Luke 19:17, commentary and pictures

In this parable a nobleman goes to a far country to receive a kingdom and leaves his servants in charge until he returns to reckon with them. The capital placed in their hands remains his own, and any increase it produces is due to him, so all praise belongs to him and not to the servant. To be faithful in a very little is to make faithful use of that small entrusted trust, and the servant who gains ten pounds is given rule over ten cities. Faithfulness even with little is rewarded with larger trust, greater responsibility, and increased power to serve, with each receiving according to the improvement made. Each servant must himself give account at the Master's soon coming, for profession alone is worthless, and genuine faith is shown by obedient, loving work that puts every gift to active use.

Parable Setting and Terms

The verse belongs to the parable of a man who went to a far country to receive a kingdom and then return. In it Jesus tells His disciples what He expects them to do during His absence, which they would not fully understand until after His resurrection and ascension when the Holy Spirit brought His words back with power. Being faithful with small entrustments means cultivating the seed divinely sown within by exercising God-given powers, heeding all light and instruction given, and being doers of the Word. Such wise improvement doubles capabilities, and working in His moral vineyard while wearing Christ's yoke and bearing His burdens, though apparently heavy, proves the yoke easy and the burden light.

The capital or pound entrusted to the servant belongs to the Lord, and any gain it makes possible comes from Him. The servant's authority and reward follow his faithfulness in using what the Lord entrusted to him, with faithful use rewarded by greater responsibility. Therefore the servant gives Him the praise and glory and gives God the credit rather than taking credit or claiming personal merit.

Being faithful in a very little means faithfully using what was entrusted though it was very little and very small, including the means and abilities entrusted. The servant who gained ten pounds is given authority over ten cities, so that faithfulness in small responsibilities is the basis for greater responsibility and reward. The reward corresponds to faithfulness and labor.

Reward Proportionate to Faithfulness

Faithfulness with what is entrusted, even when it is little, is rewarded with greater responsibility, larger trust, increased ability to serve, and increased power. The trust includes abilities and means that belong to God and are to be used actively in His work to meet its needs and help others, not surrendered to another to manage, left unused, or merely returned unchanged. Faithfulness in a small trust is shown by using it well to the best of capacity, and wise use can increase what one is able to serve with, so that growth itself brings further responsibility. When that faithful use bears fruit in bringing people to the truth, it is honored with authority over ten cities.

The reward reflects the work done and the increase gained, with the servant who improves his talents faithfully receiving authority over ten cities while others receive over fewer. Every servant is expected to produce results, and Christ reckons with each person at His coming, recognizing faithfulness in a small charge with greater responsibility proportionate to the work. Service is measured according to what each has received rather than what is lacking, so even the best use of one talent is accepted, each must personally account for the entrusted gifts, and reward follows improvement while punishment follows abuse. The faithful are commended for using what was given and not hiding it, but working wisely in the field for which they are suited and using capabilities for God's glory.

The Lord commends diligent, honest service, and faithfulness rather than the size of the endowment wins His approval. Talents differ according to ability and each is accountable according to what has been received, with God accepting service according to what a person has and cooperating with those who trust Him and use their gifts faithfully. Nothing in His work is insignificant, and the reward of each is decided by the faithfulness with which the work is done, so the work of one with one talent is as valuable in His sight as that of one with five. Even labor that brings one soul to Christ is not a failure but valuable to God, with lasting fruit to be revealed in eternity, and those given only a little must not think their gifts too small to be useful but must use every one faithfully for His glory and for good. The servant who hid his talent neglected the work he could have done and would have acted the same even if given more, while houses, land, and money put to work for advancing His cause illustrate that faithful service in what seems small is recognized with authority over ten cities.

Eternal rewards are purchased by Christ and not earned as a matter of human merit, so returning what belongs to God cannot buy heaven and the servant must give God the credit for any gain the entrusted pound makes possible rather than claim personal merit. Yet people receive according to their works, and it is their privilege to strive for the highest reward. Entrusted wealth is given to test faithfulness and is for the Lord's work rather than needless luxury or self-gratification, and diverting it from human need and the spread of His kingdom makes one an unfaithful steward. When the Owner comes He investigates how His goods were used, and those who remain faithful in what is small receive riches, honor, and glory with greater responsibility.

Accountability Before Returning Master

Christ as Chief Shepherd and Judge examines how each servant has used his goods and reckons with them at his coming. That reckoning belongs to the teaching that servants are entrusted with their Master's goods to use faithfully while he is away, with the Master examining whether each improved or abused what was entrusted. The Lord is soon to come, and every talent and goods he has lent must be used for his glory and returned to him with increase. The time for service is now, before he returns and each person's probation ends.

Each servant must personally account for what was entrusted to him. That accountability cannot be transferred to another or surrendered to another to manage. The work of using means for the cause of God is a person's own work left to do while living, not to be left for children to do after death, so that when the Master calls to account both principal and interest with corresponding increase can be rendered back to him. Neglecting opportunities to serve and meet the needs of the work is unfaithfulness.

Servants are justified by faith and judged by their works. Profession of faith alone or mere belonging to the church has no value and does not secure entrance into God's kingdom. Genuine faith works by love and purifies the soul of moral defilement that it may become a temple for the Lord. That faith is shown in obedience to God's will, in developing Christian character, and in helping and encouraging others, and it brings the Master's approval and reward of faithfulness in even a small trust with greater responsibility.

Talents in trust are given to every person, from the lowliest and most obscure to those in highest positions, proportioned to varied capabilities, so there can be no idlers and none excused. God measures service according to what each has received rather than what is lacking, and accepts the best use of even one talent. Responsibility grows as gifts increase, for every natural advantage is a talent to be used faithfully in his service and not for selfish purposes. Reward is proportionate to improvement and punishment to abuse, with diligent, grace-enabled and honest service developing increasing ability for service.

Faithful Service and Growth

Faithfulness means active working rather than remaining a slothful servant, trading upon what is entrusted and watching for opportunity to represent truth and win souls. It means unearthing the talent bound in a napkin and buried in the earth and putting it out to the exchangers by learning to minister effectually to others as diligent laborers in the harvest field. Every gift is to be appreciated, put to the very best use, used aright and traded upon so that it increases, with mind, soul and strength controlled by the Holy Spirit. Slothfulness in trading and selfishly withholding what belongs to the Lord retards His work, while idleness and sloth in the marketplace lets souls die.

What has been entrusted must be faithfully used and improved until the Master returns, returning to Him more than was received. The more the talents are exercised the greater the increase of capability, for unless the divinely sown seed struggles above the soil and springs up into life it loses all its power to germinate. The lesson is the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and in knowledge by exercising God-given powers, heeding light and instruction, and being doers of the Word. Neglecting the light, responsibility and spiritual advantages given is unsafe, leaves one unfit for service, and brings accountability in the day of God.

God has given to every man his work of making Christ known to the world and enlightening souls perishing without Christ, entrusting talents for this very work to all who profess the truth, not to ministers alone. The talent must not be hidden or left unused but used earnestly and faithfully to do good and save souls, with money, ability and influence put to work to spread the light of truth to people in darkness. That work is to be done even when it requires sacrificing personal wishes, pleasures and natural tastes. Such faithful use develops men for positions of trust and influence and accomplishes great good for the Master.

Servants act in partnership with God as laborers together with Him in perfect harmony with His appointed agencies. They trade upon what is entrusted with frugality and self-denial, with the one object of giving the message of truth not only in their own neighborhood but in the regions beyond. An entrusted servant is responsible to act in the master's interests as the master would act, for the trust is a position of dignity that is perverted when its advantages are used selfishly for personal gain. As people impart what they have received they receive more richly, and this faithful individual work molds human character after the divine similitude, beginning with parents seeking forgiving grace, healing power and capabilities to rule their households aright. Those who refuse to connect themselves with God and give themselves to His service, who fail to trade on His gifts and forget that He requires a return, are unfaithful stewards who rob God and will not long keep the blessing of what was entrusted to them.

Faithful Use of Means

The goods entrusted include money, houses, land, abilities, influence, opportunities, means, and every natural advantage, differing in amount from person to person yet all to be used faithfully in service to advance the work and build the kingdom. The pound that gains other pounds represents means provided so that his people can advance his work and respond when help is needed for saving souls. God tests by this trust whether they love the gift more than the Giver, and having only a small share is no excuse for doing nothing, for every steward is to seek wisdom to use what is lent.

That wealth is lent for the Lord's work and cause, not for self-glory, selfish desires and purposes, needless luxury, or self-gratification. It must not be hidden, hoarded, buried in the earth in a napkin, embezzled, misappropriated, diverted into channels that bind it away from his cause, or used selfishly. Such diversion is done under his displeasure, which he sees and will not sanction or prosper, and it makes a person an unfaithful steward. Responsibility grows with the gifts received, and stewardship cannot be shifted to children to do after death but is each one's own work to do while living.

Faithfulness in a very little includes putting tithes with gifts and offerings besides into his treasury, though no one is compelled to give, and trading upon what is entrusted with frugality and self-denial. It means promptly returning his own to relieve his suffering institutions and sustain institutions serving spiritual and physical needs, using talents of means without human restriction to build up and advance his work where the field is in greatest need. Those in responsible positions and leaders are to set the example, and all are to do what they can without delay, investing in saving souls and giving the message of truth not only in their own neighborhood but in regions beyond so resources may bear fruit in bringing people to the truth. Large sums are needed but even a small amount is accepted, because money given for this relief is placed in the hands of Christ in the person of his afflicted brethren, and if his people do their part angels will be commissioned to help in time of special need.

When the Owner comes he investigates how his goods were used and requires his own with increase, calling each servant to account for abilities and goods put to work for his purposes and not wasted or used selfishly. Faithful stewards can then render back to him both principal and interest with corresponding increase. Gifts honestly put to use increase and bring glory to God in serving others and saving souls, while gifts and opportunities neglected are lost, and those who refuse to connect with God, fail to trade on his gifts, and forget he requires a return will not long keep the blessing of what was entrusted. Refusing to use them through self-indulgence can result in eternal separation from God.