Luke 19 22

Luke 19:22 kjv

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Luke 19:22 nkjv

And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

Luke 19:22 niv

"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?

Luke 19:22 esv

He said to him, 'I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

Luke 19:22 nlt

"'You wicked servant!' the king roared. 'Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I'm a hard man who takes what isn't mine and harvests crops I didn't plant,

Luke 19 verses

Luke 19 22 Meaning

Luke 19:22 reveals the master's sharp rebuke to the unfaithful servant in the Parable of the Minas. The core meaning is that the servant is condemned by his own words and understanding. He admits to knowing his master's character as "strict" or "demanding" and yet failed to act responsibly. The master uses the servant's self-justifying excuse to highlight the servant's inexcusable negligence, demonstrating that knowledge of expectations, however perceived, necessitates diligent action, not idleness. This verse underscores accountability and judgment for unfaithfulness.

Luke 19 22 Context

Luke chapter 19 describes Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, culminating in His entry into the city. Before the triumphal entry, Jesus passes through Jericho where He encounters Zacchaeus. Following this, the Parable of the Minas (verses 11-27) is told as Jesus nears Jerusalem and His followers mistakenly thought the Kingdom of God was immediately to appear. The parable specifically addresses the period between Christ's ascension and His return as King, emphasizing the accountability of His servants during His absence. The nobleman (representing Christ) entrusts a mina to each of ten servants before leaving to receive a kingdom. Upon his return, he demands an accounting. Verse 22 is the master's direct confrontation and judgment of the servant who buried his mina, demonstrating negligence and fear rather than faithful investment. Historically, minas were units of money (equivalent to 100 drachmas), and it was common for masters to entrust resources to slaves or servants for management and gain. The narrative underscores the expectation of productive stewardship and faithfulness until the master's return.

Luke 19 22 Word analysis

• He said to him: This opening signifies a direct pronouncement of judgment and authority, flowing from the master (Christ) to the servant (one entrusted with resources/opportunity).
• ‘Out of your own mouth: (Greek: Ek tou stomatos sou) Emphasizes the servant's self-condemnation. His very words provide the grounds for his judgment. It highlights the principle that a person's defense can become their indictment.
• I will judge you,: Declares the master's (Christ's) absolute right and power to assess and execute a verdict. Judgment is not external but a direct consequence drawn from the servant's admitted understanding and inaction.
• you wicked servant! (Greek: ponēre doule) The Greek word ponēros translates to wicked, evil, base, or useless, indicating not just moral depravity but also unfaithfulness and unproductive living in the master's service. Doulos (servant/slave) emphasizes total submission and obligation to the master. The condemnation is against his character as a servant.
• You knew that I was a strict man, (Greek: anthrōpos austēros) The servant's own words describing the master are echoed back to him. Austēros means harsh, severe, rigid, or austere. The master uses the servant's own characterization not as an admission of unfairness, but to show that even if the servant truly believed this, his subsequent action was still unjustifiable. It suggests that knowledge of a demanding master should have led to greater diligence, not less.
• taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?’ These are the servant's exact words from verse 21, used as a rhetorical question by the master. It serves as an ironic challenge: if the servant knew his master was so intent on gain, even unfairly, then the servant's decision to do absolutely nothing with the mina, guaranteeing no return, becomes completely illogical and negligent from his own perspective. It exposes the fallacy of his excuse.

Words-group analysis:

• "Out of your own mouth I will judge you": This phrase encapsulates a profound biblical principle: judgment often comes from self-condemnation. It speaks to intrinsic accountability and the truth that our own reasoning, intentions, or stated beliefs can become the very basis of our assessment before God. It echoes themes of personal responsibility for words and thoughts.
• "You knew that I was a strict man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?": This is the master's devastating rhetorical question, turning the servant's flimsy excuse into his final condemnation. It demonstrates that the servant's knowledge of the master (however distorted) obligated him to a course of action that reflected that knowledge. The master highlights the logical inconsistency between the servant's stated fear of the master's "harshness" and his utter lack of proactive, protective stewardship. This combination shows a severe misunderstanding of true stewardship under a demanding lord.

Luke 19 22 Bonus section

The "strict man" accusation made by the servant is not an endorsement of the master's character as actually unjust. Rather, it serves as a foil to expose the servant's dereliction. Had the servant truly understood his master as "strict," his response should have been diligent, cautious investment (as mentioned by the master in the subsequent verse about putting money in the bank) to avoid the perceived wrath. His inaction was therefore not a matter of ignorance, but of willfulness, sloth, and possibly contempt disguised as fear. This parable serves as a warning against those who make excuses for their unfaithfulness to God, believing Him to be an impossible or demanding Master, thereby justifying their own spiritual laziness and lack of fruit. It underscores the call to faithful and productive service in the interim before the Lord's return, demonstrating the value of all opportunities entrusted to believers.

Luke 19 22 Commentary

Luke 19:22 represents the culminating rebuke of the unfaithful servant, delivered by the master who is acting as judge. The master's response is not a defensive justification of his character, but rather an astute rhetorical maneuver. He uses the servant's own distorted perception ("strict man, taking what I did not deposit...") as the very basis for condemnation. If the servant truly believed his master was so demanding of returns, even from perceived "unfair" gains, then hiding the mina and ensuring no return whatsoever was a profound act of negligence and rebellion. The master essentially states: "Given your own understanding of me, your failure to at least minimally engage with my resources (like putting the money in a bank to earn interest) is inexcusable." The verse highlights the servant's fear-driven inaction, cloaked in an accusation against the master, which is swiftly exposed and refuted. It underlines that accountability extends to our perceptions and how we act (or fail to act) based on them, especially concerning the spiritual stewardship entrusted by God until Christ's return.