Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.

I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him."

(They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.)

When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.'

He asked, "Why? What wrong has he done?" But they shouted more insistently, "Crucify him!"

I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'

(Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)

The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him.

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.

His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them 'Rabbi.'

And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.

And, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.'

And pointing toward his disciples he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!

But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Do not be afraid."

At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me.

and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards,

So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.

and declared, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"

and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.

No,' they replied. 'There won't be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest's courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome.

After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, "You really are one of them too -- even your accent gives you away!"

When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work.

And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.

From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.

Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way.

He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.'

So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?"

And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.

After consulting together they bought the Potter's Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners.

When those hired about five o'clock came, each received a full day's pay.

So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men.

When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner,

They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.

If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once."

When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas!"

And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage.

So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o'clock that afternoon, he did the same thing.

When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away.

Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you.

But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.

They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go and work in the vineyard too.'

The one with the two talents also came and said, 'Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.'

If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"

When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him.

Then it says, 'I will return to the home I left.' When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order.

In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.

What is your verdict?" They answered, "He is guilty and deserves death."

I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.

No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.

But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.

Not counting children and women, there were four thousand men who ate.

so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'

But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

But he denied it in front of them all: "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

saying, "Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?"

And aren't all his sisters here with us? Where did he get all this?"

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.

He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

He denied it again with an oath, "I do not know the man!"