Luke 19:25
in Luke 19‘Master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.
KJV
(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
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This verse in Luke 19
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAnd because this seems unreasonable and incredible, that he should give to one who has abundance, therefore it is added: And they said to him: Lord, he has ten minas, as if they were saying: this does not seem to be a right judgment.
This site's exposition
Take from him the pound
on Luke 19:24-27
Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds draws the bystanders' own objection, Lord, he hath ten pounds already, a fairness the parable answers rather than concedes. Unto every one which hath shall be given, and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away states the principle broadly, that unused gift withers while gift put to work multiplies. Henry and Clarke both set the closing verse apart from the servants' reckoning, since those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me answers the citizens' open rebellion of verse 14 rather than the third servant's timid failure.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
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.
The Medieval Church2 voices
The gift is taken away and given to the good worker. Although he already has, for that very reason it is profitable for him to receive more.
For seeing that he gained ten, by multiplying his pound tenfold, it is plain that by having more to multiply, he would be an occasion of greater gain to his Lord.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And they said unto him,.... The bystanders; Lord, he hath ten pounds; which they say either through envy, at his superior gifts, and usefulness; for it is generally the lot of the most eminent and useful servants of Christ to be envied by others; or in surprise, as wondering at the conduct of Christ in giving more to such, who had so much already. The Ethiopic version reads the words by way of interrogation, "hath he not ten pounds?" is not that enough? why should he have more? This verse is left out in Beza's most ancient copy.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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."
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 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."
And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds - This whole verse is omitted by the Codex Bezae, a few others, and some copies of the Itala. It is probably an observation that some person made while our Lord was delivering the parable, with a design to correct him in the distribution: as if he had said, “Why give the mina to that person? he has got ten already; give it to one of those who has fewer.”
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And they said unto him - Those standing around him said. He hath ... - This was probably an observation made by some of the bystanders, as if surprised at such a decision. “He has already ten pounds. Why take away this one, and add to what he already possesses?
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἶπαν | eipan | they said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| αὐτῷ· | auto | to him; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| κύριε, | kurie | Master, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἔχει | echei | he has | G2192 → | 707 times |
| δέκα | deka | ten | G1176 → | 27 times |
| μνᾶς. | mnas | minas. | G3414 → | 9 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἶπανthey said
eipanG2036 →925 times
αὐτῷ·to him;
autoG846 →5565 times
κύριε,Master,
kurieG2962 →711 times
ἔχειhe has
echeiG2192 →707 times
δέκαten
dekaG1176 →27 times
μνᾶς.minas.
mnasG3414 →9 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
2 Samuel 7:19And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O…
it leads to
- Isaiah 55:8–9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
- 1 Chronicles 17:17
And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O God, You have spoken about the future of the house of Your servant and have regarded me as a man of great…
- 2 Samuel 7:11–16
and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house…
- Psalms 36:7
How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
- Isaiah 55:8–9
Through
Luke 16:2So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 11:9–10
Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes,…
- 1 Peter 4:5
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
- Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their…
- 1 Samuel 2:23–24
“Why are you doing these things?” Eli said to his sons. “I hear about your wicked deeds from all these people.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
About Luke

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, 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 (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.
