Luke 19:21
in Luke 19For I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.
KJV
For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
⋯
This verse in Luke 19
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
An austere man - Hard, severe, oppressive. The word is commonly applied to unripe fruit, and means “sour,” unpleasant; harsh. In this case it means that the man was taking every advantage, and, while “he” lived in idleness, was making his living out of the toils of others. Thou takest up ... - Thou dost exact of others what thou didst not give. The phrase is applied to a man who “finds” what has been lost by another, and keeps it himself, and refuses to return it to the owner.
This site's exposition
here is your mina
on Luke 19:20-23
The third servant gives fear as his reason for laying the mina away in a piece of cloth: you are a harsh man. The master takes the description as the charge without disputing it: I will judge you by your own words.
This site's exposition
you are a harsh man
The servant says he was afraid of a harsh man who withdraws what he did not deposit. Henry calls the plea a sham. Bonaventure reads him as the sluggard of Proverbs 22, who excuses himself through fear.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
In the Gospel, you have heard both the reward of the good servants and the punishment of the bad. The fault of that servant who was reproved and severely punished was this and only this: that he would not put to use what he had received. He preserved it intact, but his master was looking for a profit from it. God is greedy for our salvation. If such condemnation befalls the servant who did not use what he had received, what should they who lose it expect? We therefore are dispensers. We expend, but you receive. We expect a profit on your part—living good lives—for that is the profit from our dispensing. Do not think that you are free from the obligation of dispensing. Of course, you cannot dispense your gifts as from this higher station of ours, but you can dispense them in whatever station you happen to be. When Christ is attacked, defend him. Give an answer to those who complain. Rebuke blasphemers, but keep yourselves far from any fellowship with them. If in this way you gain anyone, you are putting your gifts to use.
Nothing is said of the other servants, who like wasteful debtors lost all that they had received. By those two servants who gained by trading, are signified that small number, who in two companies were sent as dressers of the vineyard; by the remainder all the Jews. It follows, And they said unto him, Lord, he has ten pounds. And lest this should seem unjust, it is added, For to every one that hath, it shall be given.
(de Quæst. Evan. lib. ii. qu. 46.) Or else; That one of those who well employed their money gained ten pounds, another five, signifies that they acquired them for the flock of God, by whom the law was now understood through grace, either because of the ten commandments of the law, or because he, through whom the law was given, wrote five books; and to this belong the ten and five cities over which He appoints them to preside. For the manifold meanings or interpretations which spring up concerning some individual precept or book, when reduced and brought together in one, make as it were a city of living eternal reasons. Hence a city is not a multitude of living creatures, but of reasonable beings bound together by the fellowship of one law. The servants then who bring an account of that which they had received, and are praised for having gained more, represent those giving in their account who have well employed what they had received, to increase their Lord's riches by those who believe on Him, while they who are unwilling to do this are signified by that servant who kept his pound laid up in a napkin; of whom it follows, And the third came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin, &c. For there are some who flatter themselves with this delusion, saying, It is enough for each individual to answer concerning himself, what need then of others to preach and minister, in order that every one should be compelled also to give an account of himself, seeing that in the Lord's sight even they are without excuse to whom the law was not given, and who were not asleep at the time of the preaching of the Gospel, for they might have known the Creator through the creature; and then it follows, For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man, &c. […]
Interest on the Word of God is having in life and deeds things that the Word of God has commanded. When you hear the Word, if you use it and act according to those words that you hear and live according to these words, then you are preparing interest for the Lord. Each of you can make ten talents from five. You will then hear from the Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant, you shall have power over ten cities." Beware of this, fearing that any one of you may gather "in a napkin" or bury "in the earth" the money that has been received. You know well the nature of the outcome for this kind of man when the Lord comes.
What you have offered to God you shall receive back multiplied. Something like this, although put in another way, is related in the Gospels when in a parable someone received a pound that he might engage in business, and the master of the house demanded the money. If you have caused five to be multiplied to ten, then they are given to you. Hear what Scripture says, "Take his pound, and give it to him who has ten pounds."We therefore appear at least to engage in business for the Lord, but the profits of the business go to us. We appear to offer sacrifice to the Lord, but the things we offer are given back to us. God does not need anything, but he wants us to be rich. He desires our progress through each, individual thing.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
Secondly, as to the wicked excuse, he adds: For I feared you, because you are an austere man; in which he excuses himself as a sluggard through fear; Proverbs twenty-two: "The sluggard says: There is a lion in the way, a lioness in the paths, …
"For I feared you," he says, "because you take up what you did not lay down." Many excuse themselves with such a pretext. Not wishing to be of benefit to anyone, they say: where God has not sown giftedness and ability, do not seek a …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He had no reason to fear his master's austerity, nor blame his expectations, but this was a mere sham, a frivolous groundless excuse for his idleness, which there was no manner of colour for. Note, The pleas of slothful professors, when they come to be examined, will be found more to their shame than in their justification.
For I feared thee,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The occasion of our Lord speaking the parable before us, is clear and plain. It was intended to correct the false expectations of the disciples on the subject of Christ's kingdom. It was a prophetic sketch of things present and things to come — which ought to raise solemn thoughts in the minds of all professing Christians. We see, for one thing, in this parable — the present position of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is compared to "a certain nobleman, who went into a far country, to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." When the Lord Jesus left the world, He ascended up into Heaven as a conqueror, leading captivity captive. He is there sitting at the right hand of God, doing the work of a High Priest for His believing people, and ever making intercession for them. But He will not sit there always. He will come forth from the holy of holies to bless His people. He will come again with power and glory — to put down every enemy under His feet, and to set up His universal kingdom on earth. At present "we do not see all things subjected to Him." The devil is the "prince of this world." (Hebrews 2:8; John 14:30.) But the present state of things shall be changed one day. When Christ returns — the kingdoms of the world shall become His! Let these things sink down into our minds. In all our thoughts about Christ — let us never forget His second coming. It is well to know that He lived for us, and died for us, and rose again for us, and intercedes for us. But it is also well to know that He is soon coming again for us! We see, for another thing, in this parable — the present position of all professing Christians. Our Lord compares them to servants who have been left in charge of money by an absent master, with strict directions to use that money well. They are to "Put this money to work, until I come back."
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The occasion of our Lord speaking the parable before us, is clear and plain. It was intended to correct the false expectations of the disciples on the subject of Christ's kingdom. It was a prophetic sketch of things present and things to come — which ought to raise solemn thoughts in the minds of all professing Christians. We see, for one thing, in this parable — the present position of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is compared to "a certain nobleman, who went into a far country, to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return."
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐφοβούμην | ephoboumen | I was afraid | G5399 → | 95 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| σε, | se | of you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | because | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἄνθρωπος | anthropos | a man | G444 → | 549 times |
| αὐστηρὸς | austeros | harsh | G840 → | |
| εἶ· | ei | you are; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| αἴρεις | aireis | You take up | G142 → | 100 times |
| ὃ | ho | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔθηκας | ethekas | you did lay down | G5087 → | 100 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| θερίζεις | therizeis | you reap | G2325 → | 21 times |
| ὃ | ho | what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔσπειρας.¶ | espeiras | you did sow. | G4687 → | 52 times |
ἐφοβούμηνI was afraid
ephoboumenG5399 →95 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
σε,of you,
seG4771 →2973 times
ὅτιbecause
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἄνθρωποςa man
anthroposG444 →549 times
αὐστηρὸςharsh
austerosG840 →
εἶ·you are;
eiG1510 →2333 times
αἴρειςYou take up
aireisG142 →100 times
ὃwhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔθηκαςyou did lay down
ethekasG5087 →100 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
θερίζειςyou reap
therizeisG2325 →21 times
ὃwhat
hoG3739 →1405 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔσπειρας.¶you did sow.
espeirasG4687 →52 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 8:15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
it leads to
- Galatians 4:5–7
to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
- 2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
- 1 Corinthians 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
- Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
- Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- Galatians 4:5–7
Through
1 Samuel 12:20“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 11:16
But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,
- Joshua 23:6
Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the…
- Psalms 125:5
But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
- Deuteronomy 11:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies16
On this verse
On this chapter
About Luke

This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Luke; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 94; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 19; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILY ON EXODUS 13.1; Origen of Alexandria, HOMILY ON GENESIS 8 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.
