God's Words

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Written by: Messenger Administrator

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed:

‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance.  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,

‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”

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Written by: Messenger Administrator

Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said:

“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.  And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea,

‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

For some time he refused.  But finally he said to himself,

‘Even thought I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’

And the Lord said,

‘Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?  Will He keep putting them off?  I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.  However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?’”

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Written by: Messenger Administrator

Jesus 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, 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.’