Here is Your Pound - Luke 19:20

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 he said unto him, Well, you good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have you authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be you also over five cities”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty of his book Luke shared how Jesus said the next servant came and told the nobleman, “Lord, behold, here is your pound” where we read:

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

The verse reads, “And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is your pound, ...” Luke began with the words, “and another came” or “and one other servant arose and appeared”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Lord” or “one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding or master”, “behold” which means “lo, look and consider”, “here is your pound” or “in this place is your, the nobleman's, original weight of three hundred shekels or weight and sum of money equal to one hundred drachmae”. Luke shared how Jesus said “another” one of the “servants” appeared before the nobleman, noted him as his master, and presented him with his original “pound”.

The verse continues “... which I have kept laid up in a napkin:” Luke added the words, “which I have kept laid up” or “that I, your servant, have laid away, reserved and awaited for the nobleman” “in a napkin” which means “within a handkerchief or cloth for wiping perspiration from the face and for the cleaning of the nose and for swathing the head of a corpse”. Luke shared how Jesus said the servant told his nobleman that he kept the “pound” entrusted to him in a “handkerchief” while he awaited his return.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn what this third servant did with the “pound” entrusted to him. Rather than take a risk and invest the “pound” like the other two servants, this servant simply “hid” it. Though he did return the original 'pound” we shall see how the nobleman responds to his “servant”, but for now let it be known that God gives “gifts” to people to use them in His Kingdom. He gave His Son Jesus as a gift to mankind to save them from their sins, and then He entrusts them with “talents and abilities” which they are to use within His Kingdom. Those who are wise will receive God's gift of His Son Jesus, and begin to use the “talents” He has given to them in advance of them having to give an account.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says the third servant told the nobleman, “I feared you, because you are an austere man”, 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".