Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 19:14

"But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us." — Luke 19:14 (ASV)

But his citizens. His subjects, or the people whom he desired to rule.

Hated him. Because of his character and their fear of oppression. This was, in fact, the case regarding Archelaus, the Jewish prince, who went to Rome to be confirmed in his kingdom.

Sent a message, saying... His discontented subjects, fearing the nature of his reign, sent an embassy to protest his appointment as ruler. This actually happened. Archelaus went to Rome to seek confirmation from Augustus for his title to reign over the part of Judea that his father, Herod the Great, had left him.

The Jews, knowing his character , sent an embassy of fifty to Rome to persuade Augustus not to grant him the title, but they were unsuccessful. He received the kingdom and reigned in Judea in his father's place.

Since this event was fresh in the memory of the Jews, it made the parable particularly striking. Through this part of it, Christ intended to signify that the Jews would reject Him—the Messiah—and would say that they did not desire Him to reign over them .

In the same way, it is true of all sinners that they do not wish Jesus to reign over them; if it were possible, they would cast Him off and never submit to His reign.