Thematic Bible: Unfaithful servants
Thematic Bible
Servants » Unfaithful servants
So he said: "A certain nobleman went abroad to receive for himself royal power and to return. "And he summoned ten slaves of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, "'Trade with these until I come.' "But this fellow citizens hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, 'We do not wish this man to become our king.' read more.
"And upon his return after he had secured the royal power, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might know what they had gained by trading. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Master, your pound has made ten pounds.' "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' "And the second came and said, 'Master, your pound has made five pounds.' "Then he said to him also, 'You shall be over five cities.' "And the next came to him and said, 'Here master is your pound which I was keeping safe in a napkin. "'For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not sow.' "He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow. "'Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?' "Then to those who stood by, he said, 'Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.' "'Master,' they said to him, 'he already has ten pounds.' "'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has. "'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"
"And upon his return after he had secured the royal power, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might know what they had gained by trading. "And the first came before him, saying, 'Master, your pound has made ten pounds.' "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.' "And the second came and said, 'Master, your pound has made five pounds.' "Then he said to him also, 'You shall be over five cities.' "And the next came to him and said, 'Here master is your pound which I was keeping safe in a napkin. "'For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not sow.' "He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow. "'Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?' "Then to those who stood by, he said, 'Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.' "'Master,' they said to him, 'he already has ten pounds.' "'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has. "'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"
Keep guard then, for you do not know the day on which your Master is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have been on his guard, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for in an hour when you do not expect him, the Son of man is coming. read more.
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave, to whom his master has entrusted his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that slave whom his Master, when he comes, shall find so doing. In solemn truth I tell you that he will set him over all his property. But if, because he is a bad slave, he should say to himself, 'My Master is a long time in coming,' and if he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and to eat or drink with the drunkards, on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour which he does not know, the Master of that servant will arrive and will scourge him severely, and allot him a place among hypocrites, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave, to whom his master has entrusted his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that slave whom his Master, when he comes, shall find so doing. In solemn truth I tell you that he will set him over all his property. But if, because he is a bad slave, he should say to himself, 'My Master is a long time in coming,' and if he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and to eat or drink with the drunkards, on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour which he does not know, the Master of that servant will arrive and will scourge him severely, and allot him a place among hypocrites, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."