Luke 19 15

Luke 19:15 kjv

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Luke 19:15 nkjv

"And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these 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.

Luke 19:15 niv

"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

Luke 19:15 esv

When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

Luke 19:15 nlt

"After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 15 Meaning

Luke 19:15 describes the crucial moment in the Parable of the Minas (also known as the Parable of the Ten Servants or Pounds), where the nobleman, having successfully secured his kingdom and returned as king, summons his servants. His purpose is to receive an accounting from each one concerning the financial resources (minas) he had entrusted to them. This verse signifies the long-anticipated return of the master and the subsequent judgment and review of his servants' faithfulness and productivity during his absence.

Luke 19 15 Context

Luke 19:15 is an integral part of the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), which Jesus tells as He approaches Jerusalem. The immediate context, Luke 19:11, states that Jesus told this parable because His disciples "thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately" since He was near Jerusalem. This expectation likely arose from the messianic fervor of the crowds, interpreting Jesus' approach to the capital as the direct fulfillment of prophecies regarding the immediate establishment of the Davidic Kingdom.

The parable directly counters this misunderstanding. The nobleman's departure "to a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return" mirrored contemporary events known to Jesus' audience. Historically, Archelaus, Herod the Great's son, indeed journeyed to Rome to secure his right to rule Judea, encountering opposition from Jewish delegates who appealed against him before Caesar Augustus. This historical parallel makes the parable powerfully relevant.

Luke 19:15, specifically, signifies the end of the waiting period—the "long time" (implied from the need for a journey to receive a kingdom) between the king's departure and his return. It moves the narrative to the point of reckoning, emphasizing that during the period of the king's absence (which for believers signifies the time between Christ's ascension and His second coming), servants are expected to be actively engaged in furthering the master's interests.

Luke 19 15 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (καὶ ἐγένετο - kai egeneto): A common introductory phrase in the Septuagint and New Testament Greek, signaling the start of a new, significant event or narrative transition. It suggests divine orchestration and inevitability.
• that when he was returned (ἐπανελθόντα αὐτόν - epanelthonta auton): This highlights the nobleman's definitive arrival back after his journey. In the parable, this refers to Christ's anticipated second coming, His Parousia. His return is a certainty, not a possibility.
• having received the kingdom (λαϐόντα τὴν βασιλείαν - labonta tēn basileian): Crucial for understanding the parable's timeline and theological meaning. This signifies the nobleman's successful conferral of royal authority and power. In a biblical sense, it represents Christ's ascension, enthronement, and reception of all authority (Matt 28:18; Eph 1:20-22; Phil 2:9-11) prior to His physical return to earth to establish His manifest kingdom fully. He already possesses the kingdom; His return is to execute its reign and judge His subjects.
• then he commanded (καὶ εἶπεν - kai eipen, lit. "and he said"): Expresses the authority of the now-king. Upon his return with royal status, his first act is to summon and establish order.
• these servants (τούτους τοὺς δούλους - toutous tous doulous): Refers specifically to those to whom he had previously entrusted resources. Douloi implies bond-servants, totally bound and accountable to their master. This emphasizes that followers of Christ are not their own; they are His, bought with a price (1 Cor 6:20), and therefore obligated to serve His purposes.
• to whom he had given the money (οἷς δεδώκει τὸ ἀργύριον - hois dedōkei to argyrion): Explicitly links the summoned servants to their initial entrustment. The "money" here is specifically minas (mentioned in Luke 19:13), units of silver (about three months' wages for a laborer), not merely general wealth. It symbolizes the spiritual and temporal resources, gifts, opportunities, and abilities that God grants to believers for kingdom work. The perfect tense (dedōkei) emphasizes that the giving was a past, completed act with ongoing relevance.
• to be called unto him (φωνηθῆναι πρὸς αὐτόν - phōnēthēnai pros auton): Signifies a formal summoning, an imperative command to appear before the king for review. This emphasizes the mandatory nature of the future judgment or reckoning. There is no escape from this call.
• that he might know (ἵνα γνοῖ - hina gnoi): A purpose clause indicating the king's explicit intention: to ascertain and evaluate. The knowledge he seeks is a practical assessment of their performance, not merely theoretical understanding.
• how much every man had gained by trading (τί διεπραγματεύσατο ἕκαστος - ti diepragmateusato hekastos): "Gained by trading" translates diepragmateusato, a verb implying active engagement in business, commercial dealing, and profitable investment. It conveys more than just keeping the money safe; it implies diligent, industrious use of the resources for the master's benefit. "Every man" (hekastos) underscores individual accountability – each servant's performance is assessed distinctly.

Words-group Analysis:

• "when he was returned, having received the kingdom": This phrase encapsulates the two critical phases for the king: his departure to claim his kingship and his subsequent victorious return as a fully-vested ruler. Theologically, it distinguishes between Christ's initial departure (ascension to the Father's right hand to receive authority) and His final glorious return in power and judgment. It refutes the idea of an immediate, worldly kingdom establishment.
• "he commanded these servants...to be called unto him": This demonstrates the king's authority and the obligation of the servants. The call is a summons to render an account, highlighting the universal expectation for Christ's followers to present themselves before Him for evaluation upon His return.
• "to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading": This entire clause explains the purpose of the summoning: an audit of stewardship. It emphasizes that what was "given" requires productive "gaining" or increase through active engagement, demonstrating that divine resources are meant for investment and expansion, not just preservation. The focus is on results derived from diligent work.

Luke 19 15 Bonus section

The detailed scenario of a nobleman traveling to receive a kingdom resonated with Jewish audiences who were familiar with historical figures like Archelaus going to Rome for such confirmation. This specific historical grounding lends strong verisimilitude to the parable and makes its spiritual applications concerning Christ's delayed visible kingdom even more profound. The parable, therefore, addresses both eschatological expectations and practical discipleship in the interim. It speaks to the ongoing ministry of Christ from heaven through His empowered servants on earth, anticipating the future reckoning where every act of service, big or small, productive or wasteful, will be brought to light before Him who now rules and will return in manifest power. The mina itself, being a relatively small sum compared to the talent in Matthew's parallel parable (Matt 25), highlights that faithfulness is required with any amount of entrusted resource, big or small. The principle of stewardship applies universally.

Luke 19 15 Commentary

Luke 19:15 sets the stage for the accountability section of the Parable of the Minas. It underscores the certainty of the master's (Christ's) return, but notably, after having received his kingdom. This teaches that Christ is currently enthroned and possesses all authority (as described in Ephesians, Philippians, and Matthew 28:18), even though He has not yet physically returned to visibly establish His full kingdom on earth. His return will be a glorious one, demonstrating the authority He already holds.

Upon His return, the primary act is a demanding of accounts from His servants. The expectation is not merely that the entrusted resources (spiritual gifts, talents, time, material possessions, opportunities for ministry, the message of the Gospel) have been kept safe, but that they have been actively and fruitfully used or "traded with" to produce gain for the master's kingdom. The parable refutes the notion of passive discipleship or merely waiting idly. It calls for diligent and productive stewardship during the master's absence. Every follower of Christ will be individually called to account, highlighting the personal responsibility associated with the grace and resources received. This final reckoning will determine the reward and further responsibilities given to faithful servants, and judgment for those who have been idle or disobedient.