"A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master.

It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household!"

"The owner's servants came and asked him, "Master, you sowed good seed in your field, didn't you? Then where did these weeds come from?'

Then he told them, "That is why every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom from heaven is like the master of a household who brings both new and old things out of his treasure chest."

Because he couldn't pay, his master ordered him, his wife, his children, and everything that he owned to be sold so that payment could be made.

The master of that servant had compassion and released him, canceling his debt.

"When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very disturbed and went and reported to their master everything that had occurred.

Then his master sent for him and told him, "You evil servant! I canceled that entire debt for you because you begged me.

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers until he could repay the entire debt.

"Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others their food at the right time?

How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes!

"But if that wicked servant says to himself, "My master has been delayed,'

that servant's master will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know.

Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master's money.

"After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

The one who had received five talents came up and brought five more talents. "Master,' he said, "you gave me five talents. See, I've earned five more talents.'

"His master told him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

"The one with two talents also came forward and said, "Master, you gave me two talents. See, I've earned two more talents.

"His master told him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant! Since you've been trustworthy with a small amount, I'll put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's joy!'

"Then the one who had received one talent came forward and said, "Master, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you haven't planted and gathering where you haven't scattered any seed.

"His master answered him, "You evil and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I haven't planted and gathered where I haven't scattered any seed?

Then the master said, "Take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents,

So keep on watching, because you don't know when the master of the house is coming whether in the evening, at three o'clock in the morning, or at dawn.

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise,

Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."

When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Mister, your sins are forgiven."

So his disciples went to him, woke him up, and kept telling him, "Master! Master! We're going to die!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. They stopped, and there was calm.

Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" While everyone was denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you."

Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter told Jesus, "Master, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter didn't know what he was saying.)

John said, "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn't a follower like us."

But Jesus asked him, "Mister, who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?"

Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him.

How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them.

How blessed they will be if their master comes in the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them awake!

The Lord said, "Who, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time?

How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes!

But if that servant says to himself, "My master is taking a long time to come back,' and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk,

the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.

That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating.

"So the servant went back and reported all this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and told his servant, "Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

Then the master told the servant, "Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full.

"Then the servant manager told himself, "What should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. I'm not strong enough to plow, and I'm ashamed to beg.

"So he called for each of his master's debtors. He asked the first, "How much do you owe my master?'

The master praised the dishonest servant manager for being so clever, because worldly people are more clever than enlightened people in dealing with their own.

and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

A little later, a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them, too." But Peter said, "Mister, I am not!"

But Peter said, "Mister, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, a servant isn't greater than his master, and a messenger isn't greater than the one who sent him.

I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends, because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father.

Remember what I told you: "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, "Master, you made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Masters, treat your slaves the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Now there were false prophets among the people, just as there also will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.

For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Messiah.