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.

The Ministry of Apostles

4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and ^(A)stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. ³ But 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 (B)For I am not aware of anything against myself, ^(C)but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. ⁵ Therefore ^(D)do not pronounce judgment before the time, ^(E)before the Lord comes, ^(F)who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ^(G)Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

¹⁰ Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For ^(A)we will all stand before ^(B)the judgment seat of God; ¹¹ for it is written,

¹² So then ^(D)each of us will give an account of himself to God.

² And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your ^(A)management, 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^[a] 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^[b] of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ ⁸ The master commended the dishonest manager for his ^(B)shrewdness. For ^(C)the sons of this world^[c] are ^(D)more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than ^(E)the sons of light. ⁹ And I tell you, ^(F)make friends for yourselves by means of ^(G)unrighteous wealth,^[d] so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

^10 (H)“One who is ^(I)faithful 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 ^(J)that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? ^13 (K)No 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.”

^48 (A)But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, ^(B)will receive a light beating. ^(C)Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

¹⁹ Now ^(A)after a long time the master of those servants came and ^(B)settled accounts with them.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished ^(A)to settle accounts with his servants.^{[a] 24} When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ^(B)ten thousand ^(C)talents.^{[b] 25 (D)}And since he could not pay, his master ordered him ^(E)to be sold, with his wife and ^(F)children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ So the servant^{[c] (G)}fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and ^(H)forgave him the debt. ²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred ^(I)denarii,^[d] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When 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. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ^33 (J)And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ^34 (K)And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,^{[e] (L)}until he should pay all his debt. ^35 (M)So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother ^(N)from your heart.”