19:11-27 What is this parable called and what does it teach?

This is called the parable of the pounds. It is similar to the parable of the talents in Mt 25 yet is so different (cp Mt 25:14-30). The talents represent spiritual gifts and graces given to every believer according to their respective ability, whereas the pound, which represents God's word, has been given to every believer alike.

In the parable of the talents there are only three servants involved who each received a different number of talents, whereas in the parable of the pounds there are ten servants involved, and all received the same amount. There is a variety of stewardship in the parable of the talents, but all are alike responsible in the parable of the pounds.

This is the distinctive teaching in the two parables. Jesus told the parable of the pounds for two reasons: firstly, because He was nearing Jerusalem, which signified that the end of His earthly ministry was at hand - Jerusalem was symbolised in the parable by the nobleman's citizens who said "we will not have this man to reign over us".

The nobleman symbolised Jesus Himself (cp Mt 27:21-25; Jn 1:11; 15:18). Secondly, because the crowd with Him thought the kingdom of God should immediately appear, and Jesus wanted them to know that there would be an intervening period of time between His first and second coming, the parable sets out what believers are to do during that time. The word occupy in Lk 19:13 (KJV), means be busy, do business, trade with.

This is a specific command that has to be obeyed. The pound which all the nobleman's servants alike were given represents the word of God all believers alike have been given (cp 2Cor 5:17-19). And, as the servants had to trade with the pound for the nobleman's profit, so too believers have to do the work of God's word for the advancement of His kingdom (cp Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16 with Ac 1:7-8; 10:42-43; 2Cor 5:17-20; Jude 3).

The servant who hid his pound in Lk 19 had the same excuse for not investing it as the servant who hid his talent in Mt 25, and both lost what they were given as a result. It was taken from them and given to the servant who already had the most (cp Mt 25:24-30; Lk 19:20-26). The simple teaching here is that worthy Christians will be rewarded while unworthy Christians will be punished. Doers of the word will be saved while merely hearers will be lost (cp Mt 7:21-27; Ro 2:13; Jas 1:22-25; 2:14-26; Rev 1:3).

The dominant idea in both the parable of the pounds and the parable of the talents is of a time of trial which must needs come between the departure and the return of our Lord to prepare the judgement which shall fix the position of every man in the state of things which shall follow Christ's second coming (cp Mt 16:27; Rev 22:11-14). See also comments on Mt 3:10, 7:21, 25:14-30; Jn 15:2, 15:4-6, 15:16,