Friday, November 28

6But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

8nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,

9not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

11For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

12Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

14And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

16Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

12Therefore He said: 'A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

13So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.'

14But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'

15'And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

16Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned ten minas.'

17And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

18And the second came, saying, 'Master, your mina has earned five minas.'

19Likewise he said to him, 'You also be over five cities.'

20'Then another came, saying, 'Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief.

21For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'

22And he said to him, 'Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow.

23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?'

24'And he said to those who stood by, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.'

25(But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.')

26'For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

27But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' '

28When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.