Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.



But our flesh is the same as the flesh of our countrymen, and our children as their children. Now we give our sons and daughters into the hands of others, to be their servants. Some of our daughters are servants even now. We have no power to stop this. For other men have our fields and our vine-gardens.

There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast. They take as a pledge the infant of the poor.

He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


All goes well for the person who is generous and lends willingly. He earns an honest living.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt.

A certain lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred shillings and the other fifty. They did not have money to pay the debt so he forgave them both. Which of them did he love the most? Simon answered: I suppose it was the one whom he forgave the most. Jesus said: Your judgment is correct.



There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast. They take as a pledge the infant of the poor.

He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.

When you buy a Hebrew slave he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man without paying for his freedom.


He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


If someone takes you to court to sue you and takes your shirt, let him have your coat as well.

If the peoples of the lands come to do trade in goods or food on the Sabbath day, that we would do no trade with them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. In the seventh year we would take no payment from any debtor.

He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.

Come to an agreement quickly with the one who has a legal case against you. Do it before he turns the case over to the judge and you are thrown into jail. Take it from me; you will stay in jail until you pay the very last penny of your fine.

When you buy a Hebrew slave he will be your slave for six years. In the seventh year he may leave as a free man without paying for his freedom. If he was single at the time you bought him he alone must be set free. If he was married at that time, both he and his wife must be given their freedom. If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master. He shall go out alone. read more.
What if the slave loves his wife and children so much that he will not leave without them? He must stand beside either the door or the doorpost at the place of worship. His owner will punch a small hole through one of his ears with a sharp metal rod. This makes him a slave for life.

In the business of trading goods for money, do no wrong to one another. Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops. In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years you shall diminish its price, for it is a number of crops he is selling to you. read more.
You must not wrong one another. You shall respect your God. I am Jehovah your God.

Someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses. The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to Jehovah that the neighbor did not take the other person's animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor does not have to make up for the loss. However, if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, he must make up for the owner's loss. read more.
If a wild animal killed the neighbor's animal he must bring in the dead body of the wild animal as evidence. He does not have to make up for an animal that has been killed. Whenever someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, the borrower must make up for the loss. If the owner is with the animal, the borrower does not have to make up for the loss. If it is rented, the rental fee covers the loss.

If any of you Israelites become so poor that you are forced to sell your property, your closest relative must buy it back. If that relative has the money. Later, if you can afford to buy it, you must pay enough to make up for what the present owner will lose on it before the next Year of Celebration, when the property would become yours again. read more.
If he cannot earn enough to buy it back, what he sold stays in the hands of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it will be released, and he will own it again. If anyone sells a home in a walled city, for one year after selling it he has the right to buy it back. He may buy it back only within that time. If he does not buy it back during that year, the house in the city belongs to the buyer for generations to come. It will not be released in the jubilee. Houses in villages without walls are regarded as belonging to the fields of the land. They can be bought back. They will be released in the jubilee. The Levites always have the right to buy back their property in the cities they own. If any Levite buys back a house, in the jubilee the purchased house in the city will be released. This is because the houses in the Levite cities are their property among the Israelites. But a field that belongs to their cities must not be sold, because it is their property from generation to generation. If an Israelite becomes poor and cannot support himself, you should help him. He must live with you as a stranger without a permanent home. Do not collect interest or make any profit from him. Respect your God by respecting other Israelites' lives. Do not collect any interest on your money or on the food you give them. I am Jehovah your God. I brought you out of Egypt to give you Canaan and to be your God. If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, do not work him like a slave. He will be like a hired worker or a visitor to you. He may work with you until the year of jubilee. Then you will release him and his children to go back to their family and the property of their ancestors.

Suppose a foreigner living with you becomes rich, while some Israelites become poor and sell themselves as slaves to that foreigner or to a member of that foreigner's family. He has the right to be set free by a relative, such as a brother. His uncle, his cousin, or some other relative could also buy him back. If he becomes rich, he could buy his own freedom. read more.
Then he and his buyer must take into account the number of years from the year he was bought until the year of jubilee. His sale price will be adjusted based on the number of years he was with his buyer. This is like the wages of a hired worker. If there are many years left, he must refund from his purchase price an amount equal to those years. If there are only a few years left until the year of jubilee, he must take them into account. He must refund from his purchase price an amount equal to those years. He should serve his buyer as a hired worker during those years. His buyer should not treat him harshly. If he cannot buy his freedom he and his children will be released in the year of jubilee. The Israelites belong to me! They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God!'


First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.



The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.



The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.


They were close to Jerusalem. They assumed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. Jesus responded to their assumption with an illustration. He said: A nobleman traveled to a country far away to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds, and said do business with this until I return. read more.
His citizens hated him. They sent a spokesman to him saying we do not want this man to rule us. He received the kingdom and went back to check on his servants. He wanted to know what they had gained by trading with the money he gave them. The first reported: Your pound has made ten pounds more. He said: Well done, you good servant. You were faithful in very little. Now you shall have authority over ten cities. The second said: Your pound, Lord, has made five pounds. He replied: You should be over five cities. Another reported: Lord, here is your pound. I kept it stored in a napkin. I feared you because you are an austere man. You take up what you do not lay down and you reap that which you did not sow. He said to him: Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am an austere man, taking up that which I did not lay down, and reaping that which I did not sow. Why did you not put my money in the bank? That way I could collect interest when I returned. The nobleman said: Take away the pound he was given and give it to him that has the ten pounds. They said: Lord he has ten pounds! I say to you, that every one who has more shall be given. The man who does not have what little he has shall be taken away from him. Bring my enemies that do not want me to rule over them and kill them in front of me.

The kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workmen for a penny a day. Then he sent them into his vineyard. He went out the third hour and saw others in the marketplace doing nothing. read more.
He said to them: 'Go to the vineyard with the others. I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went to work. He went out the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same. The eleventh hour, he saw others doing nothing. He asked: 'Why are you here all the day doing nothing?' They said: 'No man has given us work.' He told them to go work with the rest in the vineyard. When evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager: 'Let the workers come and pay them from the last to the first.' Those men who went to work at the eleventh hour were each given a penny. Those who worked longer, expected to be paid more. They were also given a penny. When they got it, they protested against the master of the house. They said: 'The last ones have done only one hour's work. You have made them equal to us. We have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.' He told them: 'I do you no wrong. You made an agreement with me for a penny. Take what is yours and leave. I wish to give to the last workers the same as to you. Is it lawful for me to do what I wish with what is mine? Or is your eye jealous because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first last.

He told another illustration, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man that sowed good seed in his field. While he slept, his enemy came and sowed weeds with the wheat, and went away. When the blade sprouted and brought forth fruit, it looked like wheat. read more.
The servants of the householder said to him: 'Sir, did you sow good seed in your field? Why does it have weeds mixed in with the good wheat?' He replied: 'An enemy did this.' The servants offered to remove the weeds. He said: 'No, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. In the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather weeds first, and bind them in bundles to burn them. Then gather the wheat into my barn.' In another illustration Jesus said: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man sowed in his field. Mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds. Yet when it grows it becomes as large as a tree. In fact the birds of heaven lodge in the branches. He offered another illustration: The kingdom of heaven is similar to leaven. A woman hid leaven in three measures of meal until it was all leavened. Jesus spoke with illustrations to the crowds. He did not speak anything without using illustrations. That which was spoken through the prophet was fulfilled, saying: I will open my mouth in illustrations. I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples gathered near him. They said: Explain to us the illustration of the weeds in the field. Jesus said: He that sows the good seed is the Son of man. The field is the world (the society of mankind). The good seed are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one. The enemy that sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are angels. The weeds are gathered up and burned (destroyed) with fire. It will be this way at the end of the age. The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all who stumble others and commit lawlessness. The angels will cast them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The righteous will shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that has ears let him hear. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found the treasure and hid it again in the field. He is so filled with joy he sells everything he owns and buys the field. The kingdom of heaven is also like a merchant seeking valuable pearls. When he found one pearl of great value, he sold all that he had, and bought it. The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea. It gathered fish of every kind. They drew it up on the beach when it was full. They gathered the good into containers and threw away the bad. It will be that way at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous. The wicked will be cast into the furnace of fire where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him: Yes. And he said to them: Every scribe (journalist) (writer) who has been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

One of the guests at the table then said to Jesus: Those who sit down at the feast in the Kingdom of God will be happy! Jesus said: There was a man who gave a great feast to which he invited many people. He sent his servant to tell the guests that everything is ready. read more.
They all made excuses one after another. The first one told the servant: 'I bought a field and must go and look at it. Please accept my apologies.' Another said: 'I purchased five pairs of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.' Another explained: 'I am newly married and I cannot come.' The servant returned and conveyed this to his master. The master was furious. He commanded his servant to hurry into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. The servant soon told his master, 'Your order has been carried out but there is still more room.' The master told the servant, 'Go to the country roads and lanes and make people come so my house will be full.' None of those who were invited will taste my dinner! He said.

The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish took no oil with their lamps. read more.
The wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. They all slept, because the bridegroom delayed his arrival. There was a shout at midnight. 'Here is the bridegroom! Come meet him.' The virgins awoke and trimmed their lamps. All the foolish virgins said to the wise: 'Give us your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered: 'There will not be enough for both of us. Go to the dealers and buy oil for yourself.' While they were away, the bridegroom came. They that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. Later the other virgins came, saying: 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But he told them: 'I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour. It is like a man going to another country. He called his servants and put them in charge of his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one. He assigned according to the servants' ability. Then he went on his journey. Right away the servant who received the five talents traded with them and made another five talents. In like manner, he who received the two gained another two. He who received the one dug a hole in the ground and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came back to settle with them. The servant who received five talents brought another five talents. He said: 'Lord, here are your five talents, plus the five I gained.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, so I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The one who received two talents said: 'Lord you gave me two talents and I gained another two talents.' His lord said: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' The servant who received one talent said: 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man. You reap where you did not sow and gather where you did not scatter. I was afraid, so I hid your talent in the earth. See, you have what is yours.' But his lord answered: 'You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter. You should have put my money in the bank. I should have received my money back plus interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. More will be given to every one who has and he will have abundance. He who does not have will have every thing taken away. Throw the worthless servant into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth.'

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He sent out his servants to invite guests to the feast, but they would not come. Again he sent out other servants with orders to say to the guests, 'I have prepared my feast. Oxen and fat livestock are butchered and everything is ready, so come to the feast.' read more.
But they paid no attention and went about their business. One went to his farm and another went to his trade. The rest violently attacked his servants and put them to death. The king was angry, and sent his armies to put the evil servants to death and to destroy their town with fire. He said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but the guests were not worthy. Go then, to the main roads, and invite all those whom you see to come to the feast.' They went to the roads and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests. When the king met the guests he found that one of them was not wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding. The king asked why did he not wear proper clothes for the wedding? But the guest had no excuse. The king gave orders for that person to be tied hand and foot and thrown outside into the dark. That is where people will cry and grind their teeth in pain. Many are called, but few chosen.

He asked them: Is the lamp placed under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on the stand? There is nothing hidden unless it should be made known. Nothing is made secret that should come to light. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. read more.
Then he said: Be careful what you listen to. That which is portioned out by you might be portioned to you and more. He who has, to him it will be given. He who has not, from him will be taken even that which he has. He added: The kingdom of God is like this. A man plants seed in the earth. He sleeps and gets up night and day until the plants grow though he has no idea how. The earth gives fruit by itself. First comes the leaf, then the head, then full grain. When the grain is ready he immediately sends men to cut it, because the time for cutting has come. He said: What illustration should we use to picture the kingdom of God? What story will make it clear? It is like a grain of mustard seed. When it is planted in the earth it is smaller than all the seeds on the earth. But when it is planted it grows and becomes taller than all the plants. It grows out great branches so that the birds of heaven are able to take rest in its shade. He spoke the word to them with many illustrations as long as they were able to listen. He spoke only with illustrations. However he made all things clear to his disciples in private.

Jesus continued: To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? What is it like? It is like this. A man plants a mustard seed in his field. The plant grows and becomes a tree. The birds make their nests in its branches. Again Jesus asked: With what should I compare the Kingdom of God? read more.
It is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour. Soon the whole batch of dough rises.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed. read more.
So the servant fell on his face out of respect. He said: 'Lord, give me time to make payment and I will pay everything.' Being moved with pity, the lord let him go, and made him free of the debt. Then that servant met another servant who was in debt to him for one hundred denarii. He took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay your debt now.' That servant fell down before him, saying, 'Give me time and I will make payment to you.' He would not give him time. He put him into prison till he paid the debt. When the other servants saw what happened, they were very sad. They told their lord what had been done. His lord sent for him, and said: 'Evil servant; I made you free of all that debt, because of your request to me. Should you [also] show mercy to your fellow servant the same way I showed mercy to you?' His lord was angry and sent him to jail to be punished until he paid back all of his debt. My heavenly Father will treat you like that if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.

If an Israelite becomes poor and sells himself to you, do not work him like a slave.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


The kingdom of heaven is like a king who went over his accounts with his servants. First, one came to him who owed him ten thousand talents. He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.


He was not able to make payment. So his lord gave orders for him to be sold. His wife, sons, and daughters were all to be sold along with every possession. The money would be used for payment of what he owed.