Luke 19 20

Luke 19:20 kjv

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

Luke 19:20 nkjv

"Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

Luke 19:20 niv

"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.

Luke 19:20 esv

Then another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;

Luke 19:20 nlt

"But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, 'Master, I hid your money and kept it safe.

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 20 Meaning

Luke 19:20 portrays the third servant in the Parable of the Minas, who rather than investing his master's entrusted money, presents it back exactly as received. His statement "Lord, behold, your mina is safe in a napkin" reveals a mentality of fear, passivity, and misunderstanding of his master's expectations for productive stewardship. He valued safety and preservation above faithful service, growth, and accountability, resulting in condemnation for his idleness and lack of fruitfulness. The verse underscores the divine expectation for believers to actively utilize resources and opportunities given by God for the advancement of His kingdom, rather than merely preserving them out of fear or apathy.

Luke 19 20 Context

Luke 19:20 is situated within Jesus' Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), delivered as He journeys toward Jerusalem, shortly after the episode with Zacchaeus. The parable's immediate context is the disciples' misunderstanding that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately upon their arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus, knowing their expectations, tells this parable to correct their view, emphasizing a period of waiting, service, and accountability between His departure (ascension) and His return (Second Coming).

The parable describes a nobleman who goes to a distant country to receive a kingdom, entrusting ten of his servants with one mina each and commanding them to "do business till I come." This signifies Jesus' ascension and the commission for His followers to actively serve Him during the "interim" period. The returns vary widely from servant to servant, demonstrating different levels of diligence and fruitfulness. Verse 20 introduces the third servant, who represents those who, unlike the diligent first two, choose inactivity. This servant's inaction and self-justification are pivotal to the parable's lessons on stewardship, fear, and the consequences of unfaithfulness in utilizing what God has given. Historically and culturally, a "mina" was a significant unit of currency, equivalent to about 100 days' wages for a laborer, highlighting the value of the entrusted resource and the gravity of its non-use.

Luke 19 20 Word analysis

• And another: (Greek: kai heteros, καὶ ἕτερος) Connects this servant's actions and response directly to the preceding two. "Another" signifies a different kind of servant, highlighting a contrasting attitude to the expectation of their master. This signals a new perspective or a departure from the productive examples already presented.
• came: (Greek: ēlthos, ἦλθεν) A straightforward verb indicating his approach to the master, implying an appearance for the expected accounting.
• saying: (Greek: legōn, λέγων) Introduces the servant's verbal justification, emphasizing that his response is articulated and deliberate.
• 'Lord': (Greek: Kyrie, Κύριε) The respectful address "Lord" acknowledges the master's authority, yet for this servant, it might be more a superficial formality than genuine reverence and obedience, especially considering his subsequent actions and underlying fear.
• 'behold': (Greek: idou, ἰδού) An interjection, literally "look!" or "see!". Used here to draw attention, perhaps intended by the servant to be a dramatic presentation of his "achievement"—keeping the money "safe." It can also carry a tone of self-justification or an attempt to impress despite a lack of fruit.
• 'your mina': (Greek: hē mnā sou, ἡ μνᾶ σου) Emphasizes the exact item entrusted by the master, asserting that it has been returned without change. The servant implies ownership still resides with the master, trying to shirk responsibility for its productivity. This highlights the servant's focus on maintaining the original item rather than enhancing its value through investment.
• 'is safe': (Greek: apokeitai, ἀπόκειται) Literally "is laid away" or "is put away." This verb suggests it was kept hidden and preserved, without exposure to risk or opportunity for growth. For the servant, "safety" was the primary goal, but from the master's perspective, this passive "safety" was negligence and unfaithfulness. It implies stagnation rather than stewardship.
• 'in a napkin': (Greek: en soudariō, ἐν σουδαρίῳ) A "soudarion" was a handkerchief, face-cloth, or shroud—a piece of cloth typically used for wiping the face. Using it to wrap money signifies hiding it in a very simple, unceremonious way, possibly out of haste, fear, or contempt. It implies neglect and a complete lack of serious investment or secure storage like a bank. This action contrasts sharply with active business (as in "do business till I come," Luke 19:13) and shows a minimal effort to merely store the mina away, out of circulation. It speaks of hiding, sterility, and making no practical use of the resource.

Words-group analysis:

• 'your mina is safe in a napkin': This phrase encapsulates the servant's flawed understanding of stewardship. He believes he has fulfilled his duty by preserving the principal, missing the explicit command to "do business" with it. This passive preservation, far from being commendable, is presented as an act of fear, distrust, and ultimately, disobedience, because it produces no gain. It represents a common spiritual trap: valuing security and inaction over faith, risk, and obedience in ministry. The napkin becomes a symbol of unused potential and forfeited opportunity.

Luke 19 20 Bonus section

The "napkin" (σουδάριον, soudarion) has a rich symbolic history in the Bible. While used here as a cloth for hiding money, it also appears in John 11:44 wrapped around Lazarus's face after being raised from the dead, and prominently in John 20:7 as the cloth wrapped around Jesus' head, found folded separately in the empty tomb. In Luke 19:20, the napkin symbolizes sterility and unproductivity; unlike Lazarus's napkin, which implied the ending of death, or Jesus' napkin, which suggested an orderly resurrection and not a hasty escape, this servant's napkin signifies a "dead" resource that fails to bring life or increase. It’s a passive state that contrasts sharply with the vibrant activity implied by the empty tomb’s napkin, where a powerful work has occurred. This serves as a stark contrast between a fearful, passive approach to life and faith versus one of active power and transformation in Christ.

Luke 19 20 Commentary

Luke 19:20 exposes a common pitfall in stewardship: prioritizing unproductive safety over faithful fruitfulness. The third servant's approach reflects a deep misunderstanding of his master's character and intentions. He does not act out of malice but fear and laziness, projecting his own limitations and insecurities onto the master whom he later characterizes as "austere" (Luke 19:21). The "napkin" is not just a storage place but a symbol of his mentality—it signifies idleness, a lack of trust in the master's methods, and an aversion to the risks inherent in productive activity.

While the mina itself is preserved, its purpose (to yield a return) is entirely thwarted. This servant's error lies not in losing the money, but in failing to use it according to the master's explicit command ("do business till I come"). His claim of keeping it "safe" is ironic; it was safe from loss, but critically, also safe from growth and multiplication, which was the master's true expectation. Spiritually, this warns against merely 'holding on' to the gifts, talents, and resources God entrusts to believers—whether they be spiritual gifts, financial means, time, or opportunities—without actively investing them in His kingdom. It calls believers beyond mere preservation to productive action and fruit-bearing, demonstrating that true faithfulness involves actively seeking growth and multiplication for the Lord, not simply protecting what has been given without engagement.