“天国又好比一个人要往外国去，就叫了仆人来，把他的家业交给他们，

“天国又好比一个人要出外远行，就叫了仆人来，把他的家业交给他们。

“天国又好比一个人要出外远行，就叫了仆人来，把他的家业交给他们。

“天国就像一个人即将远行，他召来自己的奴仆，把产业托付给他们，

“天国又像一个人要出外远行，就叫自己的仆人来，把产业交给他们。

“天国又好比一个人要出外旅行，就叫来自己的奴仆们，把他所拥有的交托给他们。

「天國又好比一個人要往外國去，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們，

「天國又好比一個人要出外遠行，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們。

「天國又好比一個人要出外遠行，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們。

「天國就像一個人即將遠行，他召來自己的奴僕，把產業託付給他們，

“天國又像一個人要出外遠行，就叫自己的僕人來，把產業交給他們。

『就像一個人要出外去，叫了他的奴僕來，把資財交給他們；

「天國又好比一個人要出外旅行，就叫來自己的奴僕們，把他所擁有的交託給他們。

又如一人將往他方、召其僕以家資付之、

又如一人、將往異地、召僕以所有者予之、

又如一人將往異地、召僕、以家貲付之、

昔有人焉、將遠行、召其諸僕、託以家貲、

“ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.

“ Again, here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like. A man was going on a journey. He sent for his slaves and put them in charge of his money.

“ For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.

“ Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.

“ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

“ For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

“ For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

“ For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them.

For[ the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country,[ who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

“ For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them.

“ For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (niv)

It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. (niv)

He said:“ A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.‘ Put this money to work,’ he said,‘ until I come back.’“ But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say,‘ We don’t want this man to be our king.’“ He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.“ The first one came and said,‘ Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’“‘ Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied.‘ Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’“ The second came and said,‘ Sir, your mina has earned five more.’“ His master answered,‘ You take charge of five cities.’“ Then another servant came and said,‘ Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’“ His master replied,‘ I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’“ Then he said to those standing by,‘ Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’“‘ Sir,’ they said,‘ he already has ten!’“ He replied,‘ I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them— bring them here and kill them in front of me.’” (niv)

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, (niv)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. (niv)

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body— whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.Now if the foot should say,“ Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.And if the ear should say,“ Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.If they were all one part, where would the body be?As it is, there are many parts, but one body.The eye cannot say to the hand,“ I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet,“ I don’t need you!”On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? (niv)

Jesus told his disciples:“ There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.So he called him in and asked him,‘ What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’“ The manager said to himself,‘ What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’“ So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first,‘ How much do you owe my master?’“‘ Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.“ The manager told him,‘ Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’“ Then he asked the second,‘ And how much do you owe?’“‘ A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.“ He told him,‘ Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’“ The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.“ Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? (niv)

This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (niv)

“ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more.But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.“ After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’“ His master replied,‘ Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ The man with two bags of gold also came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’“ His master replied,‘ Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’“ His master replied,‘ You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.“‘ So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (niv)

“ Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. (niv)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (niv)

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe— as the Lord has assigned to each his task. (niv)

He went on to tell the people this parable:“ A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. (niv)