by Ester yusufu | 15 August 2024 08:46 pm08
At face value, this verse can sound unfair. Why would Jesus suggest that the person with nothing should have even that little taken away, while the one with much gets even more? Isn’t that unjust?
Let’s read the passage again for clarity:
Luke 19:24–26 (NKJV)
“And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’
But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’
‘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.’”
This statement is part of The Parable of the Minas, a story Jesus tells to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like—especially in relation to accountability, spiritual fruitfulness, and stewardship. Theologically, this touches on divine justice and responsible discipleship.
Jesus isn’t talking about money or possessions. He’s using symbolic language to describe how God deals with people in terms of spiritual growth, calling, and obedience.
In the parable, the servants are entrusted with money (minas or talents), which represents gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities in the Kingdom of God. Those who are faithful with what they receive—whether small or great—are rewarded. Those who are careless or inactive lose even the opportunity they had.
To make this clearer, Jesus gives another metaphor in John 15:1–2 (NKJV):
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
The principle here is spiritual productivity. Just as a farmer removes unfruitful branches to help fruitful ones thrive, God removes spiritual dead weight to allow those who are growing to flourish more.
This isn’t about favoritism—it’s about God maximizing growth for His Kingdom.
This principle is reinforced in Matthew 25:14–30, the Parable of the Talents. The servant who hid his one talent and failed to invest it lost it:
Matthew 25:28–29 (NKJV)
“Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
Here, “having” doesn’t just mean possession—it means having in use. If you’re using what God has given you—faith, time, gifts, opportunities—God will entrust you with more. If you bury them, you forfeit the privilege to serve.
Jesus warns that there is a limit to how long unfruitfulness will be tolerated:
Luke 13:6–9 (NKJV)
“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none… ‘Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’”
God is patient, but not passive. Grace invites us to respond—not to remain unchanged year after year. The longer we neglect the chance to grow, the closer we come to losing it altogether.
This teaching reflects the theological truth that:
God’s grace gives everyone a chance. But what we do with that chance matters. That’s why Jesus said:
Matthew 3:10 (NKJV)
“Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
If you’ve heard the gospel and received God’s gifts—don’t stay idle. Don’t assume grace means passivity. Use what God has given you. Serve. Grow. Respond in faith. God delights in blessing those who are faithful.
Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV)
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love…”
May the Lord bless you and help us all to be fruitful in His Kingdoms
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2024/08/15/understanding-jesus-words-to-everyone-who-has-more-will-be-given-but-from-the-one-who-does-not-have-even-what-he-has-will-be-taken-awayluke-1926-nkjv/
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