For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about having things, but about actively using what you have. Jesus is saying that genuine spiritual growth comes from responding to God's truth with your whole being—when you do, more understanding and fruitfulness will naturally follow. But if you neglect or misuse what you've been given, even your current grasp of truth will fade.
For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse follows Jesus' parable of the sower, where he explains how different people respond to God's word. He’s just told his disciples that they’ve been given the secret of the kingdom, while others haven't, and that understanding will only increase for those who pay attention, while those who ignore it will lose even what little they seem to grasp.
Ever feel like some people just keep getting more, while others struggle to hold onto what they have? Jesus explains this principle, and it's not about unfairness, but about how we respond to what God gives us.
Jesus uses a powerful principle here: "to the one who has, more will be given." This isn't about hoarding or greed. It's about active engagement with God's truth and the life He offers.
Cultivating What You're Given
Think of it like tending a garden. If you water, weed, and fertilize the seeds God has planted in your life—whether it's knowledge, faith, or opportunities—they will flourish and produce more.
The Danger of Neglect
Conversely, "from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." This warns against apathy and neglect. If we ignore or misuse the gifts and understanding God provides, they can fade. It's not that God takes them away spitefully, but that spiritual realities atrophy without use and cultivation.
It’s easy to think that just 'having' God’s word or blessings is enough. But Jesus makes it clear that passive possession isn't the goal. Something more is required.
This verse highlights a crucial aspect of spiritual life: growth is not automatic; it's responsive.
The Active Heart
The "having" Jesus speaks of isn't just intellectual assent or a mere outward profession. It's about a heart that is engaged, a mind that is attentive, and a will that is active in responding to God's truth.
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Appropriation and Use
When we actively use what we've learned and experienced of God—sharing it, living it, obeying it—it becomes more deeply rooted. This active appropriation leads to further understanding and deeper faith. The opposite is also true: if knowledge or blessings are not put to use, they can become like unused muscles that weaken and atrophy, eventually being lost.
This is the parallel passage in Matthew, where Jesus explains that understanding and applying what you've learned leads to greater insight, while neglecting truth causes even what you thought you knew to slip away.
Matthew 25:29Jesus uses a similar principle with the parables of the talents, illustrating that faithfully using and increasing what you've been given results in more responsibility, while neglecting your gifts leads to their forfeiture.
Luke 8:18Luke presents this same teaching, emphasizing the importance of carefully listening to and acting upon Jesus' words, warning that inattention will lead to losing even what seems to be understood.
Proverbs 4:18This proverb reflects the idea of increasing understanding, stating that the path of the righteous shines brighter and brighter, implying that consistent engagement with wisdom leads to further illumination.
Hebrews 10:26This passage warns against deliberately continuing in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, which echoes the idea that rejecting or neglecting God's truth results in a more severe spiritual loss.
pooleMark 4:25: "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."
See Poole on "Mark 4:24"
clarkeMark 4:25: "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."
He that hath - See on Matthew 13:12 (note).
This isn't just about having things, but about actively using what you have. Jesus is saying that genuine spiritual growth comes from responding to God's truth with your whole being—when you do, more understanding and fruitfulness will naturally follow. But if you neglect or misuse what you've been given, even your current grasp of truth will fade.
This verse follows Jesus' parable of the sower, where he explains how different people respond to God's word. He’s just told his disciples that they’ve been given the secret of the kingdom, while others haven't, and that understanding will only increase for those who pay attention, while those who ignore it will lose even what little they seem to grasp.
This verse follows Jesus' parable of the sower, where he explains how different people respond to God's word. He’s just told his disciples that they’ve been given the secret of the kingdom, while others haven't, and that understanding will only increase for those who pay attention, while those who ignore it will lose even what little they seem to grasp.
"For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”" — This isn't just about having things, but about actively using what you have. Jesus is saying that genuine spiritual growth comes from responding to God's truth with your whole being—when you do,…
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Last reviewed October 2026