se
he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom
of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain
nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom,
and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them
ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens
hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have
this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was
returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these
servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that
he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came
the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he
said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been
faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And
the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And
another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have
kept laid up in a napkin: for I feared thee, because thou art an
austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest
that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own
mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I
was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that
I did not sow: wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the
bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and
give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord,
he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which
hath shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath
shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would
not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them
before me."--LUKE xix. 11-27.

It is necessary at the outset to indicate the relation which subsists
between this parable and that of the talents, (Matt. xxv). Although in
many of their features they are the same, in others there is a decisive
difference. Both show that the Lord bestows privileges on his servants,
and demands faithfulness in return; and both show that the diligent are
rewarded and the unprofitable cond