Luke 19:27 - You're not gonna like this . . .

"But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ " (Luke 19:27, NIV)

Jesus told the parable of the minas to those who criticized him for being the guest of Zacchaeus. This verse is found at the end of this parable.

The hearers are those who should have been able to recognize who Jesus was and receive him gladly. Yet, they rejected him as their Messiah and King.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made a similar statement, although before today I never put these two together. In Matthew 7:23 Jesus states that in the final judgment there will be some to whom he says "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (NIV) Again this will be said not to overt sinners but to religious people who did things in Jesus' name.

Two questions come to mind. First, do I accept Jesus' right and authority to be King and act accordingly? Second, are the things I do in response to my relationship with Jesus or am I out doing my own thing in Jesus' name?

Honesty demands that I acknowledge that while I do seek relationship and seek to respond based upon that relationship, my fallen self asserts itself more often than I would like. These verses serve as a reminder to the result that giving self free rein will bring. Self brings heartache and separation. Selflessness brings relationship. "The first shall be last . . . "