In several places in the Gospel this verse has been mentioned as a proverb (Mk 13:12; Mk 4:25; Lk 8:18;19:29). A similar idea can be found among the Hebrews and in the Old Testament (Prov 9:9). In particular, in the gospels of St Mathew and St Luke at the close of the parables on the talents (Mt 25:14-30) and on the coins (Lk 19:11-27) this verse, hard to understand, is implied. To study its context will help much to grasp the meaning.

Though there are some differences in the accounts of the two gospels, the chief idea of both is the same. In both cases the protagonist goes on a long journey and before setting out calls the servants and gives them a particular sum of money. He also demands an account of the expenditure on his return. On this occasion the first two servants deserve to be rewarded. The third, however, had to be punished. It is when the third man was being punished that this verse occurs, "I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away" (Lk 19:26)
 
 

Our study is based mainly on the parable of the coins in St Luke’s gospel. The message of this parable is that the disciples should be on the watch and remain faithful to Christ during the period between the ascension of Jesus and his second coming (Lk 19:11-27). The time until the second coming is a time when the disciples should be engaged in the work of evangelisation.

It is not through the merit of the servants but through the mercy and condescension of the king that he gave the coins to the servants. The king has invested a great responsibility in the servants by giving them the coins. He summons ten of his slaves, and gives them ten pounds, and says to them, "Do business with these until I come back" (Lk 19:13) The king who returns unexpectedly, calls the servants and asks for an account of how they spent the money. The three servants are the representatives of the disciples who have different kinds of ways of thinking and acting. The first two traded their coins and multiplied the money while the third just preserved it and returned it to the master unused. This last one was afraid of the master. Perhaps he reasoned that if he traded with it he might incur a loss in the capital which he would have to make good. He might have thought that it would be safer to preserve the money and return it as it was. This action enraged the master. He gave the money in the hands of this man to the one who had gained the most and punished the lazy servant. Those around were amazed and said, "He already has ten coins". It is then that Jesus said, "To those who have, more will be given".

When we think of this verse against the background of the parables, its meaning is clear. Those who remain faithful to the Lord and develop their talents are worthy of being rewarded. Others will be punished .

The disciples who have received the message of the gospels, must live according to it and proclaim it courageously. The parable contains the exhortation to lead a life of faith with zeal and to sow and nurture the seed of faith instead of hiding it in the barn. Those do so will receive a great reward on the day of the second coming. The disciples who waste the blessings of the Lord through sloth, will be punished and will forfeit the call they received.

Israel was not faithful in the service of the Lord. Since she did not multiply the talent God gave to her, she was punished and forfeited that talent-these meanings are implied in the parable.

That those who have are given more is because of their cooperation with God’s grace and their responsible action. It is because they acted according to the wishes of the master that they received more. The reward they received is not the right to be lazy and spend their time in pleasure-seeking. On the other hand, it is a greater responsibility for doing more work (Lk 19:17-19).

The third servant had the duty to work hard and earn more with what he obtained. But because of his failure to live up to his responsibility, he wasted the gifts he received. Therefore, he lost even what he had. If the one who has is given more, he will depend on God’s mercy and see that what he has is not wasted and try to multiply it. It is clear, therefore, that the master is not doing any injustice.

The picture of a God who loves and considers all his children without any discrimination, is clearly delineated in the parable. Even though the king gives an equal number of coins to all ten servants, he expects from each only the effort that is proportionate to each one’s abilities. The Lord asks of us to develop his divine gifts according to our ability and circumstances. There is no doubt that each one’s capacity, gifts and circumstances are varied. The Lord keeps count not of how much we did but how we did it. Since the parable of the coins is given in connection with that of Zacchaeus giving away his wealth and thus attaining salvation (Lk 19:1-10), Jesus is here giving a teaching regarding the correct use of wealth. The attitude the disciples of Christ should have towards wealth and material things, is clear in the parable. The disciple should be able to use his wealth in the proper manner instead of hoarding it. The result is the great reward that he will certainly receive. The parable of the coins reminds us that wealth shared with the poor will gain a double reward in heaven. Luke has made this idea clear in 16:9. The one who, like the foolish, rich man, fails to use his wealth for others, will lose even what he has. He will also be punished.

That constant vigilance is necessary, is also a message of the parables of the coins and of the talents. The judge may come at any moment. We do not know the time of his arrival. The Lord can ask an account from us at any time. We should make every effort so that when we appear before the King of kings, we are not people who have lost everything. We should try to utilise God’s gifts creatively, carry out our responsibilities and duties according to our ability and, like good servants, deserve to enter the master’s joy (Mt 25:21,23).
 
 

This verse under consideration can be seen in the gospels in other contexts too. In Luke 8:16-18, after the parable on the lamp, we are told through this verse how to listen to the word of God. The one who listens faithfully to the word of God, gains more and more fruit from it. The one who is unfaithful to the word of God and rejects it, loses even the word that he already has received.

In Mark 4:21-25 we find a similar idea. From those who reject the word of God because of hardness of heart, even that which he has is taken away. To those who let the word grow, more will be given.

St Mathew uses this verse under consideration to illustrate how to accept the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 13:10-12). The disciple of Christ who accepts the secrets of the kingdom with fidelity and lives according to it and responds to it creatively, will be blessed with divine gifts plentifully. From the one who does not listen to these secrets of the kingdom of heaven and fails to live according to them and refuses to believe, the divine gifts which he had, will be taken away. There is no use being surprised at this.
 
 

God has bestowed several gifts on every person. They may be spiritual or temporal or intellectual gifts. Whatever be the gift, every one has the duty to develop it. Hard work may be necessary to do so.

Of all the gifts God has given us, the chief one is our Christian faith. The parable of the coins teaches us that we should nurture the gift of faith with attentiveness and zeal. Those who develop spiritual gifts receive still more. The individual who fails to fight against temptation, and yields to it, will lose even the virtues he already has. Those who succumb to frailties, become more vulnerable . If the alcoholic drinks more and more each day, he cannot be freed from the slavery of alcoholism. There is a saying that in the spiritual life if we do not progress, we regress. It is true "...everyone tries to enter it (kingdom of God) by force " (Lk 16:16). One who overcomes one temptation is able to overcome many more.

It is clear that talents and abilities can be rendered useless through sloth and indifference. We see in daily life that iron tools, for instance, become rusty through disuse. Those that are used constantly are sharpened. Whatever be the field of our activity, we need to develop our talents and utilize them creatively. The one who loves others most sincerely, becomes most worthy of love. It is a common fact of experience that unless we update our knowledge continuously, it gradually becomes defunct. Only those who develop their talent of singing, dancing, drawing, organising, public speaking or discovering new things, succeed in life. One who does his work responsibly, can assume greater responsibility and achieve success in life. (Lk 12:48). The talents of lazy people deteriorate. When we live dynamically our values and beliefs grow and expand. "Those who do nothing commit the greatest mistake", said Benjamin Franklin. This is very, very true.