3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables saying: "Listen, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell alongside the road, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Others fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; so they sprouted quickly because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun came up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and smothered them. 8 But others fell on the good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

25 And then, a certain lawyer stood up to test Him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 So He said to him: "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?" 27 In answer he said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and, your neighbor as yourself."* 28 So He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live!" 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"*

30 By way of reply Jesus said: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and as it chanced he ran into robbers, who after having stripped and wounded him, departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked,* and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan,* as he traveled, came by there, and upon seeing him was moved with compassion; 34 and going to him he bound up his wounds, applying oil and wine. Then he placed him on his own mount, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and should you spend more, I will repay you when I return.’ 36 So which of these three, would you say, was ‘neighbor’ to him who ran into the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed mercy on him." So Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise!"*

4 "What man among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not abandon the ninety-nine in the wild* and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And upon finding it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.*

11 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger one said to the father, ‘Father, give me the appropriate share of the estate.’ So he divided the property between them. 13 Not many days later the younger son, having converted it all, journeyed to a distant country; and there he squandered his wealth living dissolutely. 14 But when he had spent it all, there was a severe famine throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 Then he went and attached himself to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.* 16 He would gladly have filled his stomach with the carob pods* that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.* 17 But when he came to himself he said: ‘How many of my father's hired servants have an abundance of bread, while I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants.’

20 "So he got up and went to his own father. But while he was still a good ways off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion—he ran and fell on his neck and kissed him! 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves: ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring in and kill the fatted calf, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 because this son of mine was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

25 "Now his older son was in the field; and as he came approaching the house he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 So he became angry and refused to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him.* 29 But in answer he said to the father: ‘Just look at how many years I have been serving you without ever transgressing your commandment; yet you never gave me even a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’* 31 So he said to him: ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 But it was right that we celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and came to life; he was lost and is found.’ "

45 "Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, a merchant, seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who upon finding one very valuable pearl went and sold everything he had and bought it.*

9 Then He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the rest: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and started praying to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like all the rest—robbers, unjust, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I tithe all that I get.’* 13 The tax collector, staying a good ways off, did not even venture to look up to heaven, but started beating on his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I say to you that this one went back home justified rather than that one; because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

14 "Because the kingdom is also like a man about to go on a long journey, who called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on the journey. 16 So the one who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 So also the one who received the two gained another two as well. 18 But he who received the one went off and dug in the ground and hid his lord's silver.

19 "Then, after a long time, the lord of those servants comes and settles accounts with them.

20 "So the one who had received the five talents approached and brought five more talents saying, ‘Lord, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I gained five more talents besides them!’ 21 His lord said to him: ‘Super, you good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 So the one who had received the two talents also approached and said, ‘Lord, you entrusted two talents to me; see, I gained two more talents besides them!’ 23 His lord said to him: ‘Super, you good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’*

24 "Then he who had received the one talent also approached and said: ‘Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter. 25 And being afraid I went off and hid your talent in the ground; here, take what is yours.’* Jesus you identify with Him. 26 So in answer his lord said to him: ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter.* 27 Therefore you were obligated to deposit my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received what is mine with interest. 28 Therefore, take the talent away from him and give it to the one having the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but the one who does not have, even what he thinks that he has* will be taken away from him.* 30 And throw out the useless servant,* into the darkness farthest out!’ There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

19 "Now there was a certain rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day. 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores, who had been placed at his gate, 21 just wanting to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table—why even the dogs would come and lick his sores!* 22 In due time the beggar died and was carried away to Abraham's bosom by the angels.

"The rich man also died and was buried.* 23 And in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance, and Lazarus very close to him. And being in torment, 24 he called out, saying, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; because I am tormented by this flame!’ 25 But Abraham said: ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus had bad things; but now he*’, rather than ‘here’. is being comforted, and you tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can anyone from there cross over to us.’* 27 Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, 28 because I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’* 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 So he said to him, ‘Oh no, father Abraham—if someone from the dead should go to them, they will repent!’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone should rise from the dead.’ "*

24 He put another parable to them, saying: "The kingdom of the heavens is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while the people were sleeping his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went away. 26 But when the stalk sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.* 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy did it.’ The servants said to him, ‘So do you want us to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said: ‘No, lest gathering up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them into bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." ’ "

1 "Then* the kingdom of the heavens will be like ten virgins who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were prudent and five foolish. 3 Those who were foolish, taking their lamps, did not take [extra] oil with them, 4 but the prudent ones took oil in their vessels along with their lamps.* 5 Now while the bridegroom delayed they all dozed and slept, 6 but at midnight there was a shout: ‘Attention! The bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish ones said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent ones answered saying, ‘No, in case there not be enough for you and us; instead, go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’ 10 But while they went to buy, the bridegroom arrived, and the ones who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast—and the door was shut! 11 Later the other virgins arrived too saying, ‘Lord, lord, open for us!’ 12 But in answer he said, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Therefore, keep alert, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of the Man is coming.*