Luke 19:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

NIV: Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

NASB: And so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?’

CSB: why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’

NLT: why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

KJV: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

NKJV: Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

Jesus' parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27) is a study in what people do with the understanding that He is the Christ. The "mina" the ten servants receive is basically the gospel. Two servants, who readily accept that their master will be king, invest their treasure wisely and earn great returns—they spread the gospel widely and bring many into God's kingdom. The third servant hides his treasure, afraid of losing what he has.

Here, the king is angry with the third servant. The very least the servant should have done is earn interest on the money. His inaction proves he is not loyal to the king. He has no place in the kingdom. The mina he was given is taken from him and given to the more loyal servant (Luke 19:24).

Jesus' audience has seen or at least heard of His miracles—how He heals and drives out demons. They understand on some level that He is the King of the Jews and/or the Messiah. Jesus is warning them they need to be responsible with that information between His ascension and His second coming. They need to spread the gospel and expand the kingdom of God. If they don't, they prove to love what little treasure they have more than Him. This is the case of the Pharisees and many of the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' era (John 12:37–43). They understand who Jesus is, but they won't accept it. They forfeit rewards in eternity for human praise.

Jesus isn't asking us all to be great evangelists, just as the king didn't expect every servant to earn tenfold on their investments. The least the servant could have done is put the money in the bank and earn interest. The least we can do is accept Jesus as our Savior, let our changed life reflect our faith, and be ready with an answer as to why we have hope (1 Peter 3:15).

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.