What is the meaning of Luke 19:20?

Then another servant came

The parable’s spotlight now shifts from the faithful servants (vv. 16-19) to a third, unfaithful one. His mere arrival before the master underscores two certainties:

• Every servant of Christ must appear before Him to settle accounts (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12).

• Rank or visibility in this life is irrelevant; what matters is faithfulness (Luke 16:10-12).

The narrative warns that passivity, not outright rebellion, can still provoke the Lord’s displeasure (Luke 12:42-46).

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and said,

What the servant says reveals what he believes. Scripture constantly links speech with the heart (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:36-37). An account must be verbal as well as practical; words will either justify or condemn. Here, the servant’s words foreshadow self-justification, not repentance.

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‘Master, here is your mina,

He acknowledges the mina belonged to the master all along—correct theology on the surface (1 Chronicles 29:14; 1 Corinthians 4:2). Yet he offers back exactly what was entrusted, unchanged and unfruitful.

• The mina represents whatever resources, opportunities, and gospel influence Christ places in our hands (Ephesians 2:10).

• Simply preserving what God gives, without increase, is failure (Matthew 25:24-27).

• The servant’s tone lacks joy; there is no sense of privilege in serving (Psalm 100:2; Colossians 3:23-24).

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which I have laid away in a piece of cloth.

He admits hiding the mina instead of putting it to work. In first-century culture this was a lazy, fear-driven method of “safekeeping.”

• Hiding light contradicts the Master’s intent (Matthew 5:15-16; Philippians 2:15-16).

• Fear and sloth often masquerade as prudence (Hebrews 6:12; Proverbs 26:13-15).

• Faithfulness means risk and diligence, not maintenance (James 2:17; Revelation 3:15-16).

By wrapping the mina, the servant effectively declared the Master’s commission unworthy of effort—a serious dishonor (Luke 19:22-23).

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summary

Luke 19:20 exposes the tragedy of wasted stewardship. The third servant reached the judgment seat with nothing more than he started with—no growth, no fruit, no multiplication. Scripture treats such caution as disobedience masquerading as care. Every gift, time slot, relationship, and gospel opportunity carries the expectation of increase for Christ’s glory. The lesson is clear: receive the Lord’s trust gratefully, employ it courageously, and meet Him with returns—not excuses.