Matthew 25 · Verse 14

Matthew 25:14

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.
Matthew 25:14, King James Version

Matthew 25:14 in other translations

BSBFor it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions.
WEB“For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.
ASVFor it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
YLT‘For--as a man going abroad did call his own servants, and did deliver to them his substance,
DARBYFor it is as if a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance.
BBEFor it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property.
WebsterFor the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods.

What does Matthew 25:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man--The ellipsis is better supplied by our translators in the corresponding passage of Mark (Mr 13:34), "[For the Son of man is] as a man," &c., travelling into a far country--or more simply, "going abroad." The idea of long "tarrying" is certainly implied here, since it is expressed in Mt 25:19. who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods--Between master and slaves this was not uncommon in ancient times. Christ's "servants" here mean all who, by their Christian profession, stand in the relation to Him of entire subjection. His "goods" mean all their gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. As all that slaves have belongs to their master, so Christ has a claim to everything which belongs to His people, everything which, may be turned to good, and He demands its appropriation to His service, or, viewing it otherwise, they first offer it up to Him; as being "not their own, but bought with a price" (1Co 6:19, 20), and He "delivers it to them" again to be put to use in His service.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. For the kingdom of heaven, etc. This parable of the talents was spoken still farther to illustrate the manner in which he would deal with men at his return to judgment, The words, the kingdom of heaven, are not in the original, but are very properly inserted by the translators. The design of the parable is to teach that those who improve their talents or faculties in the cause of religion-- who improve them to their own salvation, and in doing good to others --shall be proportionally rewarded. But they who neglect their talents, and neither secure their own salvation nor do good to others, will be punished. The kingdom of heaven is like such a man; that is, God deals with men, in his government, as such a man did.

His own servants. That is, such of them as he judged worthy [of] such a trust. These represent the apostles, Christian ministers, professing Christians, and perhaps all men. The going into a far country may represent the Lord Jesus going into heaven. He has given to all talents to improve, Eph 4:8.

His goods. His property-representing the offices, abilities, and opportunities for doing good, which he has given to his professed followers.

(i) "For the kingdom of heaven" Lk 19:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Called his own servants - God never makes the children of men proprietors of his goods. They are formed by his power, and upheld by his bounty; and they hold their lives and their goods, as in many of our ancient tenures, quamdiu domino placuerit - at the will of their Lord.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 25:14-30
Christ keeps no servants to be idle: they have received their all from him, and have nothing they can call their own but sin. Our receiving from Christ is in order to our working for him. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. The day of account comes at last. We must all be reckoned with as to what good we have got to our own souls, and have done to others, by the advantages we have enjoyed. It is not meant that the improving of natural powers can entitle a man to Divine grace. It is the real Christian's liberty and privilege to be employed as his Redeemer's servant, in promoting his glory, and the good of his people: the love of Christ constrains him to live no longer to himself, but to Him that died for him, and rose again. Those who think it impossible to please God, and in vain to serve him, will do nothing to purpose in religion. They complain that He requires of them more than they are capable of, and punishes them for what they cannot help. Whatever they may pretend, the fact is, they dislike the character and work of the Lord. The slothful servant is sentenced to be deprived of his talent. This may be applied to the blessings of this life; but rather to the means of grace. Those who know not the day of their visitation, shall have the things that belong to their peace hid from their eyes. His doom is, to be cast into outer darkness. It is a usual way of expressing the miseries of the damned in hell. Here, as in what was said to the faithful servants, our Saviour goes out of the parable into the thing intended by it, and this serves as a key to the whole. Let us not envy sinners, or covet any of their perishing possessions.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 25:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὭσπερHōsper[It is] likeG5618
γὰρgarforG1063
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposa manG444
ἀποδημῶνapodēmōngoing on a journeyG589
ἐκάλεσενekalesen[who] calledG2564
τοὺςtous<the>G3588
ἰδίουςidious[his] ownG2398
δούλουςdoulousservantsG1401
καὶkaiandG2532
παρέδωκενparedōkendeliveredG3860
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
τὰtatheG3588
ὑπάρχονταhuparchontapossessionsG5225
αὐτοῦ.autouof him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 25:14

  • Mark 13:34

    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.

  • 1 Peter 4:9-11

    Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Romans 12:6-8

    Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

  • Luke 19:12-27

    He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. …

  • Matthew 25:14-30

    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. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. …

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

  • 1 Corinthians 4:1-2

    Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4

    Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:7-29

    But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: …

  • Luke 16:1-12

    And 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. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. …

  • Matthew 21:33

    Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

  • 1 Corinthians 3:5

    Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
21:33; Mr 13:34; Lu 19:12,13; 20:9
and delivered.
Lu 16:1-12; Ro 12:6-8; 1Co 3:5; 4:1,2; 12:4,7-29; Eph 4:11
1Pe 4:9-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 25:13

    Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

  • Matthew 25:14

    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.

  • Matthew 25:15

    And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Read all of Matthew 25

Matthew 25:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque el reino de los cielos es como un hombre que partiéndose lejos llamó á sus siervos, y les entregó sus bienes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car c’est comme un homme qui, s’en allant hors du pays, appela ses propres esclaves et leur remit ses biens.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn gleichwie ein Mensch, der außer Landes reiste, seine eigenen Knechte rief und ihnen seine Habe übergab:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sicut enim homo peregre proficiscens, vocavit servos suos, et tradidit illis bona sua.