“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
Parallel translations
- WEB “It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch.
- KJV For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
- BSB It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
- NKJV It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
- NASB It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus compares the situation to a man who travels away, assigning each servant work and the doorkeeper to keep watch. Faithfulness in his absence is what matters.
Overview
The departing master pictures the ascended Christ, who entrusts tasks to his servants and calls them to watchfulness until he returns. Each believer has work to do and a charge to stay alert. The parable teaches responsible, active waiting — not idle speculation but faithful service in our appointed callings, ready for the Master's return at any moment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- John 10:3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
- Matt 25:14–30“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
- Luke 12:36–40Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
- Matt 24:45–47“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
- Ezek 3:17–21“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- Ezek 33:2–9Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and tell them, When I bring the sword on a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman;
- Matt 16:19I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
- Luke 19:12–17He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
- Acts 20:29–31For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- Col 3:24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
- Rev 3:7“To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things:
- 1 Cor 3:5–10Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?
- Col 4:1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Rom 12:4–8For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
- 1 Cor 12:4–31Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Rom 13:6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 13:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.