The term appears six times in the Synoptic Gospels, always within accounts that feature a master or son who leaves home for an extended period: Matthew 21:33; 25:14–15; Mark 12:1; Luke 15:13; 20:9. The departure sets the stage for testing the character of those left behind—tenants, servants, or a prodigal son. The motif of a temporary absence serves as a narrative hinge: what is done during the interval reveals true allegiance.

Portrait of the Absent Master

1. Parable of the Vineyard Tenants (Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9) – A landowner “went on a journey” after planting and securing his vineyard. His withdrawal exposes the tenants’ rebellion, prefiguring Israel’s rejection of the Son.
2. Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–15) – A man “going on a journey” entrusts his possessions to servants, highlighting stewardship in the Messianic age.
3. Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:13) – The younger son “set off for a distant country,” illustrating sin’s exile and the Father’s longing for repentance.

Theological Significance

Departure anticipates return. Each storyline expects accountability or reconciliation when the traveler comes back. The word therefore underlines:
• Christ’s ascension and promised reappearance (Acts 1:11 echoes the pattern).
• The interim period in which disciples demonstrate fidelity.
• Divine patience that allows space for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Stewardship and Accountability

Matthew 25:19 states, “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them”. The interval between departure and return is not theological vacuum but opportunity:
• Faithful servants invest gifts.
• Wicked tenants misuse what is not their own.
• A wandering son discovers famine and awakens to grace.

Eschatological Emphasis

The repeated imagery points to the present church age. Like the servants, believers manage entrusted resources while awaiting the Lord. The certainty of His coming intensifies ethical seriousness: “Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:43).

Pastoral Application

• Encourage vigilance: spiritual lethargy grows when the Master seems far away.
• Cultivate responsible use of time, abilities, and possessions.
• Call the wayward to return to the Father; distance need not be final.

Related Old Testament Echoes

Genesis 41–50 (Joseph sent ahead) and Psalms 104:27–30 (God withdraws and returns His breath) foreshadow the pattern of absence and restoration, reinforcing the unified biblical theme that God’s seeming distance tests hearts while His return secures justice and mercy.