After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
- KJV After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
- NKJV After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
- NASB “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them.
- NLT “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.
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
After a long time the master returns and settles accounts. Christ will come back and hold his servants accountable.
Overview
The 'long time' reflects the extended period before Christ's return, testing the servants' faithfulness. The reckoning shows that stewardship is never open-ended; a day of accounting comes. Each servant must answer personally for what he did with the master's goods. This anticipates the final judgment where Christ assesses his people's faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Cor 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- 1 Cor 3:12–15If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,
- Rom 14:7–12For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
- Matt 18:23–24Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
- Luke 16:1–2Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- Luke 16:19–31Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor.
- Matt 25:5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
- Matt 24:48But suppose that servant is wicked and says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’
- Jas 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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 25:19 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.