‘For I tell you that to everyone who has, will more be given; but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.
Parallel translations
- KJV For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
- BSB He replied, ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- NKJV ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
- NASB ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
- NLT “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
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
To everyone who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken. Faithful use of grace leads to increase; neglect leads to loss.
Overview
This Kingdom principle, repeated elsewhere in the Gospels, concerns the use of spiritual privilege and trust. Those who respond to God's gifts with faithfulness are given more, while those who do nothing forfeit even what they were given. It is a sobering call to active, fruitful discipleship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Matt 21:43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
- 2 Jn 1:8Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward.
- Matt 13:12For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.
- Luke 8:18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
- Mark 4:25For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away from him.”
- Matt 25:28–29Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
- 1 Sam 2:30“Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.
- Rev 2:3You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.
- 1 Sam 15:28Samuel said to him, “Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
- Rev 3:11I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.
- 2 Sam 7:15but my loving kindness will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
- Luke 16:3“The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.
- Acts 1:20For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be made desolate. Let no one dwell therein;’ and, ‘Let another take his office.’
- Ps 109:8Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
- Ezek 44:12–16Because they ministered to them before their idols, and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel; therefore I have lifted up my hand against them, says the Lord Yahweh, and they shall bear their iniquity.
- John 5:1–3After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
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 19:26 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.