Luke 19:23
New International Version
Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

New Living Translation
why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

English Standard Version
Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

Berean Standard Bible
Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’

Berean Literal Bible
Why then did you not give my money to the bank, and I having come, might have collected it with interest?'

King James Bible
Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

New King James Version
Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

New American Standard Bible
And so why did you not put my money in the bank, and when I came back, I would have collected it with interest?’

NASB 1995
‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’

NASB 1977
‘Then why did you not put the money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’

Legacy Standard Bible
Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’

Amplified Bible
Then why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’

Christian Standard Bible
why, then, didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
why didn’t you put my money in the bank? And when I returned, I would have collected it with interest!’

American Standard Version
then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

Contemporary English Version
Why didn't you put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have had the money together with interest."

English Revised Version
then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.'

Good News Translation
Well, then, why didn't you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.'

International Standard Version
Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'

Majority Standard Bible
Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest??

NET Bible
Why then didn't you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?'

New Heart English Bible
Then why did you not deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?'

Webster's Bible Translation
Why then gavest thou not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with interest?

Weymouth New Testament
why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?

World English Bible
Then why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, and at my coming, I might have earned interest on it?’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And why did you not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, might have received it with interest?

Berean Literal Bible
Why then did you not give my money to the bank, and I having come, might have collected it with interest?'

Young's Literal Translation
and wherefore didst thou not give my money to the bank, and I, having come, with interest might have received it?

Smith's Literal Translation
And wherefore gavest thou not my silver to the bankers, and I having come had received it with interest?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And why then didst thou not give my money into the bank, that at my coming, I might have exacted it with usury?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, why did you not give my money to the bank, so that, upon my return, I might have withdrawn it with interest?’

New American Bible
why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’

New Revised Standard Version
Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why then did you not give my money to the exchange, so that when I came I could demand it with its interest?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Why did you not put my money upon the exchange and I would have come to seek it with its interest?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And why then did you not put my money into the bank, that, when I came, I could have collected it with interest?

Godbey New Testament
Wherefore indeed didst thou not put my money in the bank? and having come I would have received the same with the product.

Haweis New Testament
why then gavest thou not my money to the bank, so when I came I might have required it with interest?

Mace New Testament
" why then did you not lodge my money in the bank, that on my return I might have drawn it out with interest?

Weymouth New Testament
why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?

Worrell New Testament
and wherefore did you not put my money in bank; and I, at my coming, would have exacted it with interest.'

Worsley New Testament
and why then didst thou not put my money into the bank, that when I came I might have received it with interest?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Ten Minas
22His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank, and upon my return I could have collected it with interest?’ 24Then he told those standing by, ‘Take the mina from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’…

Cross References
Matthew 25:27
Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...

Luke 16:1-12
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. / So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’ / The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. ...

Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.

Ecclesiastes 11:2
Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

Matthew 13:12
Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

Mark 4:25
For whoever has will be given more. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

Romans 12:6-8
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; / if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; / if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. / There are different ministries, but the same Lord. / There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. ...

1 Peter 4:10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? / Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. / If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? ...

Genesis 41:34-36
Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. / Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. / This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.”


Treasury of Scripture

Why then gave not you my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with usury?

Wherefore.

Romans 2:4,5
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? …

usury.

Exodus 22:25-27
If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury…

Deuteronomy 23:19,20
Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: …

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Luke 19
1. Of Zacchaeus a tax collector.
11. The ten minas.
28. Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;
41. weeps over it;
45. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
47. Teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people.














Why then did you not deposit my money in the bank
This phrase reflects the expectation of stewardship and responsibility. In the cultural context of the first century, banking systems were rudimentary, but the concept of earning interest was understood. The master in the parable represents God, who entrusts His servants with resources and expects them to be used wisely. This echoes the biblical principle of stewardship found in Genesis 1:28, where humanity is given dominion over the earth. The failure to deposit the money signifies a lack of initiative and faithfulness, paralleling the warning in James 4:17 about knowing the good one ought to do and failing to do it.

and upon my return
This phrase alludes to the eschatological theme of Christ's second coming. The return of the master symbolizes Jesus' return to judge the living and the dead, as described in Matthew 25:31-46. The expectation of accountability upon His return is a recurring theme in the New Testament, urging believers to live in readiness and faithfulness. The anticipation of the master's return also reflects the Jewish understanding of the Day of the Lord, a time of divine intervention and judgment.

I could have collected it with interest?
The concept of collecting interest underscores the idea of growth and productivity in the spiritual life. In the parable, interest represents the fruits of faithful service and the expansion of God's kingdom. This aligns with the teaching in John 15:5, where Jesus speaks of bearing much fruit as evidence of being His disciples. The expectation of interest also highlights the principle of reaping what one sows, as seen in Galatians 6:7-9. Theologically, it emphasizes the importance of using one's gifts and opportunities for the glory of God and the advancement of His purposes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Master
In the parable, the master represents God or Jesus, who entrusts His servants with resources and expects them to be productive.

2. The Servants
These are the individuals entrusted with the master's money, symbolizing believers who are given gifts and responsibilities by God.

3. The Money (Mina)
This represents the resources, talents, or opportunities God gives to His people to use for His kingdom.

4. The Bankers
In the parable, the bankers symbolize a means of gaining interest or profit, representing the idea of using resources wisely to yield spiritual growth.

5. The Event of Reckoning
This is the moment when the master returns and holds the servants accountable for their stewardship, symbolizing the final judgment or Christ's return.
Teaching Points
Stewardship and Responsibility
God entrusts each believer with resources, talents, and opportunities. We are called to use these wisely and productively for His kingdom.

Accountability
There will be a time when we must give an account of how we have used what God has given us. This should motivate us to live purposefully and diligently.

Spiritual Investment
Just as the master expected interest from the bankers, God expects us to invest spiritually, growing in faith and contributing to the growth of His kingdom.

Faith in Action
Our faith should be evident in how we manage our resources. It is not enough to simply hold onto what we have; we must actively use it for God's glory.

Eternal Perspective
Keeping an eternal perspective helps us prioritize our actions and decisions, focusing on what will have lasting value in God's kingdom.(23) Into the bank.--Literally, the table, or counter. The Greek substantive is the root of the word translated "exchangers" in Matthew 25:27 (where see Note).

That at my coming I might have required . . .--Literally, And when I came I should have got it with interest.

Usury.--The word is used (as in Matthew 25:27) in its older meaning, as including interest of any kind, and not exclusively that which we call usurious.

Verse 23. - Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? Many in "the bank" have seen mirrored those Christian societies and religious organizations to which every believer may entrust the resources which he is uncertain how best to use himself. Without particularizing, however, it seems better to understand the Lord here simply intending to teach, by his image of the bank, that no man in this world is doomed to inactivity or uselessness, but that there will be opportunity afforded to every one who is willing to use his talent in a humble and obscure, if not in a heroic and conspicuous, way.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Why
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

then
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

did you not deposit
ἔδωκάς (edōkas)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

money
ἀργύριον (argyrion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 694: Neuter of a presumed derivative of arguros; silvery, i.e. cash; specially, a silverling.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

[the] bank,
τράπεζαν (trapezan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5132: Probably contracted from tessares and peze; a table or stool, usually for food; also a counter for money.

and
κἀγὼ (kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

upon my return
ἐλθὼν (elthōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

I could have collected
ἔπραξα (epraxa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4238: To do, perform, accomplish; be in any condition, i.e. I fare; I exact, require.

it
αὐτὸ (auto)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

with
σὺν (syn)
Preposition
Strong's 4862: With. A primary preposition denoting union; with or together.

interest?’
τόκῳ (tokō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5110: Interest, usury. From the base of tikto; interest on money loaned.


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