Luke 19:23

Wherefore then? Since he knew what to expect upon his master’s return, the least he could have done would be to let the money work for him, even if he were unwilling to work himself. Why did he accept the money in the first place unless he intended to do something with it? It might have been given to another servant who would have done something worth while with it.

Bank. Gr. trapeza, “a table”; here referring to the table of a money-changer, hence “a bank” (see Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:15). Our English word “bank” has a similar origin, being derived from the Italian banca, meaning “bench,” “table,” or “counter.” It would have taken little effort on the servant’s part to take the money to one of the money lenders in the city. Hence, not only did his conduct mark him as foolish and lazy; it appeared that he had deliberately planned to deprive his master of a rightful profit (see on Matt. 25:27).

Usury. That is, “interest.” The modern connotation of exorbitant interest is not here intended. For the teachings of the Bible with respect to charging interest for money lent, see on Ex. 22:25.