Luke 19:22, commentary and pictures

In the parable of the pounds the absent master entrusts his own goods to his servants to trade with until he returns, and at the reckoning the unfaithful servant is condemned out of his own mouth because his own words admit what was given him and what was required of him. He knew his master expected increase yet left the trust unused, so his own account leaves him without excuse. His charge that the master is austere exposes his false and ungenerous view, for distrust and jealousy led him to withhold the gift instead of putting it to work. All that is entrusted — ability, mind and body, means and property, time, knowledge, light and every spiritual advantage — comes from the Lord, so gain is possible only by his provision and faithful trading is required to return his own with increase rather than burying it unused. The master examines each servant individually when probation closes, and faithful use brings blessing and enlarged usefulness while hiding the trust robs God, forfeits the talent to the faithful, and ends in eternal loss.

Parable Words and Setting

The verse belongs to the parable of the pounds, which sets out what followers must do with what is entrusted to them during the master's absence. The Lord entrusts people with talents and expects them to trade diligently and produce gain, putting entrusted resources to work for the advancement of His work and returning them to Him with increase, pound gaining other pounds. The capital, the pound, and the opportunity to trade come from the Lord, so any gain and any success is possible only because He first provides what is entrusted; the faithful servant takes no credit and no merit, all praise and glory and credit belong to God, and merely returning what God entrusted does not buy heaven. Slothful servants are condemned, for disciples must work, watching for opportunity to represent the truth to others and win souls to Jesus Christ, and the more they exercise their talents the greater their increase of capability. Unless the sown seed struggles above the soil springing up into life it loses all power to germinate, so the parable teaches the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and in knowledge of Jesus Christ, and this applies to sharing what has been learned, since imparting knowledge in useful service brings further increase while taking in more than can be used hinders practical work for God.

The servant is judged out of his own mouth, for his own words and his own acknowledgment of what was entrusted to him establish the basis for his judgment and expose his failure to use it. He knew what his master expected, yet failed to use what was entrusted to him, and the Master requires both the original trust and its increase, so the servant's own words expose his unfaithfulness and his neglect of God-given talents and light. God's servants are responsible for using their abilities and resources in His service, and even one unused talent must be accounted for, with each person's trust examined individually and reward or punishment corresponding to how the trust was used or abused. The time to use these gifts is limited, because the account is settled when probation ends, and faithful use of them prepares a person to answer without shame when the Master comes. Money and property are talents lent by God for wise use in His cause, so hiding or hoarding entrusted means instead of putting them to work for God is unfaithfulness that wastes that trust like hiding a talent in the earth, as when they are left to people who disregard the truth, while investing them in the work of preparing people for Christ's coming is faithful stewardship. The servant who hides his talent and returns it without gain loses his opportunity for usefulness and suffers eternal loss, with the talent given to the faithful servant who has made returns, for God requires the entrusted talent to be used faithfully and to yield an increase, and the responsibility to work earnestly and faithfully for the good of others must not be cast aside.

The servant knew what his master expected yet did not put the trust to work, so his own account leaves him without excuse. What is entrusted, in money, abilities, influence, and means, must not be hidden or left unused but must be used to spread the light of truth and serve others, rather than surrendering stewardship to someone else, since failing to use them for the Lord's work leaves a person responsible for the good he could have done. The wicked servant is condemned by his own words, and the warning, Depart, thou wicked servant, applies to religious teachers whose unfaithfulness leads souls to perdition, whose responsibility and the results of their failure will be fully revealed at the final judgment. Having a name on the church books does not secure entrance into the kingdom of heaven, for each person is judged out of his own mouth by what he knew of God's will and how he obeyed it. That judgment examines whether he used opportunities for service and for the development of Christian character, whether he traded faithfully with the Lord's goods, whether he sought to benefit and bless those needing help and encouragement, and whether he did anything to help in the work of salvation, so that one who knows the worth of souls for whom Christ died and yet does nothing is in perilous condition. People entrusted with the Lord's means are accountable for how they use them, faithful stewards put entrusted resources to work for the Lord's cause, and their use of those resources will be considered in the day of reckoning and reward.

The servant's description of the master as austere turns back on himself, for his words expose his false view of the master and condemn his failure to use what was entrusted to him. The servant, not the master, has the ungenerous and unjust character he attributes to the master, and his accusation reveals that he does not know the master. His mistaken distrust and jealousy lead him to withhold the entrusted gift instead of putting it to use.

Ownership of Entrusted Gifts

The capital, the pound, and the opportunity to trade all come from the Lord, so any gain is possible only because He first provides what is put into the servant's hands. The trading itself remains accountable to Him because both the gift and the chance to use it are His, and any increase stands to His credit rather than to the servant's merit. The faithful therefore take no credit to themselves, but give all praise and glory to God. Merely returning what God entrusted does not purchase heaven, since the talent still belonged to the Lord and was given to be used to gain more talents. Burying it instead is failure to serve with what had been entrusted.

What is entrusted is the Master's own goods, lent as His capital to be invested and increased and returned to Him with corresponding increase. It includes abilities and resources, body and mind given for service and blessing, means, money and other possessions, property, houses and land, knowledge, time, privileges and opportunities, light, truth, and every spiritual advantage and gift. These talents are not reserved for a favored few exalted in education or intellect, but the light of truth and all spiritual advantages are the Lord's gifts to influence mind and character. They are to be appreciated, used to God's glory rather than for selfish purposes or selfish desires, and made to grow in usefulness by trading on the Lord's goods. Through Christ's grace consecrated talents can grow and increase for the advancement of His work and kingdom.

To every man his work is given and to every man talents are given in trust individually, from the lowliest and most obscure to those in highest positions of trust, proportioned to varied capabilities. There can therefore be no idlers in the vineyard and none is excused, for even one talent or a little must be put to work and accounted for. Each person's trust is examined individually, and even one unused talent must be answered for. Everyone to whom even one talent is entrusted is required to do his very best with it to increase the Master's revenue.

Responsibility matches the gifts received and known capacity, and interest is required according to the entrusted capital, according to the measure of the gift. No one is accountable for gifts not given, and God does not expect the same return from one given little as from one given much. One with one is not required to produce three, but simply returning the one unused is not acceptable, for even a small amount must be put to work and improved. A small gift used faithfully is accepted as surely as a larger one, and faithful honest service wins commendation while diligent use can lead to increase, including responsibility for further gifts gained by use. All that is possessed — time, learning, money, gifts, offerings, even humblest service — is a loan, and talents small or great are not to be degraded to selfish use, extravagance, misuse, or misapplication.

Faithful Trading Required

The parable requires every servant to trade diligently with what is entrusted, to put it to work and improve it, and to return the master's own with increase and usury rather than merely handing it back unused. Even one talent must not be left unused, but is to be done one's very best with to increase the master's revenue, with interest required according to the capital and ability given. The gift of grace, power and ability is not to be hidden but to be put to work in carrying truth to others and saving souls, with human effort required while the Holy Spirit works with that effort, and the responsibility to work earnestly and faithfully for the good of others must not be cast aside. The capital itself comes from the Lord, so any gain is possible only because He first provides it, the faithful servant takes no credit, and all praise and glory belong to God.

Wrapping the pound in a napkin and burying it in the earth is unfaithfulness that robs God and embezzles His goods. Body and mind are entrusted for service and blessing, not to be hidden or spent selfishly, and hiding a talent is a fearful failure for which God will require an account and a fruitful return. To tie one's hands fast and bury what is entrusted unused leaves Him coming to search for fruit and finding nothing but leaves, so those who have received great light with compassion, mercy and long-suffering must move guardedly, trust in Him and look to Him with confidence. Hoarding entrusted means instead of investing them in preparing people for Christ's coming is unfaithful stewardship, and hiding means in worldly enterprises leaves people unwarned and unsaved and brings serious guilt, while entrusted means, knowledge, time, talents and opportunities are to be put to work in carrying the message near and far, including work in one's own neighborhood. Excessive investment in land with neglect of spiritual interests is likened to hiding the talent in a napkin and risks losing eternal life by failing to use what God has lent for its intended good, and keeping treasure for self instead of dispensing what God has lent in a wise, judicious manner while alive is to wrap the pound in a napkin.

Faithful, honest use wins the Lord's commendation and blessing, and diligent use of abilities can lead to their increase. Disciples must work, watching for opportunity to represent the truth and win souls to Jesus Christ, and the more they exercise their talents the greater their increase of capability and wider sphere of influence, with divine power working through faithful human effort. Even small talents are to be put to work for others rather than hidden, and imparting knowledge in useful service brings further increase, while taking in more than can be used hinders practical work for God. God-given abilities and opportunities are entrusted according to capacity and are to be gratefully and wisely used to help save souls and glorify God, and unless the sown seed struggles above the soil springing up into life it loses all power to germinate, so neglect and inaction cause even the potential for increase to be lost and lead to eternal separation. The parable therefore teaches the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and in knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The reward of each is decided by faithfulness in doing the work given, and neglecting small opportunities to serve God in little things matters because nothing in His work is insignificant. The professed believer who fails in little things will fail to gain eternal life, for though they seem small to him this is his only opportunity to do that little, and those who fail to serve God faithfully rob Him of the talents that should be used for Him. When he works on the plan of addition in the littles, doing all heartily as unto the Lord, God works on the plan of multiplication so that those littles become the most precious influences in the work of God. The work of one who has only one talent is as valuable in God's sight as the work of one who has five talents when both are faithful, and no offering given with pure-heartedness and gladness of soul is small.

Final Reckoning and Reward

The master calls his servants to account for what was lent to them, including its increase, and scrutinizes the use made of every talent and capital to see whether it has been improved and to receive his own with increase. Each person's trust is examined individually, and reward or punishment corresponds to how the trust was used or abused, with the reward proportionate to the work done. The time to use these gifts is limited, because the account is settled when probation ends and at Christ's coming, and there is no later opportunity to replace faithful service neglected now. Responsibility matches gifts received and known capacity, so even one talent or a small amount must be put to work faithfully for God's glory rather than for selfish purposes, and through grace consecrated talents can grow and increase. Goods possessed are lent and must be used for his glory and returned with usury, even at once and without delay for a day or an hour when suffering institutions need relief, with those in responsible positions setting the example by planning and working more earnestly for their relief than for their own property.

The servant who hides his talent and returns it without gain is exposed and condemned by his own words, for he knew what was expected yet failed to use what was entrusted. He loses his opportunity for usefulness and his talent is given to the faithful servant who has made returns, and he suffers eternal loss. Hoarding the Lord's goods and doing nothing with them loses the soul, and neglect and inaction cause even the potential for increase to be lost and lead to eternal separation from God. Burying a God-given talent instead of using it faithfully for its intended good risks losing eternal life, as when means are excessively invested in land while spiritual interests are neglected.

Mere profession of faith in Christ has no value and having a name on the church books does not secure entrance into the kingdom, for nothing counts as genuine except love shown by works. Each person is judged out of his own mouth by what he knew of God's will and how he obeyed it, whether he used opportunities for service and for development of Christian character, whether he traded faithfully with the Lord's goods, whether he sought to benefit and bless those needing help and encouragement, and whether he did anything to help in the work of salvation. One who knows the worth of souls for whom Christ died and yet does nothing is in perilous condition.

Those justified by faith are reckoned with as servants and judged by their works, with the Lord as Chief Shepherd and Judge requiring an account of entrusted goods. Faithful use of talents and light prepares a person to answer without shame when the Master comes, for he requires both the original trust and its increase. The warning to the wicked servant applies to religious teachers whose unfaithfulness leads souls to perdition, and their responsibility and the results of their failure will be fully revealed at the final judgment. Faithful stewards who put entrusted resources to work for the cause will have their use considered in the day of reckoning and reward.

Practical Stewardship Applications

Money and possessions placed in human hands remain the Lord's goods, lent to be used to advance His work and build His kingdom rather than to glorify self or satisfy selfish desire, and even those entrusted with little are held responsible to use it faithfully. The picture of a pound gaining other pounds means resources God provides are to be put to work for the advancement of His work and returned to Him with increase. That increase is found in sustaining the cause of truth and supporting laborers in needy missionary fields, following the example of One who became poor that men through His poverty might be made rich. It includes carrying the Christian message near and far, laboring for missions both in one's own neighborhood and in regions beyond, since hiding means in worldly enterprises leaves people unwarned and unsaved and brings serious guilt. When institutions that serve Him suffer embarrassment, His own is to be returned at once to relieve them, with affairs looked over and what can be done done without delay for a day or an hour, those in responsible positions setting the example by planning and working for their relief with greater earnestness than for their own property, and even a small gift placed in the hands of Christ in the person of His afflicted brethren is accepted, with heavenly help commissioned when men do their part.

Wrapping the pound in a napkin and burying it in the earth is keeping treasure for self instead of dispensing what is lent in a wise, judicious manner while alive. Laying up treasure in heaven is using means and influence with self-denial to sustain the cause of truth, while body and mind are entrusted for service and blessing, not to be hidden or spent selfishly, and hiding a talent is a fearful failure for which an account and fruitful return will be required. Tithes, gifts and offerings are not compelled, yet unfaithfulness in rendering to God His own forfeits the blessing of what is entrusted, and every man is given his work to do in partnership with God, to trade on entrusted gifts with frugality and self-denial and remember that the Lord requires a return of what He gave. All that is possessed — time, learning, money, gifts, offerings, even the humblest service — is a loan purchased by His own blood and suffering, with only food for sustenance to be claimed as personal, and talents small or great are not to be degraded to selfish use, selfish extravagance, misuse or misapplication, but to be employed to His glory in doing good and saving souls, with interest required according to the entrusted capital. Cherishing that spirit, with love of the truth and sanctification through the truth, banishes avarice, overreaching and every kind of dishonesty, while refusing connection with the Maker, refusing His service, failing in frugality and self-denial, forgetting the required return, glorifying self, indulging personal impulses and needless luxury, or diverting and restricting means away from the field of greatest need makes one an unfaithful steward whose use of gifts reveals whether he loves the Giver more than the gift.

Using what is lent in the cause of God is a person's own work left for him to do while alive, not work to leave for children to do, and when the Master calls to account both what He lent and the interest gained by its use must be rendered back. Faithful stewardship means attending to this duty personally while possessing reason and ability, and not leaving for others after death the work that belongs to oneself, but working earnestly now while probation lasts. Each person's work and responsibility are individual and cannot be transferred to another or taken over by human agents, and no one is accountable for gifts not given, while a small gift used faithfully is accepted as surely as a larger one. A servant is judged by his own words and held accountable for what he knew about his master's expectations, and must use abilities and means entrusted to him rather than surrendering stewardship to someone else, since failing to use them for the Lord's work leaves him responsible for the good he could have done. The ability to write is such an entrusted talent, given in wise providence so that means will come into the hands of stewards to be used wisely for the advancement of the cause, including entering mission fields that require means, and stewards must use what is entrusted unrestricted by compromise and must not shift stewardship upon any man or set of men, but invest means when and where indicated.

The Master's demand to put the talent out means to unearth buried ability and use it in effectual ministry to others, so that idle ones are educated to become diligent laborers in the harvest field and valuable talents develop men for positions of trust and influence that accomplish great good. To bind the talent in a napkin and bury it in the earth is to let souls die, to do nothing, to be an idler in the marketplace and a slothful church member while the churches sleep instead of arousing and shining. Christ has entrusted talents to every professed disciple for the very work of saving perishing souls by making Him known to the world, and this enlightening work belongs not to the minister alone but to all who profess the truth. Disciples must work, watching for opportunity to represent the truth to others and win souls, using money, abilities and influence to spread the light of truth and serve others and bless those needing help, with the gift of grace, power and ability put to work in carrying truth to others rather than hidden or left unused. The more talents are exercised the greater the increase of capability, and unless the sown seed struggles above the soil springing up into life it loses all power to germinate, so the parable teaches the necessity of mental and moral improvement, of growing in grace and in knowledge, with human effort required while the Holy Spirit works with that effort.