Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible












Be quick and come to terms with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you, you will never get out again until you have paid the last penny!

For when you are going before the magistrate with your opponent, do your best on the way to get rid of him, or he may hurry you off to the judge and the judge hand you over to the constable and the constable throw you into prison. I tell you, you will never get out again until you have paid the last cent!"




But when the slave went out he met a fellow-slave of his who owed him twenty dollars, and he caught him by the throat and began to choke him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow-slave threw himself down before him, and begged him, 'Give me time, and I will pay you.' But he refused and went and had him put in prison until he should pay the debt. read more.
When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went to their master and reported the whole matter to him. Then his master called him in and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I canceled all that debt of yours when you entreated me. Ought you not to have taken pity on your fellow-slave, as I did on you?' So his master in his anger handed him over to the jailers, until he should pay all he owed him. That is what my heavenly Father will do to you, if you do not each forgive your brothers from your hearts!"



As they could not pay him, he canceled what they owed him. Now which of them will be more attached to him?" Verse ConceptsPeople Forgiving OthersUnable To Do Other ThingsDebtLove And Forgiveness




In every way set them an example of good conduct yourself. Teach with sincerity and seriousness, and present a wholesome, unobjectionable message, so that your opponent may be put to shame at finding nothing bad to say about us.



And you followed the example set by us and by the Lord, for though our message brought you great trouble, you welcomed it with joy inspired by the holy Spirit, so that you set an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Greece. For the Lord's message has rung out from you not only over Macedonia and Greece, but the story of your belief in God has gone everywhere, so that we never need to mention it.

As an example, brothers, of ill-treatment patiently endured, take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord. Why, we call those who showed such endurance happy! You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen what the Lord brought out of it, for the Lord is very kind and merciful.

Dear friends, I beg you, as aliens and exiles here, not to indulge the physical cravings that are at war with the soul. Live upright lives among the heathen, so that even if they charge you with being evil-doers, they may from observing the uprightness of your conduct come to praise God on the Day of Judgment. Submit to all human authority, for the Master's sake; to the emperor, as supreme, read more.
and to governors, as sent by him to punish evil-doers, and to encourage those who do right. For it is the will of God that by doing right you should silence the ignorant charges of foolish people. Live like free men, only do not make your freedom an excuse for doing wrong, but be slaves of God. Treat everyone with respect. Love the brotherhood, be reverent to God, respect the emperor. You servants must be submissive to your masters and perfectly respectful to them; not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are unreasonable. For God approves a man if from a sense of duty he endures suffering unjustly inflicted??20 for what credit is there in your enduring being beaten for doing wrong? But if you endure suffering for doing what is right, you have God's approval. That is the life to which you have been called, for Christ himself suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow his footsteps. He committed no sin, and deceit was never on his lips. He was abused but he did not retort. He suffered but he did not threaten, but committed his case to him who judges justly. He carried the burden of our sins in his own body on the cross, in order that we might die to sin and live for uprightness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

It was in that way in ancient times that those pious women who set their hopes on God made themselves attractive. They were submissive to their husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham, and called him Master. You are true daughters of hers, if you do right and are unafraid.