Luke 19:15, commentary and pictures

When he returned having received the kingdom he called the servants to whom he had given the money to learn how much each had gained by trading. The money is all that the Lord lends men to improve — life and every physical, mental and moral power, means, influence and every natural and spiritual advantage — and it remains His own entrusted capital, so no gain is possible without His first deposit. Trading means putting what was entrusted to diligent, fruitful use for His glory and the good and salvation of others, rather than hiding, wasting or spending it for self. At His return He examines each servant individually for what was entrusted and its increase, expecting returns proportionate to what each received and judging according to faithfulness rather than size of gift. Faithful, diligent service brings His commendation, reward and increased trust, while neglect and burying of the gift brings loss and eternal separation.

Return and Reckoning

The verse depicts the nobleman returned having received the kingdom commanding the 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. The money is the capabilities and powers the Lord lends to men to improve, and all are to exercise physical, mental, and moral powers as faithful stewards, knowing an account of stewardship must be rendered in the day when every man will be judged. The reckoning exposes the servant with the one pound who charges his lord with being austere and hard, taking up where he laid not down and reaping where he did not sow. That accusation comes from an avaricious spirit, a claimed discernment that distrusts those doing service for God and is jealous of God, projecting the servant's own ungenerous and unjust character onto a Lord who in mercy and love entrusted the gift to him, showing he does not know the Lord, and the principles that lead him to rob God of His entrusted gift make him ungenerous and lead him to covet what is not his own. Servants are accountable for how they use what the Lord gives them, and their stewardship is assessed at his return.

It tells what Christ expects of His disciples during His absence, which they would not fully understand until after His resurrection and ascension, when after the descent of the Holy Spirit His words would be brought to their remembrance with thrilling power. It means servants cannot remain slothful but must work, watching their opportunity to represent the truth to others and win souls to Jesus Christ. They had seed sown in them by a divine hand and were to cultivate that seed by exercising their God-given powers, heeding all the light and instruction given, and being doers of the Word. By thus wisely improving their capabilities while working in His moral vineyard they would become doubled, and by wearing the yoke of Christ and lifting and bearing His burdens which seemed heavy they would find the yoke easy and the burden light. The more they exercise their talents the greater will be their increase of capability, and unless the seed sown struggles above the soil springing up into life it will lose all its power to germinate, so the lesson of the reckoning is the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The time before Christ comes is the opportunity to use these gifts for God's glory and to trade with the Lord's money, building day by day and hour by hour for the last great day. As responsible beings people work for time and for eternity, making their records in the books of heaven and preparing their own reward or punishment. The entrusted talents and other resources belong to the Master, not the servants, and must be used rather than hoarded or wasted. There is no second probation and expecting another opportunity is fatal delusion, for when that opportunity ends the account is fixed. When Christ returns having received the kingdom He calls each servant individually to account for what was entrusted and examines what each has gained through its use, whether improved or abused, and reward or punishment is proportionate to the results and to work, for Christ expects results from every one.

Gifts Entrusted to Servants

The money is the capabilities and powers the Lord lends to men to improve, and life itself with every physical, mental, and moral power is lent by God to be exercised as faithful stewardship unto the day of account. Money, ability, and influence are part of that entrustment, to be put to use in spreading the light of truth to those in darkness rather than hidden away. Houses, lands, and means belong to the Lord and are given to advance His work and kingdom, and spiritual advantages likewise are given to be developed and returned to Him with increase. Every natural advantage is a talent, and responsibility is proportionate to what was received, with greater gifts bringing greater responsibility.

All the goods, talents, and resources belong to the Master and not to the servants, for they are loans to be used for God's glory and the good of others rather than hoarded, wasted, or turned to selfish purposes. The capital is advanced by the Lord, so no gain could be made without the first deposit and no interest without the principal, and success in trading comes from Him. The faithful servant therefore takes no credit but gives all praise and glory to the Lord.

To every man talents are given in trust and to every man his work, so there are no idlers in His vineyard and none is excused. The entrustment is not reserved for a favored few exalted in education or intellect, but extends individually from the lowliest and most obscure to those in highest positions of trust. The amounts differ, from one pound to five, according to varied capabilities and abilities, and accountability is proportionate to what each received. The ability to write and the means gained through it are among these entrusted talents, to be used wisely to advance God's cause.

Every gift is to be appreciated and put to the very best use, with mind, soul, and strength controlled by the Holy Spirit. So used, human character is molded after the divine similitude in harmony and cooperation with God's appointed agencies as laborers together with God. Right trading upon what is entrusted gives increased power and peace in Christ, while failure to connect with Him and use the gifts robs God.

Faithful Trading Required

Trading in the parable means no servant may remain slothful, but each must diligently work and watch for opportunity, putting what was entrusted to fruitful use rather than hiding, hoarding, wasting, burying, or neglecting it. The reckoning examines what each gained by that use, and expects increase from what was lent. Gifts and abilities are not to be left unused, but are to be put wisely to work in service suited to each person and increased for God's glory.

Faithful trading is earnest, faithful work for the good of others and the saving of souls. It is representing the truth to others and winning souls, making Christ known and ministering to others. Money, ability, and influence are to be used to spread the light of truth to those in darkness, so that people are brought to the knowledge of the truth.

The trust must be used in the Master's interests, for His glory and the advancement of His work and kingdom. Houses, lands, money, talents, and goods are loans to be used for God and the good of others, not for self-glory, selfish desires, selfish advantage, needless luxury, or indulgence of impulses. To turn the benefits of the trust to selfish advantage perverts it and diverts it from God's work.

Trading requires seeking God in prayer for His wisdom. It requires heeding all the light and instruction given and being doers of the Word. The servants have seed sown in them by a divine hand, and they are to cultivate that seed by exercising their God-given powers while working in His moral vineyard, until their capabilities are doubled. By thus wearing the yoke of Christ and lifting and bearing His burdens, they find the yoke easy and the burden light.

The lesson of the reckoning is the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and knowledge. Each must improve in character and ability according to privileges and opportunities, and cannot trifle with time, privileges, and opportunities. The trading required is faithful use of opportunities for service and for development of Christian character, obeying the known will of God, seeking to benefit and bless those needing help and encouragement, and helping in the work of salvation. It includes learning to appreciate the daily work of purifying and refining and sanctification, and to sense the worth of souls.

Any gain depends first on what He provides, for the capital is advanced by the Lord, so no gain could be made without the first deposit and no interest without the principal. Success in trading comes from Him. Diligent trading therefore earns no personal merit, and the faithful servant takes no credit to himself but gives all praise and glory to the Lord.

As servants impart to others, they receive more richly. The more they exercise their talents the greater will be their increase of capability and usefulness. Well-used gifts, however small, can produce further service and further gifts, and the light God gives multiplies when it is shared. Unless the seed sown struggles above the soil springing up into life, it will lose all its power to germinate.

Judgment According to Faithfulness

When the Master returns having received the kingdom He calls each servant individually to be reckoned with for the money entrusted to him, to learn how much every man has gained by trading. The examination bears on whether what was lent has been improved or abused, and each must answer not for the original trust alone but for the original with its increase. The time before He comes is the opportunity to use the gifts for His glory, and when that opportunity ends the account is fixed and reward or punishment is proportionate to the results.

The Chief Shepherd Himself is Judge, and the reckoning is regulated by the rule that His servants are justified by faith and judged by their works. Faith works by love and purifies the soul of moral defilement that it may become a temple for the Lord, so a profession of faith alone has no value as evidence of genuine faith and genuine love is shown by works. Having a name on the church books does not secure entrance into the kingdom of heaven. The trading required is faithful use of opportunities for service and for development of Christian character, obeying the known will of God, seeking to benefit and bless those who need help and encouragement, helping in the work of salvation, appreciating the daily work of purifying and refining and sanctification, and sensing the worth of souls for whom Christ died.

God holds every person responsible and expects returns proportionate to what each received, and just as surely as His Word is given He will require His own with usury from every human being. He does not demand three talents from one given one, but neither does He accept the talent merely returned unused. Tithes put into His treasury besides gifts and offerings are His own entrusted property given to trade upon in co-partnership with Him, and those who refuse to connect with their Maker, to serve and trade upon His gifts, to exercise frugality and self-denial, and to render His own, disregard His charge and are unfaithful stewards who will not long have the blessing of what was entrusted. A faithful steward does all he possibly can with the one object of giving the message of truth not only in his own neighborhood but in regions beyond, and where that spirit is cherished the love of the truth and sanctification through the truth banish avarice, overreaching, and every species of dishonesty.

Each is judged according to faithfulness and not the size of the gift, for God asks each to use what he has and not what he lacks. Responsibility for this work belongs to the individual and cannot be transferred to another or taken over by human judgment. Faithfulness in small opportunities determines the reward, and the work of a servant with one talent is as valuable to God as that of one with five. The servant who hid his single talent neglected the work he could have done, and greater endowment would not have changed his unfaithfulness.

Reward corresponds to zeal, faithfulness, and success in using the trust of means and influence until He comes. Faithful, diligent, and honest service brings the Master's commendation and reward, and the talents of those who trust and serve Him are increased, while burying or withholding a gift produces no gain. The return required is measured according to what was entrusted, and these loans are to be used for God's glory and the good of others and to advance Christ's work and save souls, not for selfish purposes. Honest work for the Lord increases usefulness, blesses the servant, brings glory to God, and helps save souls, while neglecting gifts, means, and opportunities causes loss of what could have grown and can end in eternal separation from God. The slothful servant hoarded his pound and lost his soul, and the one who does nothing to help is in perilous condition.

The reckoning exposes the servant with the one pound who charges his lord with being austere and hard, taking up where he laid not down and reaping where he did not sow. That accusation comes from an avaricious spirit, a claimed discernment that distrusts those doing service for God and is jealous of God, projecting the servant's own ungenerous and unjust character onto a Lord who in mercy and love entrusted the gift to him. His words show he does not know the Lord, and the principles that lead him to rob God of His entrusted gift make him ungenerous and lead him to covet what is not his own. Through living faith humanity can lay hold of Christ's divinity, and that faith brings divine power to overcome evil, temper, disposition, and unbelief. Through Christ's grace consecrated service can develop and increase talents, with greater gifts bringing greater responsibility, so every natural advantage is to be used diligently for God's glory and not for selfish purposes.

Stewardship of Means Applied

The reckoning is a call to account for money entrusted, and it lays on those with wealth the duty to put their means to work for God while they live, so that principal and interest can be returned to Him; to use it in His cause in this life is their own appointed work, not work to be left for their children to do. Every person is to examine what is being done with the Lord's talents and to bring tithes into His treasury, besides gifts and abundant willing offerings as prospered, for tithes, gifts, and offerings are His own property lent to men to trade upon in co-partnership with Him. The capital is advanced by the Lord, so no gain could be made without the first deposit and no interest without the principal, and success in trading comes from Him, leaving the faithful servant no credit to himself but all praise and glory to the Lord.

Means in men's hands are talents of means to be traded to build up and advance His work where the field is in greatest need, including giving to support institutions such as sanitariums and bringing offerings at once to relieve His suffering institutions. Hiding them in a napkin and burying them diverts them into channels that bind them away from where they are needed, taking them away from the work and cause of God. Trading with the Master's goods means using entrusted means productively for the Lord's work, and His later reckoning examines what those gifts accomplished.

All such misappropriation and embezzling of the Lord's goods He sees with displeasure, He will not sanction and prosper work carried on in that way, and His curse follows all such selfish planning and devising. Slothfulness in using what belongs to Him and selfishness in withholding it retard His work. No one is compelled to present tithe, gifts, and offerings, yet those who refuse to connect with their Maker, to give themselves to His service and trade upon His entrusted gifts, who fail to exercise frugality and self-denial, forget that He requires a return of what He gave, disregard His charge and are unfaithful in rendering His own, are unfaithful stewards and will not long keep the blessing of what was entrusted.

A faithful steward does all he possibly can in God's service with the one object of giving the message of truth not only in his own neighborhood but in regions beyond, and where that spirit is cherished the love of the truth and the sanctification received through it banish avarice, overreaching, and every kind of dishonesty. Rightly employing property has eternal consequences, and even a small amount is accepted because it is placed in Christ's hands in the person of His afflicted brethren. Those in responsible positions are to set the example by planning and working for the relief of His institutions with greater earnestness than for their own property, and when people do their part heavenly power will be commissioned to help in the time of special need.

God expects every entrusted talent — including houses, lands, and money — to be used for His glory and the good of others by putting it to work to advance His cause and save souls. Even effort that seems fruitless is not failure if one soul is brought to Christ, for the single talent is needed and each person is responsible to seek opportunities to do good with what is lent. The gain of the pound is entrusted means faithfully used for God's work, measured by such advancement of His work and saving of souls, so that the faithful servant can return what was given with increase and report that it has produced further resources.