerta.

Jesús usa la metáfora de la puerta para señalar que Él es el único camino para tener una relación correcta con el Padre. Cualquiera que intente entrar por otros medios es considerado malvado, un ladrón y un asaltante. Luego habla del portero que abre la puerta para el pastor. Podemos suponer con seguridad que el Padre es el portero, ya que Él fue quien envió a Jesús para facilitar la entrada al reino de Dios. Pero en esta parte de su relato, dice explícitamente: «Yo soy la puerta». Jesús señala su derecho exclusivo a determinar quién entra y quién no.

A muchos les incomoda la exclusividad del cristianismo. Pero es Jesús mismo quien hace esta afirmación. Él es quien dice: «Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida; nadie viene al Padre sino por mí» (Juan 14:6). Incluso he oído a cristianos decir que esto suena injusto y que no podría ser cierto. Pero el Autor del Camino es quien determina los estándares para la vida eterna, no nosotros.

Toda religión es exclusiva en algún punto. Incluso decir «el cristianismo no puede ser el único camino a Dios» es una declaración exclusiva. Afirmar que algo no es cierto sobre una religión es excluir una verdad esencial de esa religión y, por lo tanto, quien hace esta afirmación es, por naturaleza, excluyente. El problema no es ser exclusivo. El problema radica en qué declaración excluyente es verdadera. Jesús afirma con razón no solo ser excluyente, sino también la verdad misma.

Como hacedores de discípulos, este es el «camino estrecho» que proclamamos, vivimos y en el que guiamos a otros. Buscar ser «inclusivos» para evitar herir sentimientos, conflictos o incluso persecución, es desviar a las personas y negar la fe. Esto no es popular, pero es una verdad fundamental. Jesús es la Puerta, el único camino.

Mi Historia

Cuando era capellán en el ejército, a menudo me hacían preguntas como estas:

«Capellán, ¿acaso no son todas las religiones iguales? Es decir, solo usamos nombres diferentes para referirnos a Dios, ¿no es así?»

O los más hostiles hacían afirmaciones como: «¿Cómo podría un Dios amoroso enviar a un budista o a un musulmán al infierno si simplemente creen en lo que les enseñaron desde pequeños?». O: «Todas las religiones son iguales, solo hay que ser buena persona».

Cuando intentaba explicar que Jesús era el único camino hacia el Padre, la respuesta solía ser incredulidad, enojo y desprecio. Decían algo así como: «Tu Dios es intolerante y cruel».

Entonces, me ponía mi sombrero de narrador y les contaba esta historia:

Ustedes y su pelotón se encuentran ante un campo minado y no hay forma de rodearlo. El jefe de pelotón designa a un jefe de escuadra para que encuentre un camino seguro utilizando técnicas de detección de minas e instruye al resto para que lo sigan de cerca. El jefe de pelotón reitera: «Manténganse justo detrás de él, no se desvíen ni a la izquierda ni a la derecha. Donde él pise, pisen ustedes».

Luego les hacía estas preguntas: «¿Acaso el jefe de pelotón está siendo cruel o irracional?» y «¿Por qué da instrucciones tan precisas y detalladas sobre cómo mantenerse en el camino del jefe de escuadra?».

La mayoría de mis soldados comprendían entonces que, al igual que las instrucciones del jefe de pelotón en una situación muy peligrosa, Jesús intenta salvarnos y no está siendo intolerante. Sus afirmaciones exclusivas como «Yo soy la puerta» no son crueles ni ignorantes. Son las palabras de compasión más verdaderas y sabias que jamás se hayan pronunciado.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienen algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Aquellos a quienes están discipulando creen en la afirmación exclusiva que Jesús hace cuando dice que Él es la puerta?

¿Cómo los están ayudando a responder a los argumentos pluralistas o universalistas?

Pídales que memoricen Juan 14:6 para que tengan una respuesta lista para quienes se preguntan si Jesús es realmente el único camino.

Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, Dios mismo, se describe a sí mismo como una puerta. Él es el camino por el cual la humanidad debe entrar para heredar la vida eterna y entrar en el reino de Dios. Todos los demás caminos son mentiras engañosas del enemigo, Satanás. Esta es una verdad con consecuencias de vida o muerte.

Escritura orgánica – Sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

A Label of Endearment or Derision – #144

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to illuminate the term “disciple.”

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 9:24-34

So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!” “What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?” He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.” “That is remarkable indeed!” the man said. “You do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.” They replied, “You were born in utter sin, and you are instructing us?” And they threw him out.