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.

^9 (A)Be hospitable to one another ^(B)without grumbling. ^10 (C)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, ^(D)as good stewards of ^(E)the manifold grace of God. ^11 (F)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ^[a]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that ^(G)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ^[b]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

^12 (A)Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten ^[a]minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ ^14 (B)But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’

¹⁵ “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. ¹⁶ Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ ¹⁷ And he said to him, ^(C)‘Well done, good servant; because you were ^(D)faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ ¹⁸ And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ ¹⁹ Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’

²⁰ “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. ^21 (E)For I feared you, because you are ^[b]an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ ²² And he said to him, ^(F)‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. ^(G)You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. ²³ Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’

²⁴ “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ ²⁵ (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) ²⁶ ‘For I say to you, ^(H)that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ²⁷ But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.’ ”

^34 (A)It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave ^(B)authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given ^(A)the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another ^(B)the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ^9 (C)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another ^(D)gifts of healings by ^[a]the same Spirit, ^10 (E)to another the working of miracles, to another ^(F)prophecy, to another ^(G)discerning of spirits, to another ^(H)different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, ^(I)distributing to each one individually ^(J)as He wills.

Unity and Diversity in One Body^(K)

¹² For ^(L)as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, ^(M)so also is Christ. ¹³ For ^(N)by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—^(O)whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and ^(P)have all been made to drink ^[b]into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now ^(Q)God has set the members, each one of them, in the body ^(R)just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no ^[c]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ^(S)you are the body of Christ, and ^(T)members individually. ²⁸ And ^(U)God has appointed these in the church: first ^(V)apostles, second ^(W)prophets, third teachers, after that ^(X)miracles, then ^(Y)gifts of healings, ^(Z)helps, ^(AA)administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

^4 (A)There are ^[a]diversities of gifts, but ^(B)the same Spirit.

Stewards of the Mysteries of God

4 Let a man so consider us, as ^(A)servants of Christ ^(B)and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is ^(A)given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us ^(B)prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; ^(C)he who teaches, in teaching; ^8 (D)he who exhorts, in exhortation; ^(E)he who gives, with liberality; ^(F)he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, ^(G)with cheerfulness.