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 19:23 mean?

Explanation

Luke 19:23 recounts a statement made by the nobleman (often interpreted as Jesus) in the Parable of the Minas.

In this parable, a nobleman gives money to his servants before going on a journey, with instructions to engage in business until he returns.

Upon his return, he calls the servants to account for what they have done with the money.

Two servants report that they have made significant gains with the funds, while a third servant explains that he kept the money safe by hiding it, earning nothing in the process.

The verse in question is a rebuke from the nobleman to the unprofitable servant.

The nobleman scolds the servant for not depositing the money with the bankers so that the nobleman could have received his money back with interest (usury) upon his return.

The literal meaning of the verse underscores the importance of taking initiative and the expectation that one should increase what is given to them.

The deeper meaning reflects on accountability, stewardship, and the consequences of inaction in matters entrusted to us.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written in the 1st century, likely between 60 and 85 AD, when the Roman Empire was the dominant power.

During that time, it was common for wealthy individuals to entrust their money to servants or to put it in the care of bankers for safekeeping or for it to earn interest.

Usury, or charging interest on loans, was a widely practiced economic principle, although it was viewed differently across various cultures and religions.

The parable was conveyed in a context that would be familiar to Jesus' audience, involving ordinary financial transactions and expectations regarding the handling of money.

The fact that the nobleman expects a return on his investment indicates a society familiar with the principles of investment and return on capital.

Theological Insights

Interpreters of this verse from different theological traditions may emphasize varying aspects:

Traditional Christian interpretations often view the parable as a lesson on spiritual stewardship, with the 'minas' or money symbolizing the gifts and opportunities God gives to individuals.
The expectation of earning interest is correspondingly seen as a metaphor for the spiritual and personal growth that God expects from his followers.
Some theologians propose that the parable teaches about the urgency of the Kingdom of God and the need for readiness and faithful service in anticipation of Christ's return.
A more critical or social justice-oriented perspective might examine the ethical implications of usury and wealth accumulation, reflecting on the role of money and economic systems within Christian ethics.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, the lesson from Luke 19:23 inspires individuals to:

Make use of the resources and gifts they have been given, rather than keeping them idle.
Approach life and opportunities with an active, rather than passive, mindset.
Uphold responsibility and accountability in one's personal and spiritual life.
Engage in endeavors that will produce growth or benefit, rather than avoiding risk altogether.

Cross-References

Matthew 25:27 - "Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury."
Matthew 13:12 - "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."
Proverbs 13:22 - "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "bank" is "τράπεζαν" (trapezan), which refers to a table or a counter, such as that used by money-changers or bankers.

The term "usury" comes from "τόκον" (tokon), meaning interest or profit made by lending money. The use of these terms reflects the financial practices of the time and provides a realistic element to the parable.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be made with other ancient practices and religious interpretations:

In ancient cultures, such as Greece and Rome, banking and charging interest were common, though sometimes viewed with skepticism.
In Judaism, the Law of Moses set strict rules about charging interest, particularly between fellow Israelites (Exodus 22:25).
Some ancient myths and folktales from various cultures revolve around the idea of investing one's resources wisely or suffering the consequences of laziness or fear.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern economics and finance draw distinctions between usury, which has come to mean exorbitant or immoral interest rates, and reasonable interest that compensates for inflation, risk, and the time value of money.

Scientific perspectives might also examine the psychological factors that lead to risk-aversion and the socioeconomic factors that determine how wealth is generated and distributed in society.

Commentaries

Commentators offer diverse insights on this verse:

Many agree that the nobleman represents Jesus and the servants represent His followers; the parable is a call to faithful service and wise stewardship.
Some highlight the harshness of the nobleman's rebuke as indicative of the severe consequences of failing to use God's gifts wisely.
Others draw attention to the cultural norms of the time regarding investments and returns and how Jesus uses these familiar concepts to teach spiritual lessons.
A few commentators discuss the ethical implications of usury, acknowledging that while it was commonplace in the ancient world, the Bible often speaks critically of exploitative financial practices.

Luke 19

Luke 19

What does Luke 19:23 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 19:23 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?