Luke 19:11-27

Faithful service

11 As they listened to this, Jesus told them another parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God's kingdom would appear right away.

12 He said, “A certain man who was born into royalty went to a distant land to receive his kingdom and then return.

13 He called together ten servants and gave each of them money worth four months' wages. He said, ‘Do business with this until I return.'

14 His citizens hated him, so they sent a representative after him who said, ‘We don't want this man to be our king.'

15 After receiving his kingdom, he returned and called the servants to whom he had given the money to find out how much they had earned.

16 The first servant came forward and said, ‘Your money has earned a return of one thousand percent.'

17 The king replied, ‘Excellent! You are a good servant. Because you have been faithful in a small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.'

18 “The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your money has made a return of five hundred percent.'

19 To this one, the king said, ‘You will have authority over five cities.'

20 “Another servant came and said, ‘Master, here is your money. I wrapped it up in a scarf for safekeeping.

21 I was afraid of you because you are a stern man. You withdraw what you haven't deposited and you harvest what you haven't planted.'

22 The king replied, ‘I will judge you by the words of your own mouth, you worthless servant! You knew, did you, that I'm a stern man, withdrawing what I didn't deposit, and harvesting what I didn't plant?

23 Why then didn't you put my money in the bank? Then when I arrived, at least I could have gotten it back with interest.'

24 " He said to his attendants, ‘Take his money and give it to the one who has ten times as much.'

25 ‘But Master,' they said, ‘he already has ten times as much!'

26 He replied, ‘I say to you that everyone who has will be given more, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

27 As for my enemies who don't want me as their king, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'"

Footnotes

• [a] Or he divided ten minas among them