Luke 19:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

NIV: "His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

NASB: And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

CSB: "So he said to him, ‘You will be over five towns.’

NLT: ‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’

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

NKJV: Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

The parable of the ten minas is an allegory for how Jesus will reward His followers when His kingdom is established on earth (Luke 19:11–27). He describes Himself as a nobleman who must leave to be crowned king of the territory he rules. The nobleman gives ten servants one mina each and orders them to invest it wisely and make him a profit. Later, the newly crowned king returns to his kingdom and calls his servants. How did they fare?

The first does an incredible job, making ten minas. The king grants him ten cities to rule over. This second servant also does very well. He took the one mina and made five. The king gives him authority over five cities.

Jesus tells this parable because the crowd He's surrounded by believes their march to Jerusalem for Passover will inaugurate Jesus' kingdom: His reign over the Jews. They don't understand He is marching toward His death on the cross, which is necessary for Him to be made King. Then He will have to leave for His coronation (Luke 24:50–53).

Until He returns, they need to take what He has given them—understanding that faith in Him saves—and invest it in other people. He's more explicit right before He ascends to heaven:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Those who spread the gospel will be rewarded.

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.