Luke 19:23

Wherefore then gauest not thou my money into the bancke, that at my comming I might haue required mine owne with vsury? Luke 19:23 (KJV)

In the Parable of the Ten Minas, also called the Parable of the Pounds, Jesus addresses His disciples and those gathered around Him with a striking lesson about stewardship. The narrative, found only in Luke 19:11‑27, tells of a nobleman who sets out on a journey to a far country in order to receive a kingdom. Before departing he entrusts ten minas (a unit of currency) to ten of his servants, commanding them to conduct business with the money until his return.

When the nobleman comes back, he summons the servants to give an account of how they have handled the resources given to them. One servant, who had received a single mina, admits that he had hidden his master’s money in a napkin out of fear, saying, “Lord, behold, here is thy mina, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 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.” The nobleman rebukes him, asking, “Why then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?” The rebuke highlights the servant’s lack of initiative and his failure to use the entrusted resources, a wasted opportunity in the master’s eyes.

The parable functions as an allegory for the kingdom of God, underscoring the responsibility of believers to employ the gifts, talents, and opportunities God has given them wisely for His purposes. It warns against complacency, laziness, and a fear of taking risks in advancing the kingdom. Each person is called to be a faithful steward, actively engaging in God’s work and multiplying what has been entrusted, rather than hoarding or squandering it for personal security. In this way the story challenges us to make the most of our resources for God’s glory, demonstrating that true stewardship is measured by faithful, productive action rather than mere preservation.