And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse reveals that the "pound" taken from the unprofitable servant isn't just being relocated; it's effectively being reassigned to someone already demonstrating immense fruitfulness. This highlights that God doesn't just reward diligence with more responsibility, but also uses the abundance already present to magnify the impact of faithful stewards.
And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is speaking this parable as he approaches Jerusalem, because the disciples wrongly expected his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable tells of a nobleman who leaves to secure a kingdom and entrusts his possessions to servants, setting the stage for a reckoning upon his return. This verse is part of that reckoning, where the nobleman punishes a servant who did nothing with his entrusted wealth.
Why did Jesus tell this parable just as He was approaching Jerusalem? It wasn't just a story; it was a critical message about the future.
Jesus told this parable of the nobleman, the kingdom, and the servants right before entering Jerusalem, a place where His kingdom would be fiercely opposed. His followers mistakenly thought the Kingdom of God was about to appear immediately in earthly glory. Jesus, however, explained that He would first go away to receive His kingdom and then return.
This journey represents Jesus' ascension to heaven to receive His authority and His eventual return. During His absence, His followers (represented by the servants) are entrusted with 'pounds' – symbolic of the gifts, talents, and opportunities God gives us. We are called not to a life of passive waiting, but active engagement, using what God has given us until He returns.
What happens to those who bury their gifts, and what's the principle behind rewarding faithfulness?
The core of the parable's judgment scene is the stark contrast between faithfulness and unfaithfulness. The servants who diligently traded with their pounds, doubling what they received, are praised and rewarded with greater responsibility ('power over ten cities' or rulership over five). Their gain is celebrated.
Conversely, the servant who, out of fear, hid his single pound, is condemned. His inaction is labeled 'wicked and slothful.' The nobleman declares, 'Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has the ten pounds.' This isn't about punishing failure, but about a principle: God entrusts more to those who prove faithful with what they already have. For the unfaithful, what little they had (or the opportunity to use it) is taken away, illustrating a loss of divine favor and usefulness.
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Understand the original words
mna · Greek Noun
A unit of weight or currency. In parables, it represents the gifts, opportunities, and spiritual resources entrusted to believers by God for the purpose of His kingdom.
The parable was told as Jesus approached Jerusalem, a city where his kingship would soon be violently rejected by many. The story highlights how Jesus, like a nobleman going to secure his kingdom, entrusts resources (spiritual gifts and opportunities) to his followers, expecting them to be faithfully used while he is away before his ultimate return.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Perea
Jesus taught and ministered in the region east of the Jordan River, a period marked by intense teaching and parables. He was on his way to Jerusalem for his final week.
c. AD 28
Journey Towards Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples traveled towards Jerusalem. During this journey, Jesus spoke several parables, including the Parable of the Pounds, to prepare them for the unfolding events.
c. AD 28
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus made his royal entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy and further fueling the disciples' expectation of an imminent, earthly kingdom.
c. AD 28
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem, events that demonstrated his true kingship and power over death, not an earthly political reign.
c. AD 30 - AD 40
Early Church Growth and Development
Following Jesus' ascension, his followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, began to spread the Gospel, faithfully using the spiritual 'pounds' entrusted to them.
c. AD 60s
Luke Writes His Gospel
Luke compiled his account of Jesus' life and ministry, including the Parable of the Pounds, to provide an orderly narrative for his readers, likely Theophilus.
This verse directly parallels the action in Luke, where the master instructs to take away what the unprofitable servant had and give it to the one who had more, illustrating the principle of redistributing entrusted resources.
Matthew 25:29This passage explains the principle behind the action in Luke 19:24, stating that to those who use what they are given, more will be added, while from those who do not, even what they have will be taken away.
Hebrews 10:39This verse speaks to the opposite of profitable use, describing those who 'shrink back' into destruction, contrasting with the servants who gained from their master's investment and are rewarded.
1 Corinthians 12:7This passage highlights that spiritual gifts are given to each person for a specific purpose ('for the common good'), which resonates with the parable's theme of entrusted resources being meant for productive use, not for hiding.
Matthew 21:43This verse presents a similar theme of a kingdom's resources or favor being taken from one group and given to another that will produce fruit, mirroring the principle seen in Luke 19:24.
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…
pooleLuke 19:24: "And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds."
See Poole on "Luke 19:12"
The verse reveals that the "pound" taken from the unprofitable servant isn't just being relocated; it's effectively being reassigned to someone already demonstrating immense fruitfulness. This highlights that God doesn't just reward diligence with more responsibility, but also uses the abundance already present to magnify the impact of faithful stewards.
Jesus is speaking this parable as he approaches Jerusalem, because the disciples wrongly expected his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable tells of a nobleman who leaves to secure a kingdom and entrusts his possessions to servants, setting the stage for a reckoning upon his return. This verse is part of that reckoning, where the nobleman punishes a servant who did nothing with his entrusted wealth.
Jesus is speaking this parable as he approaches Jerusalem, because the disciples wrongly expected his kingdom to appear immediately. The parable tells of a nobleman who leaves to secure a kingdom and entrusts his possessions to servants, setting the stage for a reckoning upon his return. This verse is part of that reckoning, where the nobleman punishes a servant who did nothing with his entrusted wealth.
"And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’" — The verse reveals that the "pound" taken from the unprofitable servant isn't just being relocated; it's effectively being reassigned to someone already demonstrating immense fruitfulness. This highli…
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Last reviewed October 2026