Parable of the Expectant Steward

35 e“Let your waist be girded and fyour lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 gBlessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 hBut know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would 7have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 iTherefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Parable of the Faithful Steward

Matt. 24:45–51

41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

42 And the Lord said, j“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food 8in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 kTruly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 lBut if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a mday when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And nthat servant who oknew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 pBut he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Christ Warns of the Costs of Discipleship

49 q“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But rI have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is saccomplished! 51 tDo you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, ubut rather division. 52 vFor from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 wFather will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Christ Warns of Not Discerning the Times

54 Then He also said to the multitudes, x“Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the ysouth wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern zthis time?

57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 aWhen you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort balong the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”