He told them, "Stop collecting more money than the amount you are told to collect."

Even some soldiers were asking him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Never extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay."

He told them, "Don't take anything along on your trip no walking stick, traveling bag, bread, money, or even an extra shirt.

"Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything.

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it, won't he?

But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus.

When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me."

He called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. He told them, "Invest this money until I come back.'

"After he was appointed king, the prince came back. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called so he could find out what they had earned by investing.

Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'

They were delighted, and agreed to give him money.