Luke 19:21

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.

For {G1063} I feared {G5399} thee {G4571}, because {G3754} thou art {G1488} an austere {G840} man {G444}: thou takest up {G142} that {G3739} thou layedst {G5087} not {G3756} down {G5087}, and {G2532} reapest {G2325} that {G3739} thou didst {G4687} not {G3756} sow {G4687}.

because I was afraid of you — you take out what you didn’t put in, and you harvest what you didn’t plant.’

For 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.’

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.

Context

Luke 19:21 is spoken by the third servant in the Parable of the Minas, also known as the Parable of the Ten Minas or Pounds. Jesus tells this parable as He journeys towards Jerusalem, shortly after His encounter with Zacchaeus, and in response to the crowd's expectation that the Kingdom of God would immediately appear. The story features a nobleman who entrusts a sum of money (a 'mina' or 'pound') to each of his three servants before departing to receive a kingdom. Upon his return, he demands an account of their stewardship. This particular verse is the excuse offered by the servant who did nothing with his entrusted mina, burying it in a napkin out of fear, leading to his severe rebuke from the master (see Luke 19:22-26). A parallel parable, the Parable of the Talents, is found in Matthew 25:14-30.

Key Themes

  • Misunderstanding of Authority/God's Character: The servant's statement, "For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man," reveals a profound misconception of his master's true character. He perceives the master as harsh, unjustly demanding returns from investments he didn't personally make. This reflects how individuals can sometimes view God as a severe taskmaster, rather than a benevolent giver who expects responsible stewardship of His gifts and resources.
  • Fear Leading to Inaction: The servant's fear paralyzed him, preventing him from taking any risk or exercising diligence with the entrusted mina. Instead of investing or even putting the money in a bank to earn interest, he chose the safest, yet least productive, option of burying it. This highlights how fear can hinder spiritual growth, prevent us from using our God-given abilities, and keep us from fulfilling our divine purpose.
  • Stewardship and Accountability: The parable underscores the vital principle of stewardship—that what we possess, whether material wealth, spiritual gifts, time, or opportunities, is ultimately entrusted to us by God. There will be a day of reckoning, where we must give an account of how we managed what was given. The master expects growth and fruitfulness from his servants, not just preservation of the initial gift.
  • Consequences of Unfruitfulness: The servant's inaction, rooted in his flawed perception and fear, resulted in the loss of what he had and condemnation from the master. This serves as a powerful warning against spiritual complacency and the failure to actively participate in God's kingdom work, emphasizing that mere preservation is not enough when growth is expected.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated as "austere" is austēros (αὐστηρός), meaning "harsh," "severe," "strict," or "rigid." It describes the servant's perception of his master's character, emphasizing the master's supposed demanding nature and lack of leniency. The phrase "thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow" is a proverbial expression. It accuses the master of being exploitative or profiting from others' labor without contributing his own. This accusation reveals the servant's judgmental and uncharitable view, which he uses to justify his own lack of effort and responsibility.

Practical Application

Luke 19:21 challenges us to examine our own perception of God. Do we see Him as a demanding tyrant, or as a loving Father who has generously equipped us with gifts and calls us to faithful service? This verse reminds us that true faith is not characterized by a paralyzing fear but by active obedience and diligent stewardship. We are called to use our spiritual gifts, talents, time, and resources for the advancement of His kingdom, rather than burying them out of fear or a misunderstanding of His character. God desires fruitfulness, and His expectation is that we will wisely invest what He has entrusted to us, demonstrating our love and trust in Him, rather than being overcome by a spirit of fear (as mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7).

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.

  • Matthew 25:24

    Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

  • Matthew 25:25

    And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.

  • Job 21:14

    Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

  • Job 21:15

    What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

  • 1 Samuel 12:20

    And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

  • 2 Samuel 6:9

    And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

  • 2 Samuel 6:11

    And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

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