“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”
My Notes
What Does Luke 19:27 Mean?
Jesus concludes the parable of the minas (pounds) with a severe statement from the nobleman-king: bring those enemies who would not have me reign over them and slay them before me. The parable's king judges those who rejected his authority.
The parable is about a nobleman who goes to receive a kingdom and returns to settle accounts. The servants who invested were rewarded. The servant who hid his mina was rebuked. And the citizens who sent a message saying 'we will not have this man to reign over us' face the severest consequence.
The slaying represents the final judgment on those who actively reject Christ's reign. It is not about earthly political violence. It is about the ultimate consequence of refusing the King's authority — a parabolic description of eternal judgment.
The verse is uncomfortable because it attributes lethal judgment to a figure representing Jesus. But the discomfort is the point: rejecting the King has consequences. The parable does not soften the reality that the one who offers grace also executes judgment on those who refuse it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the parable presenting Jesus as both gracious and judging challenge one-dimensional views of him?
- 2.What does 'would not that I should reign' describe about the nature of the rejection?
- 3.How is the judgment on the refusing citizens different from the rebuke of the unfaithful servant?
- 4.Where might you be saying 'I will not have this man reign over me' in practice if not in words?
Devotional
Those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. The parable ends not with a gentle conclusion but with a king executing judgment on those who rejected his reign.
Would not that I should reign. The rejection is specific: they did not want this king ruling over them. Not ignorance — refusal. Not inability — unwillingness. They knew who he was and said no.
The parable is about Jesus — the nobleman who goes to receive a kingdom (the ascension) and returns to settle accounts (the second coming). The servants represent believers who steward what they are given. The citizens represent those who actively refuse his authority.
The judgment on the refusing citizens is the most severe element of the parable. The servants who were unfaithful lost rewards. The citizens who refused the king lost everything.
This is the part of the gospel that modern presentations often omit: the King who offers grace also renders judgment. The invitation is real. The rejection has consequences. The one who says 'come unto me' also says 'bring those enemies.'
The choice is not between a gracious Jesus and a judging Jesus. Both are the same person. The grace is offered first. The judgment comes for those who refuse it. And the refusal — 'we will not have this man reign over us' — is the most consequential decision a person can make.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And when he had thus spoken,.... When he had delivered the above parable, in order to remove the prejudices of his…
For I say ... - These are the words of the “nobleman” declaring the principles on which he would distribute the rewards…
Those - enemies - bring hither - the Jews, whom I shall shortly slay by the sword of the Romans.
Our Lord Jesus is now upon his way to Jerusalem, to his last passover, when he was to suffer and die; now here we are…
mine enemies They had once been -citizens," Luk 19:14.
slay them before me Archelaus had similarly put some of his…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture