And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The master uses the phrase "in a very little," not to minimize the servant's effort, but to highlight the immense value of what God entrusts to us, even when it seems small to us. This shows that the reward is not just for the outcome, but for faithful stewardship of whatever God gives, no matter the scale.
And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus tells this parable as he nears Jerusalem, knowing his followers expect his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable describes a nobleman who leaves to claim a kingdom, entrusting money to his servants. Upon his return, he rewards those who diligently increased his wealth while he was away, but punishes the one who hid what he was given.
Jesus is nearing Jerusalem, and the disciples have a big misconception about his kingdom. What was it, and how does this story address it?
Jesus tells this parable in Luke 19 because the disciples are expecting the Kingdom of God to appear immediately in a grand, earthly display. They see Him approaching Jerusalem and think, 'Here it comes!' But Jesus knows the reality is different. He's going to a 'distant country' – a metaphor for His ascension and eventual return – to 'receive a kingdom.' This isn't about an instant triumph, but a future reign. The parable corrects their 'carnal sense' of God's kingdom, teaching them that His reign isn't about immediate worldly glory but about faithful stewardship during His absence. It's a call to patience and endurance, not premature celebration.
You're given resources, talents, and opportunities. What does the Master expect when He returns?
The core of this parable is about responsible stewardship. The nobleman entrusts varying amounts (in Matthew's version, talents; in Luke's, pounds) to his servants, representing the gifts and opportunities God gives us. The crucial point is that all are entrusted with something. The servants who 'traded' and 'gained' are rewarded, not just the one who profited the most, but the ones who were faithful with what they were given. The Master's praise, 'Well done, good servant,' is for faithfulness in the 'very little.' This means our present actions, our diligent use of what God has given us, matter immensely. It's not about waiting for future glory but actively using our current resources for God's purposes.
Ask a follow-up
What's the connection between being faithful with 'a very little' and ruling over 'ten cities'?
The reward for faithfulness isn't just rest; it's more responsibility and greater influence within God's kingdom. The servant who proved himself faithful with a small amount is entrusted with authority over ten cities. This isn't merely symbolic; it suggests that our current faithfulness prepares us for greater roles and opportunities in the future, both in this life and in the life to come. God's kingdom operates on a principle of graduated responsibility: as we prove ourselves trustworthy with what we have, He entrusts us with more. This also speaks to the incredible dignity and grandeur of the future kingdom – it's a place of active service and leadership, not passive enjoyment.
Understand the original words
agathos · Greek Adjective
A moral or ethical state of being excellent, virtuous, or morally sound in accordance with God's standards. It describes the character of one who fulfills their duties in alignment with divine expectation.
doulos · Greek Noun
A person who serves another, specifically used in the New Testament to describe the believer's role in relation to Christ. It implies total dedication, humility, and the fulfilling of the Master's will.
pistos · Greek Adjective
Possessing trust, reliability, and steadfastness in keeping commitments or stewarding responsibilities. It is the quality of a person who produces fruit because they remain constant in their devotion to their Master.
exousia · Greek Noun
The power or right to act, command, judge, or rule. Biblically, this often refers to the delegated responsibility given by God to His people to manage His kingdom affairs.
This parable was told as Jesus neared Jerusalem, a time of intense expectation. His disciples wrongly assumed his kingdom would immediately appear in earthly glory, so Jesus used this story to teach about the future reality of his reign, the responsibility of his followers in his absence, and the ultimate reward for faithfulness.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus approaches Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples are traveling toward Jerusalem, aware that his journey's end will likely bring suffering and death, yet the disciples are still focused on an imminent earthly kingdom.
c. 30 AD
Jesus tells the Parable of the Pounds
In response to the disciples' misunderstanding, Jesus tells the Parable of the Pounds, where a nobleman travels to receive a kingdom and entrusts his resources to his servants.
c. 30 AD
Jesus enters Jerusalem
Jesus makes his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecies but also setting the stage for his impending crucifixion.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is crucified
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem, a pivotal event in Christian theology.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is resurrected
Jesus is raised from the dead, a powerful confirmation of his divine authority and victory over death.
c. 30 AD
Jesus ascends to heaven
Jesus ascends to the right hand of God, completing his earthly ministry and awaiting the full establishment of his kingdom.
This passage shares the same core message of faithful stewardship being rewarded with greater responsibility, echoing the nobleman's words about authority over many things.
Matthew 25:23This verse directly parallels Luke 19:17, highlighting the joy of entering into the master's happiness as the ultimate reward for faithful service.
1 Corinthians 12:7This passage speaks to the diverse manifestations of the Spirit given to each person for the common good, similar to how the nobleman entrusted varying amounts based on ability.
1 Peter 4:10This verse emphasizes using whatever gifts God has given for the benefit of others, reflecting the 'trading' and 'gaining' central to the parable's theme of faithful service.
Luke 12:48This verse underscores the principle that more will be required from those to whom more is given, aligning with the idea that faithfulness in 'a very little' earns greater stewardship.
calvinLuke 19:11-28: "And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear."
- For as a certain man, setting out on a journey, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods. 15. And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one; to every one according to his own ability; and immediately set out. 16. And he who had received five talents went away and trad…
clarkeLuke 19:17: "And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities."
Over ten cities - This is to be understood as referring to the new kingdom which the nobleman had just received. His former trustiest and most faithful servants he now represents as being made governors, under him, over a number of cities, according to the capacity he found in each; which capacity was known by the improvement of the minas.
The master uses the phrase "in a very little," not to minimize the servant's effort, but to highlight the immense value of what God entrusts to us, even when it seems small to us. This shows that the reward is not just for the outcome, but for faithful stewardship of whatever God gives, no matter the scale.
Jesus tells this parable as he nears Jerusalem, knowing his followers expect his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable describes a nobleman who leaves to claim a kingdom, entrusting money to his servants. Upon his return, he rewards those who diligently increased his wealth while he was away, but punishes the one who hid what he was given.
Jesus tells this parable as he nears Jerusalem, knowing his followers expect his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable describes a nobleman who leaves to claim a kingdom, entrusting money to his servants. Upon his return, he rewards those who diligently increased his wealth while he was away, but punishes the one who hid what he was given.
"And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’" — The master uses the phrase "in a very little," not to minimize the servant's effort, but to highlight the immense value of what God entrusts to us, even when it seems small to us. This shows that the…
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Last reviewed October 2026