Authority Over Ten Cities - Luke 19:17

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was near 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, your pound has gained ten pounds”, and in chapter nineteen and verse seventeen of his book Luke shared how Jesus said the nobleman told the first servant, “you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities” where we read:

And he said unto him, Well, you good servant:

because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities.

The verse reads, “And he said unto him, Well, you good servant:” Luke began with the words, “and he said unto him” or “and the nobleman uttered, declared and proclaimed to the first servant”, “well” which means “be well off, fare well and prosper”, “you good servant” or “you, first servant, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful and happy man of servile condition, slave or bondman”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “nobleman” told the “first servant” he was to “be well off and prosper” because he was a “useful and joyful” man of servile condition.

The verse goes on to say, “because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities.” Luke continues the words, “because you have been faithful” or “since and on account that you, first servant, have existed as a trustworthy, reliable and worthy of trust servant” “in a very little” which means “with a small or least amount”, “you have authority” or “you, first servant, hold, own, possess and adhere to the power of choice, liberty and doing as one pleases” “over ten cities” which means “above ten abodes , towns and metropolises”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “nobleman” granted the “first servant” “ten towns” of which he would have authority over because of his “faithfulness”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “faithfulness” of this “first servant” gained him great reward from the nobleman. Each of the servants of the nobleman were to give an account of what they did with his “pound” when he returned, and this servant made “ten pounds” with it. In other words, he took risk and invested in a manner that multiplied his original amount. God provides all gifts and talents to people with the greatest of them being a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will submit themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and then begin to use the “gifts” God grants them to further His Kingdom. Those who are “faithful” in that which God gives will find themselves greatly rewarded when their time comes to give an account.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says the second servant told the nobleman, “Lord, your pound has gained five pounds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".