July 14, 2026 · David Farmer
For Us
“He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’”
Luke 19:12-14 →
## A Far Country
Luke 19:11 showed us how Jesus doesn’t leave us in the dark. He includes us. He doesn’t let us go on in false beliefs. Because the disciples thought the Kingdom of God was to appear immediately, He told them a parable involving patience in delay. Jesus told parables to explain something about the nature of heaven. Often there is a king representing God, or someone representing us, or something of worth representing heaven itself. Looking at who’s who in this, the “nobleman” is of course Jesus. The “citizens” who rejected Him are most likely the Jewish rulers. His “servants” are believers who followed Him. Lastly, He was here on earth, gained a following of servants, and went away for a time promising to return. So it appears the “far country” is the place of heaven.
## Receiving the Kingdom
On “receiving a kingdom”, we could understand that to be the kingdom of heaven. He was already there in the Glory of His Father before the world existed (John 17:5) before He came to earth. Jesus was “in the Form of God” and “in human form”; possessing “equality with God” (Philippians 2:5-11). But Paul specifically teaches this order: after “death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him”. That word “therefore” hangs the causality of the following words on the previous words. Jesus said, “The Father has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22), “because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:27).
It was after He paid for the sins of the world that He was given the Throne of His Father. He went into a far country and received the Kingdom. Hebrews 9 says Christ entered “into heaven itself” and “appears in the presence of God on our behalf” (9:24). “When Christ had offered [Himself] a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time” (10:12-13). Waiting for what? “When the Son of Man comes in His Glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31).
## Self-Check
Maybe you’re noticing the distinction Jesus makes between a far country and the kingdom He went there to receive. Small differentiation but what’s the difference in the place of heaven and the kingdom of heaven? We are. It seems He went into the place of heaven to receive the kingdom of heaven...after He paid for my sins. We are the whole reason He bothered coming to earth; because He loved us!
## The One Who Accrues Interest