Luke 19:21 Meaning and Explanation
“For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →He explains that fear paralyzed him, since he saw his master as a harsh and exacting man.
What Does Luke 19:21 Mean?
His defense is really an accusation. He paints the king as austere, hard and grasping, one who takes up what he never laid down and reaps fields he never sowed. Fear of such a master, he claims, made inaction the only safe course.
What we believe about the master shapes how we serve him. A distorted picture of God, all severity and no generosity, breeds paralysis and hiding, as it has since Adam drew back among the trees. The first two servants knew the same king and risked everything gladly. The difference lay not in the pound but in the picture.
Luke 19:21 in the Original Language
austeros (αὐστηρός), 'austere' -- severe, strict, exacting; the source of the English word austere.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 19:21
What does Luke 19:21 mean?
He explains that fear paralyzed him, since he saw his master as a harsh and exacting man.