New International VersionWhy then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’
New Living Translationwhy didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
English Standard VersionWhy then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
Berean Standard BibleWhy then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’
Berean Literal BibleWhy then did you not give my money to the bank, and I having come, might have collected it with interest?'
King James BibleWherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
New King James VersionWhy then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
New American Standard BibleAnd so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?’
NASB 1995‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
NASB 1977‘Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
Legacy Standard BibleThen why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’
Amplified BibleThen why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’
Christian Standard Biblewhy, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’
Holman Christian Standard Biblewhy didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’
American Standard Versionthen wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?
Contemporary English VersionWhy didn't you put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have had the money together with interest."
English Revised Versionthen wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.'
Good News TranslationWell, then, why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.'
International Standard VersionThen why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'
NET BibleWhy then didn't you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?'
New Heart English BibleThen why did you not deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'
Webster's Bible TranslationWhy then gavest thou not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with interest?
Weymouth New Testamentwhy then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhy then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’
World English BibleThen why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd why did you not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, might have received it with interest?
Berean Literal BibleWhy then did you not give my money to the bank, and I having come, might have collected it with interest?'
Young's Literal Translation and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd wherefore gavest thou not my silver to the bankers, and I having come had received it with interest? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming, I might have exacted it with usury?
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd so, why did you not give my money to the bank, so that, upon my return, I might have withdrawn it with interest?’
New American Biblewhy did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’
New Revised Standard VersionWhy then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhy then did you not give my money to the exchange, so that when I came I could demand it with its interest?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishWhy did you not put my money upon the exchange and I would have come to seek it with its interest?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd why then did you not put my money into the bank, that, when I came, I could have collected it with interest?
Godbey New TestamentWherefore indeed didst thou not put my money in the bank? and having come I would have received the same with the product.
Haweis New Testament
why then gavest thou not my money to the bank, so when I came I might have required it with interest?
Mace New Testament
" why then did you not lodge my money in the bank, that on my return I might have drawn it out with interest?
Weymouth New Testament
why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?
Worrell New Testament
and wherefore did you not put my money in bank; and I,at my coming, would have exacted it with interest.'
Worsley New Testament
and whythen didst thou not put my money into the bank, that when I came I might have received it with interest?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Parable of the Ten Minas… 22His 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? 23Whythendid you not depositmymoneyinthe bank,andupon my returnI could have collecteditwithinterest?’24Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’…
Cross References Matthew 25:27Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.
Matthew 25:14-30For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...
Luke 16:1-12Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. / So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ / The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. ...
Proverbs 13:11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
Ecclesiastes 11:2Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
Matthew 13:12Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
Mark 4:25For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
John 15:2He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
Romans 12:6-8We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; / if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; / if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. ...
1 Peter 4:10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
2 Corinthians 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 9:6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
James 2:14-17What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? / Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? ...
Genesis 41:34-36Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. / Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. / This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”
Treasury of Scripture Why then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with usury? Wherefore. Romans 2:4,5 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? … usury. Exodus 22:25-27 If thou lend money toany of my peoplethat is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury… Deuteronomy 23:19,20 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: … Jump to Previous BankCollectedDepositEarnedGavestInterestMoneyReceivedRequiredUsuryWhereforeJump to Next BankCollectedDepositEarnedGavestInterestMoneyReceivedRequiredUsuryWhereforeLuke 19 1.Of Zacchaeus a tax collector.11.The ten minas.28.Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;41.weeps over it;45.drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;47.Teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people.Why then did you not deposit my money in the bankThis phrase reflects the expectation of stewardship and responsibility. In the cultural context of the first century, banking systems were rudimentary, but the concept of earning interest was understood. The master in the parable represents God, who entrusts His servants with resources and expects them to be used wisely. This echoes the biblical principle of stewardship found in Genesis 1:28, where humanity is given dominion over the earth. The failure to deposit the money signifies a lack of initiative and faithfulness, paralleling the warning in James 4:17 about knowing the good one ought to do and failing to do it. and upon my return
This phrase alludes to the eschatological theme of Christ's second coming. The return of the master symbolizes Jesus' return to judge the living and the dead, as described inMatthew 25:31-46. The expectation of accountability upon His return is a recurring theme in the New Testament, urging believers to live in readiness and faithfulness. The anticipation of the master's return also reflects the Jewish understanding of the Day of the Lord, a time of divine intervention and judgment. I could have collected it with interest?
The concept of collecting interest underscores the idea of growth and productivity in the spiritual life. In the parable, interest represents the fruits of faithful service and the expansion of God's kingdom. This aligns with the teaching inJohn 15:5, where Jesus speaks of bearing much fruit as evidence of being His disciples. The expectation of interest also highlights the principle of reaping what one sows, as seen inGalatians 6:7-9. Theologically, it emphasizes the importance of using one's gifts and opportunities for the glory of God and the advancement of His purposes. Persons / Places / Events 1. The MasterIn the parable, the master represents God or Jesus, who entrusts His servants with resources and expects them to be productive. 2. The ServantsThese are the individuals entrusted with the master's money, symbolizing believers who are given gifts and responsibilities by God. 3. The Money (Mina)This represents the resources, talents, or opportunities God gives to His people to use for His kingdom. 4. The BankersIn the parable, the bankers symbolize a means of gaining interest or profit, representing the idea of using resources wisely to yield spiritual growth. 5. The Event of ReckoningThis is the moment when the master returns and holds the servants accountable for their stewardship, symbolizing the final judgment or Christ's return. Teaching Points Stewardship and ResponsibilityGod entrusts each believer with resources, talents, and opportunities. We are called to use these wisely and productively for His kingdom. AccountabilityThere will be a time when we must give an account of how we have used what God has given us. This should motivate us to live purposefully and diligently. Spiritual InvestmentJust as the master expected interest from the bankers, God expects us to invest spiritually, growing in faith and contributing to the growth of His kingdom. Faith in ActionOur faith should be evident in how we manage our resources. It is not enough to simply hold onto what we have; we must actively use it for God's glory. Eternal PerspectiveKeeping an eternal perspective helps us prioritize our actions and decisions, focusing on what will have lasting value in God's kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Luke 19:23?
2.Why did the master expect interest from the money given in Luke 19:23?
3.How does Luke 19:23 illustrate accountability in Christian stewardship?
4.What other Scriptures emphasize wise management of God-given resources?
5.How can we apply Luke 19:23 to our financial decisions today?
6.What lessons on responsibility can we learn from Luke 19:23?
7.Why did the master expect interest from the bank in Luke 19:23?
8.How does Luke 19:23 relate to stewardship and responsibility?
9.What historical context influences the interpretation of Luke 19:23?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 19?
11.How can I guide my child to Christ?
12.What were Jesus' last words? (Luke 23:46 vs. John 19:30)
13.According to the gospels, what were the last words of Jesus before he died? Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit! (Luke 23:46) 'It is finished' (John 19:30)
14.How do the events described in Mark 15 align with differing crucifixion accounts in the other Gospels?What Does Luke 19:23 Mean Why then• The master’s question exposes negligence, not ignorance. The servant knew the master’s character (Luke 19:21–22) yet chose inactivity. •Hebrews 10:26 reminds us that deliberate inaction, when truth is known, is culpable. •James 4:17 underscores the same principle: “If anyone knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, he sins.”
Did you not deposit my money• The resources belong to the master; the servant only manages them (Psalm 24:1;1 Corinthians 4:2). • “My money” highlights personal accountability. Each believer answers for what Christ entrusts—time, gifts, opportunities (Romans 14:12).
In the bank• A bank represents the least demanding option—still productive, but requiring minimal effort. • Even the smallest act of faithfulness counts (Luke 16:10;Mark 9:41). • The servant’s refusal shows indifference, not inability.
And upon my return• The master’s coming is certain; only the timing is unknown (Acts 1:11;Revelation 22:12). • Because Christ will return, present choices gain eternal weight (2 Corinthians 5:10).
I could have collected it• The master rightfully expects a harvest from His own investment (John 15:16;1 Corinthians 3:14). • Faithfulness yields joy for the master and reward for the servant (Matthew 25:21).
With interest• Interest pictures growth beyond the original deposit—kingdom multiplication (Galatians 6:9;Philippians 1:11). • God delights in using even modest efforts to produce abundant results (Ephesians 3:20).
summaryLuke 19:23 shows that Christ expects every believer to engage His gifts, however ordinary the avenue. Doing nothing is unacceptable; even minimal, consistent action honors the returning King and advances His kingdom, yielding fruit that brings Him glory and us eternal reward. (23) Into the bank.--Literally, the table, or counter. The Greek substantive is the root of the word translated "exchangers" in Matthew 25:27 (where see Note). That at my coming I might have required . . .--Literally,And when I came I should have got it with interest. Usury.--The word is used (as inMatthew 25:27) in its older meaning, as including interest of any kind, and not exclusively that which we call usurious. Verse 23. - Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? Many in "the bank" have seen mirrored those Christian societies and religious organizations to which every believer may entrust the resources which he is uncertain how best to use himself. Without particularizing, however, it seems better to understand the Lord here simply intending to teach, by his image of the bank, that no man in this world is doomed to inactivity or uselessness, but that there will be opportunity afforded to every one who is willing to use his talent in a humble and obscure, if not in a heroic and conspicuous, way.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Whyδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.thenκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.did you not depositἔδωκάς(edōkas)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325:To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.myμου(mou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.moneyἀργύριον(argyrion)Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 694:Neuter of a presumed derivative of arguros; silvery, i.e. cash; specially, a silverling.inἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.[the] bank,τράπεζαν(trapezan)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5132:Probably contracted from tessares and peze; a table or stool, usually for food; also a counter for money.andκἀγὼ(kagō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504:To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.upon my returnἐλθὼν(elthōn)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064:To come, go.I could have collectedἔπραξα(epraxa)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4238:To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require.itαὐτὸ(auto)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.withσὺν(syn)Preposition
Strong's 4862:With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.interest?’τόκῳ(tokō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5110:Interest, usury. From the base of tikto; interest on money loaned.
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NT Gospels: Luke 19:23 Then why didn't you deposit my money (Luke Lu Lk) |
