What did Jesus say about Entrusted Responsibilities?

² “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,

³ and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.

⁴ Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!”’

⁵ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;

⁶ and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

⁷ When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

⁸ “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.

⁹ Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’

¹⁰ Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing,

¹² and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.

¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’

¹⁴ For many are called, but few chosen.”

¹ “A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

² When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

³ They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

⁴ Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

⁵ Again he sent another, and they killed him, and many others, beating some, and killing some.

⁶ Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

⁷ But those farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

⁸ They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.

¹⁰ Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner.

¹¹ This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?”

³¹ “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.

³² It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.

³³ You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

³⁴ But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.

³⁵ He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

³⁶ But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.

³⁷ The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.

³⁸ You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.

³⁹ “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.

⁴⁰ Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.

¹⁷ “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”

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Narration or other speakers' words are omitted to show Jesus' words. Read in context for the full passage.

¹⁹ “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

²⁰ For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.

²² For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,

²³ that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.

⁹ “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

¹⁰ At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty.

¹¹ He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

¹² He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him and threw him out.

¹³ The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

¹⁴ “But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’

¹⁵ Then they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

¹⁶ He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.”

¹⁷ “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone’?

¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”

² “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.

³ Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

⁴ Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way.

⁵ Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’

⁶ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.

⁷ Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house.

⁸ Into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you.

⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’

¹⁰ But into whatever city you enter and they don’t receive you, go out into its streets and say,

¹¹ ‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’

¹² I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.

¹¹ “A certain man had two sons.

¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ So he divided his livelihood between them.

¹³ Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.

¹⁴ When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵ He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

¹⁶ He wanted to fill his belly with the pods that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.

¹⁷ But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!

¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.

¹⁹ I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.”’

²⁰ “He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him.

²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.

²³ Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate;

²⁴ for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶ He called one of the servants to him and asked what was going on.

²⁷ He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’

²⁸ But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and begged him.

²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

³⁰ But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

³¹ “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

³² But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’”

¹ “And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: “He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

² Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God.

³ Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.

⁴ Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

⁵ He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

⁶ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

²⁵ “I have said these things to you while still living with you.

²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

²⁸ You heard how I told you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.

²⁹ Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe.

³⁰ I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.

³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.