Life Recovery Bible - Flipbook - Page 51
M atthew 2 6 / Page 1237
have been faithful in handling this small
amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!*’
22
“The servant who had received the two
bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master,
you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and
I have earned two more.’
23
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good
and faithful servant. You have been faithful
in handling this small amount, so now I will
give you many more responsibilities. Let’s
celebrate together!’
24
“Then the servant with the one bag of
silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you
were a harsh man, harvesting crops you
didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t
cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your
money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is
your money back.’
26
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and
lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I
didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, 27 why didn’t you deposit my money in
the bank? At least I could have gotten some
interest on it.’
28
“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from
this servant, and give it to the one with the
ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well
what they are given, even more will be
given, and they will have an abundance. But
from those who do nothing, even what little
they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw
this useless servant into outer darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.’
The Final Judgment
31
“But when the Son of Man* comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him, then he
will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations* will be gathered in his presence, and
he will separate the people as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will
place the sheep at his right hand and the
goats at his left.
34
“Then the King will say to those on his
right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my
Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you from the creation of the world. 35 For I
was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty,
and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger,
and you invited me into your home. 36 I was
naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick,
and you cared for me. I was in prison, and
you visited me.’
37
“Then these righteous ones will reply,
‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and
feed you? Or thirsty and give you something
to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?
39
When did we ever see you sick or in prison
and visit you?’
40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the
truth, when you did it to one of the least
of these my brothers and sisters,* you were
doing it to me!’
41
“Then the King will turn to those on
the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed
ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the
devil and his demons.* 42 For I was hungry,
and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and
you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger,
and you didn’t invite me into your home.
I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t
visit me.’
44
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we
ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger
or naked or sick or in prison, and not help
you?’
45
“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth,
when you refused to help the least of these
my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to
help me.’
46
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
CHAPTER 26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
When Jesus had finished saying all these
things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you
know, Passover begins in two days, and
the Son of Man* will be handed over to be
crucified.”
3
At that same time the leading priests and
elders were meeting at the residence of Ca
ia
phas, the high priest, 4 plotting how to
25:21 Greek Enter into the joy of your master [or your Lord]; also in 25:23. 25:31 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for
himself.
25:32 Or peoples.
25:40 Greek my brothers.
25:41 Greek his angels.
26:2 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used
for himself.
25:31-46 Ultimately we will all be accountable to God on judgment day. We will be responsible
not only for our own recovery but also for how we have helped others. The last step in recovery is
to tell others about our recovery and encourage them in the recovery process. Since Jesus identifies himself with those who suffer, we should follow his example and be especially alert to the
needs of others.
