Thematic Bible: Parables relating to


Thematic Bible



He said therefore, A certain man of noble family went into a distant region, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And calling his ten servants, he gave them ten manehs, and said unto them, Employ yourselves in traffic, till I come back. But his citizens hated him, and sent an embassy after him, saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. read more.
And it came to pass, at his return, after receiving the kingdom, that he ordered the servants to be called, to whom he had given the money, that he might know what every one had gained by his traffic. Then came the first, and said, Sir, thy maneh has gained ten manehs. And he said unto him, Well done, good servant: because thou hast been faithful in the least matter, hold thou dominion over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy maneh hath gained five manehs. Then said he also to this man, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Master, there is thy maneh, which I have kept wrapt up in a napkin: for I was afraid of thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up where thou hadst laid nothing down, and reapest where thou didst not sow. And he said to him, Out of thine 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; why then gavest thou not my money to the bank, so when I came I might have required it with interest? And he said to those who stood by, Take from him the maneh, and give it to him who hath the ten manehs. (And they say unto him, Sir, he hath ten manehs.) For I say unto you, That to every one who hath, shall more be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him. But as for these enemies of mine, who would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me.


But when they received it, they murmured against the master of the family: saying, These last have wrought only a single hour, and thou hast put them on an equality with us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answering, said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no injustice; did I not agree with thee for a denarius? read more.
Take then thine own, and begone: I chuse to give to this last even as to thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?


But what think ye? A man had two sons; and coming to the first he said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. But he answering said, I will not: yet repenting afterwards, he went. And coming to the other, he spake after the same manner, and he replying, said, I go, sir; yet went not. read more.
Which of the two did the will of his father? They say to him, The first. Jesus saith to them, Verily I say unto you, That tax-gatherers and harlots shall go before you into the kingdom of God.


For the case is like that of a man, who travelling abroad, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several capacity; and immediately went abroad. He then who had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and acquired five other talents. read more.
In the same manner also he that had the two, gained also himself two others. But he that had received the one talent, went and digged a hole in the ground, and hid the silver of his master. Then after a long absence the master of these servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. And he who had received the five talents, coming to him, brought five other talents, saying, Sir, thou deliveredst to me five talents: I have gained to them five other talents. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master. Then came also he that had received the two talents: and said, Sir, thou deliveredst to me two talents: lo! I have gained to them two other talents. His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter thou into thy master's joy. Then came also he that had received the one talent, and said, Sir, knowing thee, that thou art a severe man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering from whence thou hast not scattered: and being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the ground: see here, thou hast thine own. Then his master answering said to him, Thou wicked and idle slave, thou knewest that I reap whence I had not sown, and gather where I had not scattered: thou oughtest then to have placed my money with the bankers, so when I came I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore from him the talent, and give it to him that hath the ten talents. For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.


Then he spake this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came, expecting fruit on it, and found none. Then said he to the vine-dresser, Lo! for three years have I come, expecting fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it render the ground thus useless? He answering said to him, Sir, let it e'en remain this year, until that I dig around it, and spread some manure: read more.
perhaps it may then produce fruit: but if it does not, afterwards thou shalt cut it down.