After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
- BSB After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts 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 every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
- 1 Cor 3:12–15Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
- Rom 14:7–12For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
- Matt 18:23–24Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
- Luke 16:1–2And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
- Luke 16:19–31There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
- Matt 25:5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
- Matt 24:48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
- Jas 3:1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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.