The Parable of the Ten Pounds is a story told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. A nobleman was going away to receive a kingdom for himself and then return. Before leaving, he called ten of his servants and gave each of them one pound (a unit of currency), instructing them to engage in business until he returned. However, his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say that they didn’t want him to be their king. Nevertheless, the nobleman was granted a kingdom. After receiving the kingdom, the nobleman returned. He called his servants to see what they had gained with the pounds he had entrusted to them. The first servant had earned ten pounds. The nobleman commended him by saying job well done and giving him authority over ten cities. The second servant had gained five pounds, and the nobleman rewarded him with authority over five cities.
However, one servant came and reported that he had hidden his pound and had not put it to work. He feared the nobleman’s strictness. The nobleman rebuked him, calling him a wicked servant, and took the pound away, giving it to the servant who had earned ten pounds.
The parable concludes with the nobleman’s statement that those who have will be given more, but those who do not have, even what they have will be taken away. His enemies were to be brought and killed before him.
Parable of the Ten Pounds Meaning
The Parable of the Ten Pounds meaning can be found in Luke 19:11-27:
Luke 19:11-27
“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 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. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, 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. 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: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 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. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.”
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