Matthew 18:23-35
23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished ato settle accounts with his servants. ▼▼Greek bondservants; also verses 28, 31
24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him cten thousand dtalents. ▼▼A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years’ wages for a laborer
25 fAnd since he could not pay, his master ordered him gto be sold, with his wife and hchildren and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant ▼▼Greek bondservant; also verses 27, 28, 29, 32, 33
jfell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and kforgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred ldenarii, ▼▼A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer
and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 nAnd should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 oAnd in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, ▼▼Greek torturers
quntil he should pay all his debt. 35 rSo also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother sfrom your heart.” Matthew 25:19
19Now tafter a long time the master of those servants came and usettled accounts with them.Luke 12:48
48 vBut the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, wwill receive a light beating. xEveryone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.Luke 16:2-13
2And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your ymanagement, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3And 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. 4I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6He 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.’ 7Then 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.’ 8The master commended the dishonest manager for his abshrewdness. For acthe sons of this world ▼▼Greek age
are aemore shrewd in dealing with their own generation than afthe sons of light. 9And I tell you, agmake friends for yourselves by means of ahunrighteous 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 aj“One who is akfaithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful in althat which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 amNo 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.”
Romans 14:10-12
10Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For anwe will all stand before aothe judgment seat of God; 11for it is written,ap“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess ▼
▼Or shall give praise
to God.”12So then areach of us will give an account of himself to God.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
The Ministry of Apostles
1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and asstewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 atFor I am not aware of anything against myself, aubut I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5Therefore avdo not pronounce judgment before the time, awbefore the Lord comes, axwho will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ayThen each one will receive his commendation from God.
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