For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
Parallel translations
- WEB “For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
- KJV For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
- NKJV “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
- NASB “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
- NLT “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
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
The kingdom is like a man entrusting his goods to servants before a journey. Christ gives his people responsibilities to manage in his absence.
Overview
This parable of the talents pictures the time between Christ's departure and return. The master entrusts genuine wealth to his servants, expecting faithful stewardship. It teaches that waiting for Christ is active, not passive: we are accountable for what he has given. How we use our entrusted gifts reveals our true relationship to the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Mark 13:34It 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.
- Luke 19:12–27So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.
- Rom 12:6–8We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- 1 Pet 4:9–11Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- Matt 25:14–30For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
- 1 Cor 4:1–2So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- Eph 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- 1 Cor 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Cor 12:7–29Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
- Matt 21:33Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
- Luke 16:1–12Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- 1 Cor 3:5What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.
- Luke 20:9Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 25:14 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.