Mark 13:34 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →It is like a man on a far journey who gave his servants authority, to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.
What Does Mark 13:34 Mean?
Jesus folds the whole teaching into a final parable. A master departs on a long journey, and his household does not shut down; he distributes authority, assigns 'to every man his work,' and sets the porter at the door to watch. The house lives in his absence exactly as if he might return at any moment.
Waiting, in Jesus' picture, is not idleness; it is occupied faithfulness. Every servant holds delegated authority and a particular task — no one in the household of Christ is without a calling. Watching for the master and working for the master are one posture, not two. The question his return will ask is not whether we guessed the hour but whether we were found doing the work he left in our hands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 13:34
What does Mark 13:34 mean?
It is like a man on a far journey who gave his servants authority, to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.