Luke 19 and the views of Dr David Wood and Sam Harris

 I was watching a video by David Wood at YouTube, and I have included it at the end of this post. Around the six-minute mark, Dr Wood discusses the dishonesty of Sam Harris. Sam Harris points to Luke 19:11-27 to prove that Jesus wanted His disciples to slay His enemies in front of Him. Dr. Wood then goes on to explain that Luke 19:11-27 is a parable. It is commonly known as the Parable of the Ten Minas. It tells the story of a king who rewards or punishes his servants based on their service. Dr. Wood points out that the parable is based on a true story. I don't dispute that at all. It is probably inspired, at least in part, by the life of Herod Archelaus, the son of Herod the Great. As David Wood says in the video, after Herod the Great died, Herod Archelaus went to Rome. He went there to be granted part of his father's kingdom by Caesar Augustus. The subjects of Archelaus had rebelled against him and did not want him to rule over them. After receiving his kingdom from Caesar Augustus, Archelaus returned to Judea and Samaria and had his enemies executed in front of him.

Sam Harris uses Luke 19 to attack Jesus and Christianity. Did Sam Harris deliberately mislead his audience? Or was he unaware that he was quoting a parable that was quite possibly based on history? I understand David Wood's argument that the parable is based on historical events. I am aware of the history, and I know that Dr. Wood is right -- at least up to a point. Sam Harris is either dishonest or ignorant. Neither one reflects well on Sam Harris. But what of Dr. Wood? Does he see the full picture? I don't think he does.

I think Sam Harris is right about something in this matter. The enemies of Jesus are in trouble. The parable is historical, but it also points to events that will happen at the end of this age. In the Book of Revelation, we are told Jesus will rule with a rod, or scepter, of iron. I used to wonder why that was necessary, and I found it a little frightening. However, as I look at the world Jesus is coming back to, I can see why a rod of iron is necessary. The violence and lawlessness is already out of control, but it is going to get worse. People believe they can lie, kill, steal, rape, torture, and destroy with no consequences. We are like a planet filled with senseless, remorseless, rabid animals. How can such a planet be ruled without a rod of iron? 

Revelation 19:14-16, "The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

Jesus is not coming back as meek and mild Jesus. I'm not so sure meek-and-mild Jesus ever existed. 

We see Jesus separating the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46. It may be a parable, but it is speaking of actual future events -- even if there might be some historical context. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Parables and apocalyptic prophecy may be filled with symbols and various figures of speech, but they are always pointing to underlying realities. 

Judgment is coming. The world is dark and growing darker. Jesus will return, separate the "sheep and the goats," and rule this messed up planet with a rod of iron until every last enemy has been put down. Psalm 110:1 and Acts 2:34-35, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Malachi 4:2-3 speaks about this great day of the LORD's anger as well. "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.

I am no longer frightened by the thought of Jesus ruling with a rod of iron. I'd be frightened if He didn't. I feel no need to make excuses for God's anger toward what is happening in our world. I'm angry about it too. Allowing people to do whatever they want has not worked out so well.