But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. But his citizens hated him, sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
It is a great misconception of this parable to confound these "citizens" with the "servants." The one repudiate all subjection to Him; the other, not excepting the unfaithful one, acknowledge Him as Master. By the "citizens" historically are here meant the Jews as a nation, who were Christ's "own," as "King of the Jews," but who expressly repudiated Him in this character, saying, "We have no king but Cesar" (John 19:15.) But generally, and in Christendom, this class comprehends all infidel, open rejecters of Christ and Christianity, as distinguished from professed Christians.