The Watchful Servants and the Doorkeeper

A master leaves on a long journey, gives each servant his work, and tells the doorkeeper to stay awake. 'What I say unto you,' Jesus said, 'I say unto all, Watch.'

At the close of his teaching on the Mount of Olives about the end of the age, Jesus told of a man taking a far journey. Before leaving he gave authority to his servants, gave every man his work, and commanded the porter at the door to watch. Because no one knew whether the master would come at evening, at midnight, at the cockcrowing, or in the morning, every servant had to be ready, lest he come suddenly and find them sleeping. Jesus pressed the lesson beyond the four disciples who were listening: 'What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.'

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Category: Judgment & Eternity

Meaning: Christ's followers must stay awake and faithful at their appointed work, because no one knows when the master of the house will return.

Audience: Disciples

Key Chapters

Mark 13 Signs of the End of the Age 5 min read Jesus ends his teaching on the last days with a story of servants left in charge...

Key Passages

Watch

Mark 13:33-37

Jesus ends his teaching on the last days with a story of servants left in charge and a porter told to keep watch.

T³³ake ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

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. ³⁵ Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: ³⁶ Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. ³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.