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 19:17 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:17 is part of the Parable of the Pounds, which is a story that Jesus tells to teach a lesson about service and stewardship.

In this verse, a master is addressing one of his servants after returning from a journey.

The servant had been given a small amount of money (referred to as a "very little") to manage while the master was away.

Upon the master's return, it becomes clear that this servant has been industrious and trustworthy, using the money wisely to gain more.

The master commends the servant as "good" and "faithful," rewarding him with authority over ten cities.

The literal meaning is that trustworthy service in small matters leads to greater responsibilities, but the deeper meaning implies a spiritual reward for faithfulness in God's kingdom.

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Historical Context

The Parable of the Pounds is found in the Gospel of Luke, which was written to a Greco-Roman audience sometime around 80-110 A.D.

This parable aligns with the near-eastern custom of rulers traveling to distant lands to receive authority and then returning to reward or punish their servants based on their stewardship.

The historical context suggests that this story was meant to resonate with contemporary understandings of rulership, trust, and accountability.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is interpreted in various ways.

Traditionally, it's seen as an illustration of God rewarding those who are faithful with what He has given them.

Protestant theologians might emphasize the "sola fide" principle, where faith alone ensures justification and reward.

Catholic interpretation might underline the necessity of good works as evidence of one’s faith.

In a broader Christian context, the verse implies that the rewards in heaven (symbolized by the cities) are based on the faithfulness of one's service on earth.

Practical Applications

Practically, Luke 19:17 can be applied in everyday life as a reminder of the virtues of diligence and faithfulness.

It suggests that individuals should be trustworthy in all endeavors, regardless of the perceived magnitude of the task.

Professional life, personal relationships, and spiritual duties can all be seen as areas in which one can exercise stewardship, leading to greater trust and more significant responsibilities.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:21 - "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:23 - "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Luke 16:10 - "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

Language Study

The Greek word for "good" in this verse is "αγαθός" (agathos), which implies moral goodness, virtue, and worthiness.

The word for "faithful" is "πιστός" (pistos), suggesting reliability, trustworthiness, and loyalty.

The term "authority" comes from "εξουσία" (exousia), which denotes power or the right to control and govern.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of rewarding faithfulness with rulership is not unique to Christianity and can be paralleled in various cultures and religions.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, for instance, the afterlife is a place where the faithful are rewarded. In Hinduism, karma implies that one's actions in life affect their fate in future lives, which resonates with the idea of reward based on one’s deeds.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings as it is a moral teaching rather than a factual statement.

It is within the realm of metaphysics and ethics, focusing more on personal behavior and spiritual beliefs, which are outside the scope of scientific inquiry.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse.

Many agree that the focus is on the proper use of the resources God has entrusted to individuals.

John Wesley noted that the reward for faithfulness is proportionate, suggesting a correlation between our actions and our rewards.

Matthew Henry comments on the diligence required in stewardship, while also highlighting the grace of God in giving such responsibilities to flawed humans.

Contemporary commentaries often focus on the application of this parable in modern Christian living, emphasizing the importance of being faithful in all aspects of life.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:17 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 19:17 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?