The main commandment
22 34When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test him with this question: 
36—Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?
37Jesus answered:
—You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and the most important of the commandments. 39But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments.

25 14—Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. 15He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away.
16—He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five. 17The one who received two did the same and gained another two.18But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money.
19—After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. 20The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.’ 21The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’
22—Then the one who had two talents came and said: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which I gained with them.’ 23The master said: ‘Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.’
24—Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said: ‘Master, I know that you are an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not invested. 25I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.’ 26But his master replied: ‘Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not invested. 27Then you should have deposited my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my return.’
28—Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. 30As for that useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

THE CONCISE BIBLE
Christian Community Bible 
Catholic Pastoral Edition

Copyright © 2002 by Claretian Publications
A division of Claretian Communications, Inc.
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Claretian Publications is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines. It aims to promote a renewed spirituality rooted in the process of total liberation and solidarity in response to the needs, challenges and pastoral demands of the Church today.

Originally published by
Ediciones Mensajero, Spain