Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 19:23

"then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?" — Luke 19:23 (ASV)

Our focus of attention should be on the last of the three examples. This servant allowed his fear of the nobleman’s anger to prevent him from fulfilling his responsibility of putting the money given him to work (v.20). To be sure, its investment was risky. But he had been specifically charged to take the risk of investing the money. In his case conservatism was born of fear and was wrong.

The portrait on the coin represented submission to Rome. Jesus’ statement may seem ordinary to us, as we have become so used to the saying. But it was an unexpected and telling response to the question. Jesus’ questioners were sure his answer would alienate either the government officials or the pious people and zealots who opposed foreign domination. Actually Jesus appealed neither to those who preached revolution nor to the political compromisers. He stated a principle, not an accommodation or a compromise (cf. Romans 13:1–7). To give what the government requires is part of one’s religious duty. In spite of Jesus’ balanced position, he was later accused at his trial of promoting an insurrection against Rome.