Ecc 5:8, Mat 23:8-9, 24:48-51, Luk 16:1-13, 19:15, Eph 6:8-20 | ESV | STEP | If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness , do not be amazed at the matter , for the high official is watched by a higher , and there are yet higher ones over them .

8 ^aIf you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, ^bdo not be amazed at the matter, ^cfor the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

Matthew 23:8-9

8 ^dBut you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are ^eall brothers. ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} 9 ^gAnd call no man your father on earth, for ^hyou have one Father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 24:48-51

48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master ⁱis delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants ^{▼▼Greek bondservants} and eats and drinks with ^kdrunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come ^lon a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place ^mthere will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Luke 16:1-13

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had ⁿa manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your ^omanagement, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures ^{▼▼About 875 gallons or 3,200 liters} of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures ^{▼▼Between 1,000 and 1,200 bushels or 37,000 to 45,000 liters} of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his ^rshrewdness. For ^sthe sons of this world ^{▼▼Greek age} are ^umore shrewd in dealing with their own generation than ^vthe sons of light. 9 And I tell you, ^wmake friends for yourselves by means of ^xunrighteous wealth, ^{▼▼Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions; also verse 11; rendered money in verse 13} so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 ^z“One who is ^aafaithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in ^abthat which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 ^acNo servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 19:15

15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.

Ephesians 6:8-20

8 ^adknowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, ^aewhether he is a bondservant ^{▼▼Or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)} or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, ^agand stop your threatening, knowing that ^ahhe who is both their Master ^{▼▼Greek Lord} and yours is in heaven, and that ^ajthere is no partiality with him.

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, ^akbe strong in the Lord and in ^althe strength of his might. 11 ^amPut on ^anthe whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against ^aothe schemes of the devil. 12 For ^apwe do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^aqthe rulers, against the authorities, against ^arthe cosmic powers over ^asthis present darkness, against ^atthe spiritual forces of evil ^auin the heavenly places. 13 Therefore ^avtake up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in ^awthe evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, ^axhaving fastened on the belt of truth, and ^ayhaving put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, ^azas shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up ^bathe shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all ^bbthe flaming darts of ^bcthe evil one; 17 and take ^bdthe helmet of salvation, and ^bethe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying ^bfat all times ^bgin the Spirit, ^bhwith all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^bikeep alert with all perseverance, making ^bjsupplication for all the saints, 19 and ^bkalso for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth ^blboldly to proclaim ^bmthe mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I ^bnam an ambassador ^boin chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.