Chapter

Luke 19:15

ESV When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
NIV "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
NASB When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be summoned to him so that he would learn how much they had made by the business they had done.
CSB "At his return, having received the authority to be king, he summoned those servants he had given the money to, so that he could find out how much they had made in business.
NLT After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.
KJV 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.
NKJV “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

What does Luke 19:15 mean?

In the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27), Jesus compares Himself to a nobleman who must go away to be given a kingship. Before he leaves, the nobleman entrusts ten servants with a mina: a measure of money worth four months' wages. He expects them to invest the money well and make a profit. The newly crowned king returns and calls his servants to account.

The parable of the ten minas is like the parable of the talents, with a few exceptions. One is that Jesus is speaking here to a crowd, not just His disciples. Another is that each servant here receives the same amount—one mina—not different amounts of money. That suggests that this parable is for disciples and those on the fringe, and that they all receive the same treasure.

There is one thing they have all received: proof that Jesus is the Messiah. When He rises from the dead, that proof will be incontrovertible. But then He will leave: He will ascend into heaven (Luke 24:50–53; Acts 1:8–9). What will His listeners do then? Will they accept Him as their king and remain faithful to His charge to expand His kingdom—to symbolically invest their mina? Or will they rebel against His reign (Luke 19:14)?

Jesus spends four verses setting up the story and twelve judging the work of the servants. That's going to make the following commentary very repetitive, but more importantly, it reveals the point Jesus is trying to make. His listeners need to be responsible with the knowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. They need to spread the gospel. When He returns, He will call them to account.

This responsibility highlights the theological concept that the kingdom of God and the kingship of Jesus is "now and not yet." Jesus' birth established the beginning of God's kingdom on earth. When Jesus goes to the cross and rises again, God's kingdom will be sure. The Son of God has broken into the world and done the work needed to save it. But the kingdom will not be fulfilled, and Jesus will not fully reign, until His second coming (Revelation 19:11–16). Until then, His servants need to be faithful to Him.
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