When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be summoned to him so that he would learn how much they had made by the business they had done.
Parallel translations
- WEB “When he had come back again, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by conducting business.
- KJV And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
- BSB When he returned from procuring his kingship, he summoned the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what each one had earned.
- NKJV “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
- NLT “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Having received the kingdom, the nobleman returns and calls his servants to account. Christ will return as King and reckon with how his people have served him.
Overview
The nobleman's return to settle accounts depicts the second coming of Christ and the day of reckoning that follows. Every servant must answer for what he has done with the Master's trust. This sober expectation of accountability undergirds the whole parable's call to faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Rom 14:10–12But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
- 1 Cor 4:1–5So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.
- Matt 25:19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
- Luke 12:48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
- Ps 2:4–6He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
- Luke 16:2–13He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’
- Matt 18:23–35Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 19:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.