Jesus said,“ A man from an important family went to a country far away. He went there to be made king and then return home.

“有一个贵胄往远方去，要得国回来，

说：“有一个贵族往远方去，为要取得王位，然后回来。

说：“有一个贵族往远方去，为要取得王位，然后回来。

耶稣说：“有一位贵族要到远方去受封为王，然后返回。

说：“有一个贵族往远方去要接受王位，然后回来。

他说：“有一个出身高贵的人，要往遥远的地方去接受王位，然后再回来。

「有一個貴冑往遠方去，要得國回來，

說：「有一個貴族往遠方去，為要取得王位，然後回來。

說：「有一個貴族往遠方去，為要取得王位，然後回來。

耶穌說：「有一位貴族要到遠方去受封為王，然後返回。

說：“有一個貴族往遠方去要接受王位，然後回來。

說：『有一個貴族人往遼遠地區去，計畫得立為王，然後回來。

他說：「有一個出身高貴的人，要往遙遠的地方去接受王位，然後再回來。

曰、有貴胄往遠地、欲得國而返、

有貴者往異地、將受封國而歸、

有世子往遠地、欲得國而歸、

『昔有貴人適遐方、將受國而歸、

He said:“ A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.

He said therefore,“ A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

He said,“ A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.

Therefore he said,“ A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then to return.

So He said,“ A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.

Therefore He said:“ A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

Therefore He said:“ A nobleman traveled to a far country to receive for himself authority to be king and then return.

He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

Therefore he said,“ A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

He said therefore,“ A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

“ Again, here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like. A man was going on a journey. He sent for his slaves and put them in charge of his money.He gave five bags of gold to one. He gave two bags to another. And he gave one bag to the third. The man gave each slave the amount of money he knew the slave could take care of. Then he went on his journey.The slave who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work. He earned five bags more.The one with the two bags of gold earned two more.But the man who had received one bag went and dug a hole in the ground. He hid his master’s money in it.“ After a long time the master of those slaves returned. He wanted to collect all the money they had earned.The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you trusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have earned five more.’“ His master replied,‘ You have done well, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ The man with two bags of gold also came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ you trusted me with two bags of gold. See, I have earned two more.’“ His master replied,‘ You have done well, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’“ Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.‘ Master,’ he said,‘ I knew that you are a hard man. You harvest where you have not planted. You gather crops where you have not scattered seed.So I was afraid. I went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’“ His master replied,‘ You evil, lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I have not planted? You knew that I gather crops where I have not scattered seed?Well then, you should have put my money in the bank. When I returned, I would have received it back with interest.’“ Then his master commanded the other slaves,‘ Take the bag of gold from him. Give it to the one who has ten bags.Everyone who has will be given more. They will have more than enough. And what about anyone who doesn’t have? Even what they have will be taken away from them.Throw that worthless slave outside. There in the darkness, people will weep and grind their teeth.’

In the same way, Christ was offered up once. He took away the sins of many people. He will also come a second time. At that time he will not suffer for sin. Instead, he will come to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Jesus said,“ A man from an important family went to a country far away. He went there to be made king and then return home.So he sent for ten of his slaves. He gave them each about three months’ pay.‘ Put this money to work until I come back,’ he said.“ But those he ruled over hated him. They sent some messengers after him. They were sent to say,‘ We don’t want this man to be our king.’“ But he was made king and returned home. Then he sent for the slaves he had given the money to. He wanted to find out what they had earned with it.“ The first one came to him. He said,‘ Sir, your money has earned ten times as much.’“‘ You have done well, my good slave!’ his master replied.‘ You have been faithful in a very small matter. So I will put you in charge of ten towns.’“ The second slave came to his master. He said,‘ Sir, your money has earned five times as much.’“ His master answered,‘ I will put you in charge of five towns.’“ Then another slave came. He said,‘ Sir, here is your money. I have kept it hidden in a piece of cloth.I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in. You harvest what you did not plant.’“ His master replied,‘ I will judge you by your own words, you evil slave! So you knew that I am a hard man? You knew that I take out what I did not put in? You knew that I harvest what I did not plant?Then why didn’t you put my money in the bank? When I came back, I could have collected it with interest.’“ Then he said to those standing by,‘ Take his money away from him. Give it to the one who has ten times as much.’“‘ Sir,’ they said,‘ he already has ten times as much!’“ He replied,‘ I tell you that everyone who has will be given more. But here is what will happen to anyone who has nothing. Even what they have will be taken away from them.And what about my enemies who did not want me to be king over them? Bring them here! Kill them in front of me!’ ”

“ Look! He is coming with the clouds!”( Daniel 7:13)“ Every eye will see him. Even those who pierced him will see him.” All the nations of the earth“ will mourn because of him.”( Zechariah 12:10) This will really happen! Amen.

He has gone into heaven. He is at God’s right hand. Angels, authorities and powers are under his control.

Christ must rule until he has put all his enemies under his control.

So God lifted him up to the highest place. God gave him the name that is above every name.When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship him. Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship him.Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord. And God the Father will receive the glory.

After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven. The apostles watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.While he was going up, they kept on looking at the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing stood beside them.“ Men of Galilee,” they said,“ why do you stand here looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. But he will come back in the same way you saw him go.”

Jesus began to speak to the people using stories. He said,“ A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went to another place.

God showed. He showed this when he raised Christ from the dead. God seated him at his right hand in his heavenly kingdom.There Christ sits far above all who rule and have authority. He also sits far above all powers and kings. He is above every name that is appealed to in this world and in the world to come.God placed all things under Christ’s rule. He appointed him to be ruler over everything for the church.The church is Christ’s body and is filled by Christ. He fills everything in every way.

When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God.

Jesus went on to tell the people a story.“ A man planted a vineyard,” he said.“ He rented it out to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.

Then Jesus came to them. He said,“ All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

While he was blessing them, he left them. He was taken up into heaven.

It’s like a man going away. He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge. Each one is given a task to do. He tells the one at the door to keep watch.“ So keep watch! You do not know when the owner of the house will come back. It may be in the evening or at midnight. It may be when the rooster crows or at dawn.He may come suddenly. So do not let him find you sleeping.What I say to you, I say to everyone.‘ Watch!’ ”

“ So you are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered,“ You say that I am a king. In fact, that’s the reason I was born. I was born and came into the world to be a witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.”

“ But the renters saw the son coming. They said to one another,‘ This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday. Come, let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’

He has set a day when he will judge the world fairly. He has appointed a man to be its judge. God has proved this to everyone by raising that man from the dead.”