Luke 19:18

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

And {G2532} the second {G1208} came {G2064}, saying {G3004}, Lord {G2962}, thy {G4675} pound {G3414} hath gained {G4160} five {G4002} pounds {G3414}.

The second one came and said, ‘Sir, your maneh has earned five more manim;

The second servant came and said, ‘Master, your mina has made five minas.’

And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.

Luke 19:18 is a key moment within Jesus' Parable of the Ten Minas (or Pounds), a powerful teaching delivered as He approached Jerusalem. This verse records the report of the second servant to the nobleman who had entrusted him with one mina, or pound, to invest before departing to receive a kingdom.

Context

Jesus tells this parable to correct the disciples' misunderstanding that the Kingdom of God would immediately appear. The nobleman represents Christ, who ascends to heaven to receive His kingdom and will return later. The servants represent His followers, each entrusted with resources to manage in His absence. The instruction given was to "occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13), emphasizing active stewardship. This verse follows the first servant's impressive report and sets up a contrast with the third servant who failed to invest, highlighting different responses to the master's trust.

Key Themes

  • Stewardship and Accountability: The parable underscores the divine expectation that believers will faithfully manage the resources, talents, and opportunities God has given them. This servant demonstrates excellent stewardship, actively working to increase what was entrusted to him.
  • Diligence and Fruitfulness: Like the first servant, this individual shows diligence by multiplying his initial investment fivefold. This emphasizes the importance of active engagement and productive effort in the Lord's service, rather than merely preserving what has been given.
  • Reward for Faithfulness: The positive outcome of this servant's report anticipates the commendation and reward he will receive from the master, mirroring the reward for the first servant (Luke 19:17). This reinforces the principle that faithfulness in God's kingdom leads to blessing.

Linguistic Insights

The "pound" mentioned in the KJV text translates the Greek word mna (mina). A mina was a specific unit of currency, equivalent to approximately 100 days' wages for a common laborer. While it was less than a talent (used in the parallel Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30), it was still a significant sum. This detail highlights that even what might seem like a modest initial endowment from God is valuable and carries the expectation of diligent and productive use.

Practical Application

Luke 19:18 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today about their responsibility to use their God-given talents, time, spiritual gifts, and material resources for His glory. It challenges us to be active and productive in our faith, not simply to hold onto what we have. Just as the nobleman expected a return on his investment, Christ expects His followers to bear fruit for the Kingdom. Our faithfulness, even with seemingly small beginnings, can yield significant spiritual returns. This verse encourages us to actively seek opportunities to grow and multiply the "pounds" we have received, knowing that faithfulness in little things often leads to greater responsibilities and eternal reward.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 4:20

    And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

  • Matthew 13:23

    But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:12

    For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath not.

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