Luke 19

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

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

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.

And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,

Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.

And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.

And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?

And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.

And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;

Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

What does Luke 19:12 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 19:12 appears in the New Testament within the context of a parable told by Jesus to his disciples.

It is the opening line of the Parable of the Ten Minas, where a nobleman goes to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. This parable illustrates several themes such as responsibility, stewardship, and the consequences of one's actions.

The nobleman represents Jesus Himself, who left heaven (the far country) to establish His kingdom on Earth through His ministry, death, and resurrection, and who will return again in glory.

The kingdom in this parable represents the realm of spiritual dominion and salvation over which Christ reigns.

The verse sets up the expectation that the nobleman (Christ) will return and hold his servants accountable for how they managed what he entrusted to them in his absence.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, it was not uncommon for people of noble birth to travel to the capital of the empire, Rome, to be officially granted authority over regions or kingdoms.

They would then return to their domains with the legal and political power to rule.

The audience of Jesus, being familiar with this practice, would understand the setting of the parable and its implications.

Furthermore, the historical context of this verse can also reference the life of Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, who went to Rome to receive the authority to rule over Judea. The listeners might have drawn parallels between the story told by Jesus and actual political events of their times.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives can be drawn from this verse:

Evangelical Perspective: It emphasizes the sovereignty of Christ as king.

It views the nobleman's journey as a representation of Jesus' ascension and His second coming.

Catholic Perspective: It might stress the interim period between Christ's ascension and second coming as a time for the Church to steward the teachings of Christ faithfully.
Liberal Theology: This viewpoint may see the story as a call to social action, suggesting that one's value to the kingdom of God is related to one's productivity and usefulness to society.
Reformed Theology: This approach would underline the doctrine of election, suggesting that the nobleman knew whom he chose for the tasks and what outcomes could be expected from them.

Practical Applications

This verse invites the reader to consider how they are using their talents and resources while waiting for Christ's return. It calls for active engagement in one's faith:

Stewardship: Followers of Jesus are encouraged to use their abilities and opportunities for the advancement of God's kingdom.
Vigilance: The belief in the eventual return of Christ prompts Christians to live with moral urgency and integrity.
Accountability: There is a clear implication that everyone will be held accountable for their actions and how they handle what has been entrusted to them.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:14-30: The Parable of the Talents has similar themes of stewardship and accountability.
Mark 13:34-37: A parable about a man going away and leaving his house in the care of his servants, commanding the doorkeeper to watch.
Acts 1:9-11: The Ascension of Jesus and the promise of His return.

Language Study

"Nobleman" (Greek: εὐγενής, eugenes): Implies someone of noble birth or royal lineage.
"Far country": Indicating not just geographical distance but also a separation between the current realm and the place of authority.
"Kingdom" (Greek: βασιλεία, basileia): In the context of the New Testament, refers often to the reign or authority of a king, and by extension, the rule of God through Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the broader spectrum of ancient literature, the theme of a hero leaving and returning with greater power or revelation is common.

This motif is paralleled in myths (such as the Epic of Gilgamesh) where the main character undertakes a journey that transforms them.

In terms of religious interpretations, other traditions also use parables or stories to convey moral or spiritual truths, similar to the teaching method of Jesus in this passage.

Scientific Perspectives

The parable reflects human understanding of authority and governance rather than making specific claims about the natural world.

Therefore, the verse does not intersect directly with scientific inquiries but can still be examined through the lens of human psychology and sociology in understanding leadership, responsibility, and group dynamics.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on Luke 19:12:

John Calvin: He mentioned the importance of recognizing Christ's kingdom is not of this world but that He reigns in the hearts of men until He returns.
Matthew Henry: He underscored the duty of making the best use of what we are entrusted with while anticipating the return of our Lord.
William Barclay: Barclay highlighted the element of trust the nobleman placed in his servants and the importance of recognizing the opportunity to serve.
**N.T.

Wright**: Wright sees the parable as a challenge to the contemporary beliefs about the nature and timing of God's kingdom and a critique of passive waiting.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 19:12 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?