What Did Jesus Say? Long Discourses

Sermon on the Mount.
(Matthew 5-7)   

The Beatitudes.

Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually poor, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are those who are kind, for they will own the whole world. 

Blessed are those whose greatest desire is to do what is right, for they will be satisfied. 

Blessed are those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed are those who have pure hearts, for they will see God.

Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God. 

Blessed are those persecuted for what is right, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and accuse you of all kind of evil things because of me. 

Be glad, be really glad, for you will receive a great reward in heaven. For they persecuted the prophets who came before you in just the same way.

Salt and Light.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can you make it salty again? It’s good for nothing, so it’s thrown out and trodden on. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill can’t be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bucket. No, it’s placed on a lamp-stand and it provides light to everyone in the house. In the same way you should let your light shine before everyone so they can see the good things you do and praise your heavenly Father.

Fulfillment of the Law.
“Don’t think I came to abolish the law or the writings of the prophets. I didn’t come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. I assure you, until heaven and earth come to an end, not a single letter, not a single dot of the law will come to an end before everything is fulfilled. So whoever disregards the least important commandment, and teaches people to do so, will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches the commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness is more than that of the religious teachers and the Pharisees, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder.
“You’ve heard that the law said to the people of long ago: ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who commits murder will be condemned as guilty.’ But I tell you, anyone who is angry with his brother will be condemned as guilty. Whoever calls his brother an idiot has to answer to the council, and whoever insults people is liable to the fire of judgment.”

“If you’re at the altar making an offering, and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering on the altar and go and make peace with him first, and afterwards come back and make your offering. While you’re on the way to court with your opponent, make sure you settle things quickly. Otherwise your opponent might hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the court official, and you will be thrown into jail. I tell you the truth: you won’t get out of there until you’ve paid every last penny.

Adultery.
You’ve heard that the law said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that everyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye leads you to sin, then tear it out and throw it away, because it’s better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into the fire of judgment. If your right hand leads you to sin, then cut it off and throw it away, for it’s better for you to lose one of your limbs than for your whole body to go into the fire of judgment.

Divorce.
“The law also said, ‘If a man divorces his wife, he should give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that any man who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths. 
“And again, you’ve heard that the law said to the people of long ago, ‘You shall not perjure yourself. Instead make sure you keep the oaths you swear to the Lord.’ But I tell you, don’t swear at all. Don’t swear by heaven, because it’s the throne of God.  Don’t swear by the earth, because it’s God’s footstool. Don’t swear by Jerusalem, because it’s the city of the great King. Don’t even swear by your head, because you’re not able to make a single hair white or black. Simply say yes or no—more than this comes from the Evil One.

Eye for an Eye.
“You’ve heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist someone who is evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well. If someone wants to sue you in court and takes your shirt, give them your coat too. If someone demands that you go one mile, go with them two. Give to those who ask you, and don’t turn away those who want to borrow from you.

Love for Your Enemies.
“You’ve heard that the law said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so you may become children of your heavenly Father. For his sun shines on both the good and the bad; and he makes the rain fall on both those who do right and those who do wrong. For if you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax-collectors do that? If you only speak kindly to your family, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the heathen do that! Grow up and become completely trustworthy, just as your heavenly Father is trustworthy.

When Giving to the Needy.
“Make sure not to do your good deeds in front of people, just so they can be seen. Otherwise you won’t have any reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites who blow their own trumpets to announce what they’re doing in the synagogues and in the streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth: they already have their reward. When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand’s doing. That way what you give will be in secret, and your Father who sees what happens in secret will reward you.

Prayer.
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people can see them. I promise you, they have already got their reward. But you, when you pray, go indoors and close the door, and pray to your Father in private, and your Father who sees what happens in private will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on meaninglessly like the foreigners do, who think they will be heard because of all the words they repeat. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you ask him.

So pray like this. Our heavenly Father, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come! May your will be carried out in earth as it is in heaven. Please give to us today the food we need. Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t let us be tempted to do wrong, and save us from the Evil One. “For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive those who sin against you, then your heavenly Father won’t forgive your sins.

Fasting.
“When you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites who put on sad faces and make themselves look terrible so that everyone can see they’re fasting. Instead, when you fast, wash your face and look smart, so that people won’t see you’re fasting, and your unseen Father who sees what happens in private will reward you.

Seek Treasures in Heaven.
“Don’t pile up wealth here on earth where moths and rust ruin it, and where thieves break in and steal it. Instead, you should pile up your wealth in heaven, where moths and rust don’t ruin it, and where thieves don’t break in and steal it. For wherever you pile up your wealth, that’s where your heart will be too.

“The eye is like a lamp that lights the body. So if your eye is healthy, then your whole body will have light. But if your eye is evil, then your whole body will be in the dark. If the light in you is darkness, how dark is that! No one can serve two masters. Either you’ll hate one and love the other, or you’ll be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Money.

Don’t Worry.
“That’s why I’m telling you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about what to eat, or what to drink, or what clothes to put on. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds. They don’t sow or reap or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? Who of you by worrying can add a minute to your life? And why are you worried about clothes? Look at the beautiful flowers in the field. See how they grow: they don’t work hard, they don’t spin thread. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these flowers.

So if God decorates the fields like this, grass which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, won’t he do much more for you, you people who trust so little? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ These are all the things that the heathen chase after, but your heavenly Father knows everything you need. Seek his kingdom first, and his way of doing right, and everything will be given to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow can worry about itself. There’s already enough evil in every day.

Do Not Judge Others.
“Don’t judge others, so that you won’t be judged. For whatever standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you, and whatever measurement you use to measure others will be used to measure you. Why do you see the speck that’s in your brother’s eye? Don’t you notice the plank that’s in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take out that speck from your eye’ when you have a plank in your own eye? You’re being hypocritical! First get rid of the plank that’s in your own eye. Then you’ll be able to see clearly to take out the speck from your brother’s eye. “Don’t give dogs what’s holy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs. That way the pigs won’t trample them underfoot, and the dogs won’t turn and attack you.

Ask, Seek, Knock.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds; and everyone who knocks has the door opened for them. Would any of you give your son a stone if he asked for bread? Or if he asked for fish, would you give him a snake? So if even you who are evil know to give good things to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Treat others the way you want them to treat you. This sums up the law and the prophets.

Narrow and Wide Gates.
Enter by the narrow entrance. For the entrance is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many travel that way. But the entrance is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The Tree and Its Fruit.
“Watch out for false prophets who come wearing sheep’s clothing, but who on the inside are vicious wolves. You can recognize them by their fruits. Do people harvest grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from  thistles? So every good tree produces good fruit, while a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruits.

“Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven—only those who do the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me at the day of judgment, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and drive out demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Leave me, you people who practice wickedness!’

Wise and Foolish Builders. 
Everyone that hears the words I say, and follows them, is like a wise man who built his house on solid rock. The rain poured down, and the floods rose, and the winds blew hard against the house, but it didn’t fall down, because its foundations were on solid rock. Everyone that hears the words I say, and doesn’t follow them, is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain poured down, and the floods rose, and the winds blew hard against the house, and it fell down—it totally collapsed.”

END SERMOM ON THE MOUNT

PARABLES DISCOURSE.
(Matthew 13:1-35, Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:4-18).

 Parable of the Sower
“As he was sowing, some of the seeds fell on the path. The birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on stony ground where there wasn’t much earth where they sprouted quickly. The sun rose and scorched them and they withered because they had no roots. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked them. Still other seeds fell on good soil. They produced a harvest—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what had been planted. Anybody who has ears should be listening! 

(The disciples asked why he spoke in parables.)

“You’re privileged to have revealed to you the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but they’re not given such insights,” “Those who already have will have more given to them, more than enough. But those who don’t have, whatever they have will be taken away from them. That’s why I speak to them in illustrations. For even though they see, they do not see; and even though they hear, they do not hear; nor do they understand.

“The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them: ‘Even though you hear, you won’t understand, and even though you see, you won’t perceive. They have a hard-hearted attitude, they don’t want to listen, and they’ve closed their eyes. If they didn’t they might be able to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand in their minds. Then they could return to me and I would heal them.’

“Your eyes are blessed, for they see. Your ears are blessed too, for they hear. I’m telling you, many prophets and good people longed to see what you’re seeing, but didn’t see it. They longed to hear what you’re hearing, but didn’t hear it.

“So listen to the story of the sower. When people hear the message about the kingdom, and don’t understand it, the evil one comes along and rips out what was sown in their heart. This is what happens to the seeds sown on the path. The seeds sown on stony ground are people who hear the message and happily accept it straight away. They last for a while, but because they don’t have roots, when problems and troubles come, they quickly fall away. The seeds sown among thorns are people who hear the message, but then life’s worries and the temptation of money choke the message so that they become fruitless. The seeds sown on good soil are people who hear the message, and understand it, and who produce a good harvest—some one hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times what was sown.” 

Lamp on a Stand. 
“Who puts a lamp under a bucket, or beneath a bed?” “No, you put a lamp up on a lampstand. Everything that is hidden will be revealed, and everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. If you have ears to hear, listen to what I’m saying! Pay attention to what you’re hearing,” “for you will be given according to how much you want to receive, measure for measure. More will be given to those who already have understanding, but those who don’t want to know will have what little understanding they have taken from them.

Parable of the Growing Seed.
“God’s kingdom is like a man sowing seed in the ground,” Jesus said. “He goes to bed and gets up, day after day, but the man has no knowledge of how the seeds sprout and grow. The earth produces a harvest by itself. First a shoot appears, then the heads of grain, and then the heads of grain ripen. When the grain is ripe, the farmer reaps it with a sickle, because the harvest is ready. 

Parable of the Weeds.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who sowed good seeds in his field. But while his workers were sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weed seeds on top of the wheat. Then they left. So when the wheat grew and produced ears of grain, the weeds also grew up. The farmer’s workers came and asked him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seeds in your field? Where did the weeds come from?’

“Some enemy has done this,’ he replied. ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ they asked him. ‘No,’ he answered, ‘as you pull up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat too. Let them both grow until harvest, and then at harvest-time I’ll tell the reapers, “First gather the weeds, tie them up into bundles and burn them. Then gather the wheat and store it in my barn.” 

Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a farmer sowed in his field. Even though it’s the tiniest of seeds it grows much bigger than other plants. In fact it grows into a tree big enough for birds to roost in its branches.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixed with a large quantity of flour, until all the dough was raised.”

Parable of the Weeds Explained.
(In private, as requested by the Disciples.)

“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of man,” Jesus explained. “The field is the world. The good seeds are the children of the kingdom. The weed seeds are the children of the evil one. The enemy that sowed  the weed seeds is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world. The reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are harvested and burned so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of man will send out his angels, and they will gather up every sinful thing and everyone who does evil, and will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then those who live rightly will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. Anybody with ears should be listening!

Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, reburied it, and then full of joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  The kingdom of heaven is also like a trader looking for good pearls. When he found the most expensive pearl ever he went and sold all he had and bought it.

Parable of the Net.
Once more, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net thrown into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. When it was full it was dragged ashore. The good fish were put into baskets while the bad ones were thrown away.  That’s the way it will be when the end of the world comes. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the good, and throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Now do you understood everything?”  Every religious teacher who’s learned about the kingdom of heaven is like a house-owner who brings out from his storeroom both new and old treasures.

END PARABLES DISCOURSE.

MISSIONARY DISCOURSE
Sending Out the Twelve after giving them spiritual authority and power.
(Matthew 10:1-42, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6).

“Don’t go to the foreigners, or to any Samaritan city. You are to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Wherever you go, tell the people, ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal those who are sick. Resurrect the dead. Cure the lepers. Drive out demons. You received freely, so give freely! Don’t carry any gold, silver, or copper coins in your pockets, or a bag for your journey, or two cloaks, or sandals, or a walking stick, for a worker deserves to be supported. Wherever you go, whatever town or village, ask for someone who lives according to good principles, and remain there until you leave. When you enter the house, give it your blessing. If the home deserves it, let your peace rest on it, but if it doesn’t deserve it, let your peace return to you. “If someone doesn’t welcome you, and refuses to listen to what you have to say, then leave that house or that town, shaking its dust off your feet as you go. I tell you the truth, it will be better for Sodom and Gomorrah at the Day of Judgment than for that town!

“Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Watch out for those who will hand you over to be tried by town councils and will whip you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, to witness to them and to the foreigners. But when they put you on trial, don’t worry about how you should speak or what you should say, because you’ll be told what to say at the right time. For it’s not you who will speak but the spirit of the Father will speak through you. Brother will betray brother and have him killed, and a father will do the same to his child. Children will rebel against their parents, and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because you follow me, but everyone who endures until the end will be saved.

“When you’re persecuted in one town, run away to the next. I’m telling the truth: you won’t finish going to the towns of Israel before the Son of man comes. Disciples are not more important than their teacher; servants are not more important than their master. Disciples should be satisfied to become like their teacher, and servants like their master. If the head of the house has been called the head demon Beelzebub, then the members of his household will be demonized even more! So don’t be frightened of them, for there’s nothing covered that won’t be exposed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known. What I tell you here in the dark, declare when it’s light, and what you hear whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops. Don’t be afraid of those who can kill you physically, but can’t kill you spiritually. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy you physically and spiritually in the fires of destruction. Aren’t two sparrows sold for just one penny? But not a single one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing about it. Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. So don’t worry—you’re worth more than many sparrows! 

“Anyone who publicly declares their commitment to me, I will also declare my commitment to them before my Father in heaven. But anyone who publicly denies me, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Don’t think I’ve come to bring peace on earth. I haven’t come to bring peace, but a sword. I’ve come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be those of your own family! If you love your father or mother more than me you don’t deserve to be mine, and if you love your son or daughter more than me you don’t deserve to be mine. If you don’t pick up your cross and follow me you don’t deserve to be mine. If you try to save your life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life because of me you will save it. Those who welcome you welcome me, and those who welcome me welcome the one that sent me. Those who welcome a prophet because that’s what they are will receive the same reward as a prophet. Those who welcome someone who does right will receive the same reward as someone who does right. I tell you the truth, those who give a drink of cool water to the least important of my disciples will definitely not miss out on their reward.”

END MISSIONARY DISCOURSE

BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE
(When the boat reached the other side, the crowd asked how He got there.)
(John 6:22-59)

“I tell you the truth.” “You’re looking because you ate as much bread as you wanted, not because you understood the miracles. Don’t be preoccupied about food that doesn’t last, but concentrate on the lasting food of eternal life which the Son of man will give you, for God the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.” “What God wants you to do is to trust in the one he sent.” “I tell you the truth, it wasn’t Moses who gave you bread from heaven,” “It’s my Father who gives you the true bread of heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” “I am the bread of life,” “Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry again, and anyone who trusts in me will never be thirsty again.

But as I explained to you before, you have seen me, but you still don’t trust me. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and I won’t reject any of them. For I came down from heaven not to do what I want, but to do what the One who sent me wants. What he wants is for me not to lose anyone he has given to me, but for me to raise them up at the last day. What my Father wants is for everyone who sees the Son and trusts in him to have eternal life, and for me to raise them up at the last day.”

(Then they disagreed with Him.)

“Stop grumbling to each other,” “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me attracts them, and I will raise them up at the last day. As is written in Scripture by the prophets, ‘Everyone will be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to and learns from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen God, except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth: anyone who trusts in him has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate manna in the desert but they still died. But this is the bread that comes down from heaven, and anyone who eats it won’t ever die. I am the life-giving bread from heaven, and anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread is my flesh that I give so that the world may live. “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you cannot truly live.

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I remain in them. Just as the life-giving Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. Now this is the bread that came down from heaven, not the kind your forefathers ate and still died. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.”

END BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE

OLIVET DISCOURSE
The Four Fishermen Disciples Ask Jesus. About the signs of the end of the age.
(Matthew 24:3-35, Mark 13:3-31, Luke 21:7-31)

“Make sure no one misleads you,” “Many will come claiming to be me, saying, ‘I’m the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people. You’ll hear about wars, and rumors about wars, but don’t be anxious. These things have to happen, but this isn’t the end. Nations will attack other nations, and kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places, 8but all these things are just the beginnings of birth pains.

“Then they will arrest you, they will persecute you, and they will kill you. All people will hate you because of me. At that time many believers will give up believing. They will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will come and deceive many people. The increasing evil will lead the love of many to grow cold, but those who hold out to the end will be saved. The good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed around the whole world so everyone will be able to hear it, and then the end will come. So when you see the ‘evil that defiles’ standing in the holy place that the prophet Daniel spoke about (those who read this please consider carefully), then the people living in Judea should run away to the mountains.

Anyone who is on the housetop must not go down and fetch what’s in the house. Anyone who is out in the fields must not go back to get a coat. How awful it will be for those who are pregnant, and those who are nursing babies at that time! Pray that you don’t have to run away in winter, or on the Sabbath day. For at that time there will be terrible persecution—more terrible than anything that has happened from the beginning of the world up till now, and won’t ever happen again. Unless those days are cut short, nobody will be saved, but for the sake of the chosen those days will be cut short.

“So if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here’s the Messiah,’ or, ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs will appear, and false prophets too, and they will perform incredible signs and miracles in order to deceive the chosen, if that were possible. Notice that I’ve told you this before it even happens. So if they tell you, ‘Look, he’s out in the desert,’ don’t go looking there; or if they say, ‘Look, he’s secretly here,’ don’t believe it. For the coming of the Son of man will be like the lightning that flashes brightly from east to west. Vultures gather where the carcass is.’

“But right after those days of persecution the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shine, the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and in brilliant glory. With a blast from a trumpet he will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from every place, from one end of heaven and earth to the other.

“Learn an illustration from the fig tree. When its shoots become tender and leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is coming. In the same way when you see all these things happening, you know that his coming is near, in fact it’s right at the door! I tell you the truth: this generation won’t pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words won’t pass away.

A Warning to be Alert for the return of Jesus.
“But no one knows the day or hour when this will take place, not the angels in heaven, nor the Son. Only the Father knows. When the Son of man comes it will be like it was during the time of Noah. It will be as in the days before the flood, when they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, right up until the day that Noah went into the Ark. They didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s how the coming of the Son of man will be.

“Two men will be working in the fields. One will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding grain with a mill. One will be taken, the other left. So stay alert, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. But consider this: if the house-owner knew what time a thief was coming, he would keep watch. He would not allow his house to be broken into and robbed. You also need to be ready, because the Son of man is coming at a time when you’re not expecting him.

“For who is the trustworthy and thoughtful servant? It’s the one his master puts in charge of his household to provide them with food at the proper time. How good it will be for that servant to be found doing that when his master returns! I tell you the truth: the master will put that servant in charge over everything he has. But if he was evil, the servant would say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time,’ and would start beating the other servants, feasting and drinking with the drunks. Then that servant’s master will return when the man doesn’t expect him, at a time he doesn’t know. He’ll cut him to pieces, and treat him in the same way as the hypocrites, sending him to a place where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Parable of the Ten Virgins.
“The kingdom of heaven is like ten girls, who took their lamps with them to go and meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish girls took their lamps but didn’t take any oil with them, 4while the wise took jars of oil with them as well as their lamps. The bridegroom took a long time and all the girls became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the shout came, ‘Look, the bridegroom’s here! Come out and meet him!’ All the girls got up and trimmed the wicks of their lamps. The foolish girls said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise girls replied, ‘No, because otherwise there won’t be enough for both you and for us. Go to the shopkeepers and buy some oil for yourselves.’ While they went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was locked shut. The other girls came later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they called, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he answered, ‘I tell you the truth: I don’t know you.’ So stay alert, for you don’t know the day, or the hour.

Parable of the Talents.
“It’s like a man who went away on a trip. He called in his servants and entrusted them with what he owned. To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another one, according to their different abilities. Then he left. Immediately the one with five talents went and invested them in a business, and made another five talents. In the same way the one with two talents made another two. But the man who’d received the one talent went off and dug a hole and hid his master’s money. A long time later the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. The one with five talents came and presented the other five talents. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me five talents. Look, I’ve made a profit of five talents.’ His master said to him, ‘You’ve done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved yourself trustworthy over small things, so now I’m placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I’m really pleased with you! The one with two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me two talents. Look, I’ve made a profit of two talents.’ His master said to him, ‘You’ve done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved trustworthy over small things, so now I’m placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I’m really pleased with you!’ “Then the man with one talent came. “Master,’ he said, ‘I know that you’re a hard man. You reap where you didn’t sow, and you harvest crops that you didn’t plant. So since I was afraid of you I went and buried your talent in the ground. Look, you can have back what belongs to you.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you think I reap where I don’t sow, and harvest crops I didn’t plant, then you should have deposited my silver in the bank so that when I returned I could have had my money with interest. Take the talent away from him, and give it to the one with ten talents. For everyone who has will be given even more; and everyone who doesn’t have anything, even what they have will be taken away from them. Now throw this useless servant out into the darkness where there’ll be crying and gnashing of teeth.’

Warnings About the Judgment. Separating the Sheep from the Goats.
“But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his majestic throne. Everyone will be brought before him. He will separate them from one another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He’ll place the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to the ones on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, and inherit the kingdom that’s been prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then those who are right will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ The king will tell them, ‘I tell you the truth: whatever you did for one of these of least importance you did for me.’ “He’ll also say to those on his left, ‘Go away from me, you who are doomed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you didn’t give me anything to eat. I was thirsty and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger and you didn’t invite me in. I was naked and you didn’t clothe me. I was sick and in prison and you didn’t visit me.’ Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t look after you?’ Then he will tell them, ‘I tell you the truth: whatever you didn’t do for one of these of least importance you didn’t do for me.’ They will go away into eternal condemnation, but those who are right will enter eternal life.”

END OLIVET DISCOURSE

FAREWELL DISCOURSE
On the Mount of Olives.
(John 15 – 16).

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every one of my branches that doesn’t bear fruit. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so it can bear even more. You are already pruned and made clean through what I’ve told you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it remains part of the vine, so it is for you: you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. I’m the vine, you’re the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit—for apart from me you can’t do anything. Anyone who doesn’t remain in me is like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Such branches are gathered together, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be given you. My Father is glorified as you produce much fruit, proving you are my disciples.

“As the Father loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you do what I say, you will remain in my love, just as I do what my Father says and remain in his love. I’ve explained this to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. “This is my command: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to give your life for your friends. You’re my friends if you do what I tell you. I don’t call you servants any longer, for servants are not taken into their master’s confidence. I call you friends, for everything my Father told me I’ve explained to you. You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I have given you the responsibility to go and produce lasting fruit. So the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command to you: love one another.

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