This kingdom is in our midst but it is not what we thought, or are still thinking today. It is more about the presence of Jesus and his approaching crucifixion in Jerusalem. In fact, in describing the kingdom of God, Jesus used parables that described, not so much its physical nature but more the nature of the king and his citizens. For us who have put our faith in Christ Jesus it is a present reality. This becomes increasingly clear in the parables Jesus tells. 

In telling the parable of the ten minas, Jesus of Nazareth made this statement about the business of the kingdom of God:

Calling ten of his servants, [a nobleman] gave them ten minas, and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.” Luke 19:13 ESV

Jesus tells this parable “because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately” (Luke 19:11 ESV). What did he mean by this and what does it mean for us? What is this kingdom? How does this parable shed light on our understanding of this kingdom? And, going deeper, what exactly is the business of the kingdom of God?

To answer these questions in any thorough form, we should take in the whole range of parables and teaching that Jesus has given in the preceding chapters of Luke’s gospel account.

What is the kingdom of God?

Both the gospel writers, Matthew and Luke, recognise that Jesus’ teaching heavily emphasised the nearness of the kingdom of God:

Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ Luke 10:8-11 ESV

Regardless of circumstance or response, Jesus instructed his disciples to declare that the kingdom of God was near. Jesus’ hearers would have been more than pleased to hear this for they had been longing for it. They longed for the kingdom to come and to remove the oppression of the Roman empire from their lives. But while it is near, very near, he is at pains to alert them to their mistaken misunderstanding:

“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20,21 ESV

This kingdom is in our midst but it is not what we thought, or are still thinking today. It is more about the presence of Jesus and his approaching crucifixion in Jerusalem. In fact, in describing the kingdom of God, Jesus used parables that described, not so much its physical nature but more the nature of the king and his citizens.

For us who have put our faith in Christ Jesus it is a present reality. This becomes increasingly clear in the parables Jesus tells. But what also becomes clear is that it seems to be about money! Or at the very least it is about our sense of responsibility towards our king’s possessions. It is about the business of the kingdom of God. Let’s look at a few of these parables each in turn.

Responsibility in the Kingdom of God

Understanding the parable of the ten minas.

Returning to the parable of the ten minas, the nobleman in question gave a mina to each of his ten servants.

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