Luke 19:22

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

And {G1161} he saith {G3004} unto him {G846}, Out of {G1537} thine own {G4675} mouth {G4750} will I judge {G2919} thee {G4571}, thou wicked {G4190} servant {G1401}. Thou knewest {G1492} that {G3754} I {G1473} was {G1510} an austere {G840} man {G444}, taking up {G142} that {G3739} I laid {G5087} not {G3756} down {G5087}, and {G2532} reaping {G2325} that {G3739} I did {G4687} not {G3756} sow {G4687}:

To him the master said, ‘You wicked servant! I will judge you by your own words! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, taking out what I didn’t put in and harvesting what I didn’t plant?

His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;

Commentary

Luke 19:22 is a pivotal verse within the Parable of the Ten Minas, where Jesus illustrates principles of accountability and stewardship. In this passage, the master confronts the servant who chose to hide his entrusted mina (a sum of money) rather than investing it. The master's words reveal a profound truth about judgment and responsibility.

Context of the Parable

This verse is found in the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), which Jesus told as he journeyed towards Jerusalem. The parable addresses the disciples' expectation that the Kingdom of God would appear immediately. Through the story of a nobleman who goes to a far country to receive a kingdom and entrusts his servants with money, Jesus teaches about faithfulness, service, and the future accounting for one's actions. The parallel story in Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents, conveys similar themes.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Accountability and Self-Condemnation: The master declares, "Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee." This highlights a powerful principle: the servant's own words and confessed understanding are used as the basis for his judgment. He admitted he knew the master was demanding ("austere"), yet he failed to act responsibly. This speaks to the idea that our own admitted knowledge or beliefs can condemn us if we do not act according to them, a concept also seen in Matthew 12:37, "by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
  • Consequences of Inaction: The servant's fear of the master, coupled with his laziness, led to inaction. He did not lose the money, but he failed to make it profitable. This parable underscores that God expects us to be productive and faithful stewards of the gifts, resources, and opportunities He provides, rather than burying them out of fear or apathy.
  • Stewardship and Responsibility: The parable emphasizes the importance of managing what has been entrusted to us. The "mina" represents more than just money; it symbolizes the spiritual gifts, time, talents, and opportunities that God gives to each individual. The master's severe response to the "wicked servant" serves as a stark reminder of the serious nature of our responsibility in being good stewards of God's manifold grace.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the term "austere" for the Greek word austēros (αὐστηρός), which means harsh, severe, strict, or rigorous. The servant uses this characterization of his master as an excuse for his inaction, claiming the master was "taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow." This implies a demanding nature, expecting returns from minimal or no initial investment. However, the master uses the servant's own perception against him, implying that even if this were true, the servant should have acted prudently to avoid punishment by at least putting the money in a bank to gain interest.

The master calls the servant "wicked" (Greek: ponēros, πονηρός), a term that denotes not only evil but also worthlessness, idleness, or harm. This highlights that the servant's failure was not just a lack of profit, but a moral and functional failing—he was useless to his master's purpose.

Practical Application

Luke 19:22 challenges believers to examine their own stewardship of God's blessings. Are we actively investing our talents, time, and resources for the Kingdom of God, or are we burying them out of fear, laziness, or a misunderstanding of God's character? This verse reminds us that our knowledge of God's expectations carries with it a significant responsibility. Just as the servant was judged by his own words, we too will be held accountable for what we knew and what we did (or did not do) with what we were given. It encourages diligence, faithfulness, and a proactive approach to serving God and His purposes, reminding us that each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 1:16

    And David said unto him, Thy blood [be] upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.

  • Job 15:5

    For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

  • Job 15:6

    Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

  • Matthew 25:26

    His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

  • Matthew 25:27

    Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

  • Matthew 22:12

    And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

  • Matthew 12:37

    For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
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