Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Civil service » Appointment in, on account of merit
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, according to his own ability, and immediately took his journey.
His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things: I will set thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he that had received the one talent came and said, Sir, I knew that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hadst not sown, and gathering whence thou hadst not scattered. And being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast what is thine. read more.
His lord answering said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather whence I had not scattered? Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it him who hath ten talents. For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even what he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
His lord answering said to him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather whence I had not scattered? Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it him who hath ten talents. For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, shall be taken away even what he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. And having called ten of his servants, he gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. read more.
And when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, to know what each had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because thou hast been faithful in a very little, be thou governor over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said to him likewise, Be thou also over five cities. And another came saying, Lord, behold thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layest not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. And he saith to him, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow. Wherefore then gavest thou not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have received it with interest? And he said to them that stood by, Take the pound from him, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he hath ten pounds!) For I say unto you, To every one that hath shall be given: but from him that hath not, even what he hath shall be taken away from him. Moreover those my enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.
And when he was returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded these servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, to know what each had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said to him, Well done, good servant; because thou hast been faithful in a very little, be thou governor over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said to him likewise, Be thou also over five cities. And another came saying, Lord, behold thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up what thou layest not down, and reapest what thou didst not sow. And he saith to him, Out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping what I did not sow. Wherefore then gavest thou not my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have received it with interest? And he said to them that stood by, Take the pound from him, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he hath ten pounds!) For I say unto you, To every one that hath shall be given: but from him that hath not, even what he hath shall be taken away from him. Moreover those my enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay before me.