Luke 19:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

NIV: " ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

NASB: And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave; since you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to have authority over ten cities.’

CSB: "‘Well done, good servant!’ he told him. ‘Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, have authority over ten towns.’

NLT: ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’

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

NKJV: And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

One day, a nobleman called ten of his servants before him. He gave each the equivalent of four-months' wages and told them to invest it wisely, being sure to make a profit. He had to leave for a time, so he could be crowned king. But he would return and reward the servants according to their work (Luke 19:12–14).

The king has returned and calls his servants to report how they have done (Luke 19:15–16). The first servant approaches and shows he took that money, invested it, and made ten times as much as his investment. The king is delighted. Because the servant has shown faithfulness, loyalty, and industry, the king makes him the ruler of ten cities.

This is part of the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27). The nobleman represents Jesus, and the servants are members in the crowd who are following Him. He must leave them—ascend to heaven (Acts 1:8–9)—to be crowned King. In the meantime, each person in the crowd is responsible to carefully handle what He has given them: proof that He is the Messiah. They are to "invest" that understanding by spreading it to others. When He returns to take His rightful place on the throne, He will reward each of His followers accordingly.

Paul talks about this later, applying the concept to the work of Jesus' followers in building the church. Jesus is the foundation. Each person who builds well will be rewarded (1 Corinthians 3:10–15).

Luke 19:11–27 is the final passage of a series of stories about the kingdom of God. In a parable, Jesus explains that He cannot take the kingdom now; He must leave to receive it. His followers will be those who have understanding about His kingship: the gospel. Those who faithfully spread that message will be greatly rewarded. Those who plot against Him will be destroyed. This parable is about responsibility with the gospel; the similar parable of the talents is about responsibility with resources like time and spiritual gifts (Matthew 25:14–30). Next comes the triumphal entry (Luke 19:28–44).

Jesus approaches Jerusalem by way of Jericho. Along the road, he encounters Zacchaeus: an unusually short man and infamous tax collector. Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' invitation and demonstrates humility and repentance. Jesus gives a parable explaining a believer's obligation to encourage the spread of the gospel. Jesus enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, upsetting local Pharisees. As He rides, Jesus weeps to think of the future destruction in store for the city. He once again drives corrupt businessmen from the temple grounds. His enemies are furious, but too afraid of the adoring crowds to take direct action.

Luke 19 finishes the "travelogue of Christ to Jerusalem" and introduces His first actions there (Luke 9:51—19:27). This long passage semi-chronologically records Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the theological reasons why He must go to the cross. It finishes here, in this chapter, with Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the parable of the ten minas. The chapter continues with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem as its king—the triumphal entry. Jesus mourns over Jerusalem, its rejection of their Messiah, and its coming destruction in AD 70. He also cleanses the temple and teaches there. In the next segments, Luke covers the last hours of Jesus' earthly life (Luke 22—23) as well as Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.