Luke 19:19

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

And {G1161} he said {G2036} likewise {G2532} to him {G5129}, Be {G1096} thou {G4771} also {G2532} over {G1883} five {G4002} cities {G4172}.

and to this one he said, ‘You be in charge of five towns.’

And to this one he said, ‘You shall have authority over five cities.’

And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.

Luke 19:19 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Minas (also known as the Parable of the Pounds), which Jesus told to His disciples and the crowd as He approached Jerusalem. This parable, found in Luke 19:11-27, illustrates principles of spiritual stewardship, faithfulness, and accountability in the Kingdom of God.

Context

The parable begins with a nobleman who travels to a distant country to receive a kingdom and then return. Before leaving, he entrusts ten of his servants with one mina (a sum of money) each, instructing them to "occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13). Upon his return, he calls them to account for what they did with the entrusted funds. The first servant reported that his one mina had gained ten minas and was rewarded with authority over ten cities (Luke 19:17). Luke 19:19 records the nobleman's response to the second servant, who reported that his one mina had gained five minas.

Key Themes

  • Faithful Stewardship: This verse highlights the importance of faithfully using the resources, gifts, and opportunities God entrusts to us. The second servant, like the first, demonstrated diligence and productivity with what he was given.
  • Proportional Reward: The reward—authority "over five cities"—is directly proportional to the gain achieved. This principle suggests that God rewards faithfulness and diligent effort in His service, aligning the level of responsibility in His kingdom with proven trustworthiness and fruitfulness.
  • Accountability: The parable underscores the future day of accountability when believers will give an account for how they managed what was given to them. This reward is not salvation, but rather a recognition of faithful service within God's kingdom.
  • Kingdom Principles: The "cities" can be seen as representing areas of responsibility or influence in the spiritual realm, emphasizing that those who are faithful in little will be given more (Luke 16:10).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "cities" is poleis (πόλεις), indicating actual urban centers. The reward is a tangible grant of authority and governance. The phrase "over five cities" signifies a significant position of rule, reflecting the nobleman's trust and recognition of the servant's effective management of his resources. The context implies that this authority is part of the nobleman's newly acquired kingdom, suggesting a future role for faithful believers in Christ's reign.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 19:19 serves as a powerful reminder that our lives, talents, time, and resources are entrusted to us by God. We are called to be good stewards, actively investing what we have been given for the advancement of His kingdom. The promise of reward for faithfulness, though not necessarily in the form of literal cities, assures us that our diligent efforts in serving God will be recognized and honored when Christ returns. It encourages us to leverage our spiritual gifts and earthly opportunities for eternal impact, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

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.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:6

    ¶ But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

  • 2 John 1:8

    Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

  • Isaiah 3:10

    Say ye to the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:8

    Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:41

    [There is] one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:42

    So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

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