Did Jesus Command All Unbelievers To Be Killed?

Tough Questions for Christians #11-

Killing All Unbelievers

Here, AZ quotes Luke 19:27, where Jesus is quoting the nobleman in his parable of the minas, “As for those enemies of mine, come and slay them in my presence.” AZ mentions that it doesn’t matter whether Jesus is speaking for himself or God, the point is, Jesus is commanding that all unbelievers be killed.

This is another case where a broader understanding of Jesus’ teaching would nix the question before it is asked. There are two parables being told, the familiar one about the nobleman leaving his servants with money which they were supposed to invest. The second, however, isn’t as well known because the Matthew version (“parable of the talents”) is more familiar to us. This is about the nobleman attempting to be the rightful king over his country and his own countrymen denying him his right. At the end of this, he has those who opposed him slaughtered. This seems really harsh, and this is the point—the nobleman is supposed to be harsh, unyielding, to make Jesus’ point.

First of all, the timing of this final scene of the parable is clearly judgment day after Jesus’ return. The nobleman left for a time and then returned. At the time of his return, he first judges his servants for their faithfulness. Then he turns to those who opposed him who should have supported him and he has them sent to hell. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to any reader of the NT.

What does come as a surprise, both to AZ and most Christians, is that it is not unbelievers that are destroyed like this. Rather, those of “his own nation” who did not accept him as king. Matthew has a similar passage when he quotes, “"I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 8:11-12). It could easily be about the Jewish people who rejected Jesus’ kingship, but “sons of the kingdom” isn’t exclusive to that. It also includes those who deny Jesus’ lordship in the Christian church, whether in word or deed. There will be many surprises on the final day as to who is in and who is out. Many who feel confident in their shallow belief will find themselves weeping, while others who perhaps never considered themselves believers will be welcomed in the kingdom.