Luke 19 14

Luke 19:14 kjv

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Luke 19:14 nkjv

But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'

Luke 19:14 niv

"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

Luke 19:14 esv

But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to reign over us.'

Luke 19:14 nlt

But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We do not want him to be our king.'

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 14 Meaning

This verse describes a segment of the nobleman's subjects who harbored deep-seated animosity towards him. Their hatred was not merely passive dislike but active opposition, leading them to formally and defiantly send a delegation to explicitly state their refusal to accept his reign. This declaration "We will not have this man to reign over us" signifies a direct and outright rejection of his authority and claim to kingship, underscoring their rebellious spirit. In the parable, this foreshadows the rejection of Jesus as King by many in Israel.

Luke 19 14 Context

Luke 19:14 is part of the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), spoken by Jesus as He journeyed towards Jerusalem, near Jericho. The disciples thought the Kingdom of God would immediately appear. Jesus told this parable to correct that misconception and teach about faithful stewardship and delayed return. The nobleman's journey to receive a kingdom mirrors a common historical event in that region, particularly for heirs of Herod the Great, like Archelaus, who had to travel to Rome to secure their authority, often encountering delegations of Jewish citizens who protested against their rule and appealed to Caesar for alternative governance. Within the parable, the actions of "his citizens" reflect a deeply rooted historical reality of subject peoples resisting their designated rulers, especially those they deemed illegitimate or undesirable. For Jesus' audience, this part of the parable would have strongly resonated with contemporary events and Jewish attitudes towards various appointed rulers, implicitly pointing to the broader rejection Jesus Himself faced.

Luke 19 14 Word analysis

• But (ἀλλά - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast or opposition. It emphasizes the immediate shift from the nobleman's journey and commissioning of servants to the citizens' rebellious attitude.
• his citizens (οἱ πολῖται αὐτοῦ - hoi politai autou):
  • Politai (πολῖται): Citizens, fellow-citizens. In this context, subjects of a ruler who share a common city or territory. This term implies a degree of relationship or expectation, making their hatred more poignant. In the parable, these represent the people of Israel who were the rightful subjects of their Messiah.
  • Autou: "of him" or "his," possessive, reinforcing their expected loyalty or relationship to the nobleman.
• hated him (ἐμίσουν αὐτόν - emisoun auton):
  • Emisoun (ἐμίσουν): Imperfect tense of miseo (μισέω), "to hate." The imperfect tense indicates an ongoing or continuous state of hatred, or that the hatred was deeply ingrained and manifested consistently. This was not a temporary grievance but a sustained, profound animosity. This active hatred directly parallels the rejection of Jesus by religious and political leaders in Jerusalem and by segments of the Jewish populace.
  • Auton: "him," referring to the nobleman.
• and sent a message after him (πέμψαντες πρεσβείαν ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ - pempsantes presbeian opiso autou):
  • Pempsantes (πέμψαντες): "having sent," from pempō (πέμπω), to send.
  • Presbeian (πρεσβείαν): An embassy, a delegation, an official message carried by envoys. This is a crucial detail; it's not a mere personal complaint but an organized, formal, and public act of rebellion and rejection. It signifies a collective and defiant political move against the nobleman's authority, much like the delegation of Jews who formally protested Archelaus to Augustus Caesar.
  • Opisō autou: "after him," implying that they sent the delegation to the distant country the nobleman had gone to, directly following him to oppose his installation.
• saying (λέγοντες - legontes): "saying, speaking." Introduces their direct declaration of rebellion.
• We will not have this man to reign over us (Οὐ θέλομεν τοῦτον βασιλεῦσαι ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς - Ou thelomen touton basileusai eph' hemas):
  • Ou thelomen (Οὐ θέλομεν): "We do not wish," "We are not willing," "We refuse." A strong, emphatic negation expressing a determined and unanimous rejection of the nobleman's rule. This reflects the cry "We have no king but Caesar!" during Jesus' trial (Jn 19:15).
  • Touton (τοῦτον): "this man," a demonstrative pronoun which can imply a dismissive or contemptuous tone, highlighting their scorn for his person as well as his claim.
  • Basileusai (βασιλεῦσαι): Infinitive of basileuō (βασιλεύω), "to reign, to be king." The explicit term for ruling as a monarch.
  • Eph' hemas (ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς): "over us," directly asserting their unwillingness to submit to his authority over themselves.

Luke 19 14 Bonus section

The strong imagery of "hatred" and "sending an embassy" against the king directly reflects the spiritual reality of humanity's rebellion against God's sovereign rule, particularly the Jewish leaders' ultimate rejection of Jesus as Messiah and King. This part of the parable explains why, upon the nobleman's return, severe judgment would follow for those rebellious citizens. The explicit choice "We will not have this man to reign over us" reveals a hardened heart and a deliberate preference for self-will or alternative governance over the rightful king. This is a choice that reverberates through all of human history and personal salvation: Will one accept Christ as King, or reject His rightful dominion over their lives?

Luke 19 14 Commentary

Luke 19:14 paints a vivid picture of defiant rejection. It underscores the active, intentional, and widespread opposition faced by the nobleman. This wasn't passive disinterest but a declared hatred culminating in a formal political act of rebellion. The term "his citizens" emphasizes their expected loyalty, making their rebellion all the more treacherous. Historically, this aligns with the known protests by segments of Judea against Roman-appointed rulers like Archelaus. Allegorically, it deeply foreshadows the experience of Jesus, the true King, who was not only rejected by many of His own people—leading to His crucifixion and their plea for Caesar's rule—but also continues to be actively opposed by those unwilling to submit to His Lordship today. The parable thus serves as a stark warning about the consequences of such rebellious rejection.