¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ^(A)“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ^19 (B)Go ^[a]therefore and ^(C)make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ^20 (D)teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am ^(E)with you always, even to the end of the age.” ^[b]Amen.

^10 (A)for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

^16 (A)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, ^(B)yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone ^(C)is in Christ, he is ^(D)a new creation; ^(E)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become ^(F)new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, ^(G)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that ^(H)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then, we are ^(I)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For ^(J)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become ^(K)the righteousness of God in Him.

Maintain Your Life with God

²⁰ But you, beloved, ^(A)building yourselves up on your most holy faith, ^(B)praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, ^(C)looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

²² And on some have compassion, ^[a]making a distinction; ²³ but ^(D)others save ^[b]with fear, ^(E)pulling them out of the ^[c]fire, hating even ^(F)the garment defiled by the flesh.

Glory to God

The Parable of the Talents^(A)

^14 (B)“For the kingdom of heaven is ^(C)like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, ^(D)to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. ¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were ^(E)faithful over a few things, ^(F)I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into ^(G)the joy of your lord.’ ²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ^(H)‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into ^(I)the joy of your lord.’

²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You ^(J)wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

^29 (K)‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant ^(L)into the outer darkness. ^(M)There will be weeping and ^(N)gnashing of teeth.’