Matthew 21:28-46
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 (A)“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in (B)the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he (C)changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (D)the tax collectors and (E)the prostitutes go into (F)the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you (G)in the way of righteousness, and (H)you did not believe him, but (I)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward (J)change your minds and believe him.
The Parable of the Tenants
33 (K)“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted (L)a vineyard (M)and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and (N)leased it to tenants, and (O)went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants[a] to the tenants (P)to get his fruit. 35 (Q)And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and (R)stoned another. 36 (S)Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, (T)‘This is the heir. Come, (U)let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and (V)threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 (W)When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, (X)“He will put those wretches to a miserable death and (Y)let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, (Z)“Have you never read in the Scriptures:
(AA)“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;[b]
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God (AB)will be taken away from you and given to a people (AC)producing its fruits. 44 And (AD)the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and (AE)when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”[c]
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And (AF)although they were seeking to arrest him, (AG)they feared the crowds, because they held him to be (AH)a prophet.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 21:34 Or bondservants; also verses 35, 36
- Matthew 21:42 Greek the head of the corner
- Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts omit verse 44
Matthew 25:14-30
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Talents
14 (A)“For (B)it will be like a man (C)going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five (D)talents,[b] to another two, to another one, (E)to each according to his ability. Then he (F)went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and (G)dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now (H)after a long time the master of those servants came and (I)settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and (J)faithful servant.[c] (K)You have been faithful over a little; (L)I will set you over much. Enter into (M)the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be (N)a hard man, reaping (O)where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, (P)you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You (Q)wicked and (R)slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 (S)For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And (T)cast (U)the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place (V)there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 25:14 Or bondservants; also verse 19
- Matthew 25:15 A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
- Matthew 25:21 Or bondservant; also verses 23, 26, 30
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.