Luke 19:13 kjv
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Luke 19:13 nkjv
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'
Luke 19:13 niv
So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
Luke 19:13 esv
Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Engage in business until I come.'
Luke 19:13 nlt
Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.'
Luke 19 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 25:14-30 | The parable of the talents... the master settled accounts with his servants. | Parallel parable emphasizing stewardship and accountability for entrusted resources. |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | As each has received a gift, use it... as good stewards of God's varied grace. | Principle of using spiritual gifts as faithful stewards. |
| 1 Cor 4:2 | Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. | Faithfulness is a primary requirement for those entrusted with responsibilities. |
| Rom 12:6-8 | Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us... let us use them. | God provides diverse gifts to His people for active service. |
| Eph 4:7 | But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. | Every believer receives grace and corresponding gifts for service. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men... | Christians are to perform all tasks diligently as if working directly for God. |
| Ecc 9:10 | Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might... | Encourages zealous effort in all undertakings. |
| Jas 2:26 | For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. | True faith is demonstrated through active, productive living. |
| Prov 6:6-8 | Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. | Wisdom found in diligence and industriousness, warning against laziness. |
| 2 Thess 3:10 | If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. | A clear principle connecting willingness to work with provision. |
| Matt 24:42-51 | Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming... | Exhortation to readiness and watchfulness in light of the Lord's unknown return. |
| Matt 25:1-13 | Parable of the Ten Virgins... some were foolish and unprepared. | Urges preparedness and active readiness for Christ's Second Coming. |
| Acts 1:11 | This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way... | The promise of Christ's physical return from heaven. |
| Rev 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming quickly, bringing my recompense with me..." | Christ's assured, swift return accompanied by reward or judgment. |
| Heb 9:27 | And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Universal truth of human accountability before God. |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ... | Believers will be judged according to their actions done in the body. |
| Rom 14:12 | So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. | Personal responsibility and accountability to the Lord. |
| Luke 12:48 | Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required. | The principle of increased accountability for increased resources/opportunities. |
| 1 Cor 10:24 | Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. | Encourages using resources and actions for the benefit of others. |
| John 15:16 | I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit... | Discipleship is inherently linked to bearing spiritual fruit for God's glory. |
| 1 Tim 6:17-19 | Command those who are rich... to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share... | Directs the wealthy to use their resources for good works and eternal investment. |
| Matt 6:19-21 | Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. | Commands investment in eternal realities rather than temporal possessions. |
| Luke 16:1-13 | Parable of the dishonest manager: wisely using worldly wealth. | Teaches prudent management of earthly resources in preparation for eternity. |
| 2 Tim 4:7-8 | I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race... | Example of a faithful life, completed with diligent effort and looking forward to reward. |
| Tit 2:14 | He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. | A primary purpose of salvation is for believers to be actively engaged in good works. |
Luke 19 verses
Luke 19 13 Meaning
Luke 19:13 is a pivotal verse in the Parable of the Minas (or Pounds), outlining the directive given by a nobleman (representing Jesus Christ) to his servants. Before his departure, he entrusts ten "pounds" (minas), symbolizing resources, opportunities, or spiritual gifts, equally to ten servants. The command "Occupy till I come" instructs them to diligently engage in "business" or "trade"—meaning active, productive, and profitable stewardship of what they've been given—during his absence. This sets a clear mandate for believers to serve God faithfully and purposefully until Christ's future return, emphasizing responsibility and ultimate accountability.
Luke 19 13 Context
Luke 19:13 is situated within the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), which Jesus tells immediately after His significant encounter with Zacchaeus in Jericho. Verse 11 explicitly states Jesus' motivation: "because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately." This reveals a prevailing misconception among His listeners that the Messiah's arrival in Jerusalem would swiftly inaugurate a political, earthly kingdom. The parable directly addresses and corrects this notion. It portrays a noble landowner who departs to secure a kingdom but is delayed in his return. During this interim, he delegates responsibilities to his servants, expecting them to be productive until his re-establishment. This narrative prefigures Jesus' own ascension to heaven after His resurrection and the subsequent period of His physical absence, during which His followers are called to faithful, active service for the Kingdom of God before His eventual Second Coming and the full establishment of His reign.
Luke 19 13 Word analysis
- And he called: The "he" refers to the nobleman (ἀνθρώπου τινὸς εὐγενοῦς - anthrōpou tinos eugenous), representing Jesus Christ. "Called" (καλέσας - kalesas) signifies an intentional summoning and delegating of authority and task.
- ten of his servants: "Servants" (δοῦλοι - douloi) specifically means "slaves" or "bond-servants." This denotes ownership and complete devotion to the master, implying inherent obligations rather than merely employment. The number "ten" indicates a representative group, highlighting universal responsibility for all followers.
- and delivered them: "Delivered" (ἔδωκεν - edōken) from δίδωμι (didomi), means "to give, to entrust, to hand over." It signifies a deliberate act of entrusting resources for a specific purpose, implying trust and expectation.
- ten pounds: "Pounds" (μνᾶς - mnas, plural of μνᾶ - mna). A mina was a Greek unit of currency, equivalent to about 100 drachmas or denarii, roughly three months' wages for a common laborer. Unlike the varying amounts of talents in Matt 25, here each servant receives an equal, significant sum, signifying foundational resources, spiritual gifts, or opportunities given to every believer regardless of perceived status.
- and said unto them: A direct and explicit command or instruction from the master, leaving no room for misunderstanding about the assigned task.
- Occupy: This traditional English translation (KJV) conveys the essence of the Greek πραγματεύσασθε (pragmateusasthe), derived from πραγματεύομαι (pragmateuomai). It means "to do business," "to trade," "to manage affairs diligently," or "to make a profit." It is a call to active, industrious, and productive engagement, not passive retention.
- till I come: (ἕως ἔρχομαι - heōs erchomai) This phrase establishes a crucial timeframe: the period of the master's absence and the subsequent anticipation of his return. It prophetically points to Christ's ascension and His future Second Coming (the Parousia), serving as a powerful motivation for diligent service and a clear marker for the onset of accountability.
Words-group analysis:
- "called ten of his servants, and delivered them ten pounds": This group highlights the Master's sovereign initiative in equipping and empowering His followers. It emphasizes a shared baseline of responsibility and opportunity given to all those He chooses to serve Him.
- "Occupy till I come": This phrase functions as the core mandate. It combines the active requirement for faithful stewardship ("Occupy") with the finite nature of the opportunity and the certainty of future accountability ("till I come"). It defines the Christian's role during the interim period between Christ's first and second comings.
Luke 19 13 Bonus section
The concept of "pounds" (minas) being an equal amount given to each servant, as opposed to the varying amounts of "talents" in Matthew's parallel parable, is noteworthy. This might underscore the idea that every believer, regardless of their perceived "talent" or capacity, receives a fundamental, significant opportunity to serve Christ and is equally accountable for the use of those baseline resources and responsibilities given. The Parable of the Minas also uniquely includes the subplot of the citizens who hated the nobleman and rejected his rule (Luke 19:14), emphasizing not only the responsibility of servants but also the world's resistance to Christ's sovereignty, which the servants must contend with as they "occupy." This underscores the context of evangelism and ministry in a world often hostile to the Kingdom message.
Luke 19 13 Commentary
Luke 19:13 captures the essence of Christian stewardship in light of Christ's return. Jesus tells this parable to correct the false expectation of an immediate, earthly kingdom. Instead, He teaches that He, the "nobleman," would depart (ascend), signifying a delay before His full Kingdom is established at His "coming." During this interim, believers, as His "servants," are entrusted with "pounds"—symbolic of God-given resources such as time, spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, and even material possessions. The powerful command, "Occupy till I come," instructs every follower to actively "do business" or "trade" with these divine endowments. This means not just passively waiting or maintaining the status quo, but diligently investing, developing, and multiplying what has been given for the glory and advancement of God's Kingdom. It calls for resourceful and faithful productivity, recognizing that one day, the Master will return and require an account of how His resources were managed, bringing reward for diligence and judgment for sloth. This verse is a timeless call to active, mission-oriented discipleship, living with an eternal perspective.
Examples:
- A Christian accountant uses their skills to volunteer for a non-profit ministry, applying "financial acumen" for God's purposes.
- A student uses their gift of communication to share the Gospel and encourage others in their faith within their peer group.
- A retiree uses their newfound free time to mentor younger believers, investing their accumulated wisdom for the Lord.