authority over ten cities
Luke 19:17
19:17 authority over ten cities. In the parable of the pounds, the Lord rewards His servants in accordance with the quantity of return produced from equal gifts. In the somewhat similar parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the reward is based on proportionate return from unequal gifts. The conclusion from the two parables is that our rewards when Christ returns are based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria. The Lord will take full and understanding account of both our opportunities and our works. He is well able to discern and to “give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12). In the parable of the pounds, the nobleman went “into a far country” (Luke 19:12). In the parable of the talents, Jesus gives the additional information that the master only returned “after a long time” (Matthew 25:19).