Zacchæus. Parable of the Pounds. Journey to Jerusalem.

  15 And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.

  16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.

[Thus Jesus shall call us to account for our stewardship ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ), and some, despite the long absence of their Lord, and the rebellion of the citizens, will be found to have been faithful. As to this servant's answer Grotius says (comparing it with 1 Corinthians 15:10 ), "He modestly attributes this to his lord's money, and not to his own work."]

  16 And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.

  17 And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. [Thus by small faithfulness we are proved worthy of great trust ( 2 Corinthians 4:17 ). We should note that while the bounty is royal, yet it is proportionate. It suggests the difference in estate between the nobleman who departed and the king who returned.]

  18 And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath gained five pounds.

  19 And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

[The faithful servants are promoted to be rulers ( 2 Timothy 2:1 2 Timothy 2:2 ). The nobleman, having been of low estate himself, could sympathize with his servants and delight in promoting them-- Philippians 2:7 .]

  19 And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

  20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin [Having no banks in which to store money, such as we have, the men of Palestine usually concealed it. At the present time the people of that land are accustomed to bury their money in the ground within their houses]:

  21 for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow. [He impudently criticizes his lord, saying that he was one hard to please and one who expected others to do all the work and let him reap all the gain. The injustice of his criticism had just been exposed beforehand by the king's treatment of the two preceding servants. This servant represents those who make the labors and difficulties of the Christian life an excuse for doing nothing.]

  22 He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;

  23 then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

[The king patiently grants for argument's sake all that is urged, but shows that even so, the conduct of this servant could not be justified. Thus no argument can justify the sinner who contends against God. The word here translated "bank" means the table of the money-changer and is so translated at Matthew 21:12 ; Johnii 1:1 Mark 11:15, and John ii. 15 Mark 15 . It would appear from this passage that the money-changers were willing to borrow and pay some rate of interest. The bank, therefore, was not a thing incorporated and watched by the government, but merely an individual with whom money might be secure or not, according to his personal honesty. Our present banking system has been the slow growth of many centuries. The lesson taught is that we should work with others if we have not self-confidence enough to work alone.]

  23 then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

  24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath ten pounds.

  25 And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.

  26 I say unto you, that unto every one which hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.

tfg.cgi?section=T#">Section The meaning here is that every one who makes use of what he has shall increase his powers, a rule which applies to all the affairs of life.]

  25 And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.

  26 I say unto you, that unto every one which hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.

  27 But these mine enemies, that would not that I should bring hither, and slay them before me. [A reference in the first instance to the Jews who were citizens of Christ's kingdom and who were justly destroyed for rejecting him when he ascended his throne. A reference in the second instance to all the inhabitants of the globe who are all in his kingdom and who shall be destroyed at his coming if they have rejected him. It is a fearful thing to contemplate the destruction of sinners, but it is more fearful to think of sin, rebellion and uncleanness being tolerated forever.]

  28 And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem. [The crowd had paused, waiting for Jesus, and he now leads on toward Jerusalem.]