The Meaning of Matthew 25:14 Explained

Matthew 25:14

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.

YLT: For -- as a man going abroad did call his own servants, and did deliver to them his substance,

Darby: For it is as if a man going away out of a country called his own bondmen and delivered to them his substance.

ASV: For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Matthew 25:14 Mean?

Study Notes

the kingdom of heaven is
Omit the italicised words, "the kingdom of heaven is".

Verse Meaning

Thus the point of the parable of the10 virgins and the parable of the talents is the same. The difference is a matter of emphasis. The emphasis of the first one is the importance of spiritual preparation whereas the emphasis of the second is the importance of spiritual service. The second parable deals with the period of waiting that the first parable only mentioned in passing. Both parables deal primarily with the judgment of Jews at the end of the Tribulation, though both apply to Christians today as does the whole Olivet Discourse.
Some slaves (Gr. douloi) in the ancient biblical world enjoyed considerable responsibility and authority. In the parable the man taking the journey turned over his money to three of his slaves. They understood that they could share in the profits if they managed well what they had received.

Context Summary

Matthew 25:14-30 - By Faithfulness Win Reward
We are not only guests, but servants, who must give an account of their stewardship. Each bond slave has been entrusted with at least one talent. The number of talents varies with our ability to manage them. The Master is not unreasonable, and never overtasks. It is by use that the power to use grows. By carefully employing our opportunities, our sphere of service may be greatly widened, so that, at the end of life, we shall be able to do twice as much as at the outset.
Christ is always coming to reckon. Every communion season, every birthday, is a standing at the judgment seat of Christ, preliminary to the great white throne, 2 Corinthians 5:10. Let those who are entrusted with one talent only be specially on the watch, for they are most exposed to the temptation of saying, "We can do so little, we will do nothing." What you can do best, and which most accords with your circumstances, is probably your talent. If you cannot do much yourself, work with your church and under the direction of your pastor, Matthew 25:27. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 25

1  The parable of the ten virgins,
14  and of the talents
31  Also the description of the last judgment

Greek Commentary for Matthew 25:14

Going into another country [αποδημων]
About to go away from one‘s people (δημος — dēmos), on the point of going abroad. This word in ancient use in this sense. There is an ellipse here that has to be supplied, [source]
It is as when []
or The kingdom of heaven is as when. This Parable of the Talents is quite similar to the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11-28, but they are not variations of the same story. Some scholars credit Jesus with very little versatility. His goods (τα υπαρχοντα αυτου — ta huparchonta autou). His belongings, neuter participle used as a substantive. [source]
The kingdom of heaven is as when []
. This Parable of the Talents is quite similar to the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11-28, but they are not variations of the same story. Some scholars credit Jesus with very little versatility. His goods (τα υπαρχοντα αυτου — ta huparchonta autou). His belongings, neuter participle used as a substantive. [source]
His goods [τα υπαρχοντα αυτου]
His belongings, neuter participle used as a substantive. [source]
Travelling [ἀποδμηῶν]
The sense is more nearly about to travel, like our going abroad. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 25:14

Mark 13:34 A man taking a far journey [ἄνθρωπος ἀπόδημος]
The A. V. is incorrect, since the idea is not that of a man about to go, as Matthew 25:14; but of one already gone. So Wyc., gone far in pilgrimage; and Tynd., which is gone into a strange country. The two words form one notion - a man abroad. Rev., sojourning in another country. [source]
Mark 12:1 Went into a far country [ἀπεδήμησεν]
But this is too strong. The word means simply went abroad. So Wyc., went forth in pilgrimage; and Tynd., into a strange country. Rev., another country. See on Matthew 25:14. [source]
Luke 15:13 Took his journey [απεδημησεν]
First aorist active indicative of αποδημεω — apodēmeō (from αποδημος — apodēmos away from home). Common verb. In the N.T. here and Matthew 21:33; Matthew 25:14; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9. He burned all his bridges behind him, gathering together all that he had.Wasted (διεσκορπισεν — dieskorpisen). First aorist active indicative of διασκορπιζω — diaskorpizō a somewhat rare verb, the very opposite of “gathered together” (συναγογων — sunagogōn). More exactly he scattered his property. It is the word used of winnowing grain (Matthew 25:24).With riotous living Living dissolutely or profligately. The late adverb ασωτως — asōtōs (only here in the N.T.) from the common adjective ασωτος — asōtos (α — a privative and σωζω — sōzō), one that cannot be saved, one who does not save, a spendthrift, an abandoned man, a profligate, a prodigal. He went the limit of sinful excesses. It makes sense taken actively or passively (prodigus or perditus), active probably here. [source]
Romans 4:25 Was delivered [παρεδόθη]
See on Matthew 4:12; see on 1 Peter 2:23. Used of casting into prison or delivering to justice, Matthew 4:12; Matthew 10:17, Matthew 19:21. Frequently of the betrayal of Christ, Matthew 10:4; Matthew 17:22; John 6:64, John 6:71. Of committing a trust, Matthew 25:14, Matthew 25:20, Matthew 25:22. Of committing tradition, doctrine, or precept, Mark 7:13; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 6:17; 2 Peter 2:21. Of Christ's yielding up His spirit, John 19:30. Of the surrender of Christ and His followers to death, Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 4:11; Galatians 2:20. Of giving over to evil, Romans 1:26, Romans 1:28; 1 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 4:19. [source]
1 Timothy 6:1 Their own [τοὺς ἰδίους]
Lit. private, personal, peculiar, as 1 Corinthians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 7:7. Sometimes strange, eccentric. Contrasted with δημόσιος publicor κοινός commonSee Acts 4:32. Sometimes without emphasis, substantially = possessive pronoun, just as Lat. proprius passes into suus or ejus, or οἰκεῖος belongingto one's house into the simple one's own. See on Galatians 6:10, and comp. Matthew 22:5; Matthew 25:14. In lxx commonly with the emphatic sense. Very often in the phrase κατ ' ἰδίαν privatelyas Mark 4:34; Luke 9:10; Galatians 2:2, but nowhere in Pastorals. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 25:14 mean?

[It is] like for a man going on a journey [who] called the own servants and delivered to them the possessing of him
Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἀποδημῶν ἐκάλεσεν τοὺς ἰδίους δούλους καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτοῖς τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ

Ὥσπερ  [It  is]  like 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὥσπερ  
Sense: just as, even as.
ἄνθρωπος  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἀποδημῶν  going  on  a  journey 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποδημέω  
Sense: to go away into foreign parts, go abroad.
ἐκάλεσεν  [who]  called 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καλέω  
Sense: to call.
ἰδίους  own 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἴδιος  
Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.
δούλους  servants 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δοῦλοσ1 
Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition.
παρέδωκεν  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ὑπάρχοντα  possessing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ὑπάρχω  
Sense: to begin below, to make a beginning.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.