[72. The Laborers in the Vineyard]
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with them for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle, and said to them: Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. Again he went out about the sixth and about the ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out again and found others standing, and he said: Why stand ye here all the day idle? They said: Because no man hired us. He said unto them: Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. When even was come, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward: Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. They that were hired about the eleventh hour came and received every man a shilling. And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling. Then they murmured against the householder and said: These last have spent but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. He answered: Friend, I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a shilling? Take up that which is thine, and go thy way. But I will give the last as much as thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Or doth it hurt thee that I am good? (Matt. 20:1-15.)
[73. The Marriage of the King’s Son]
The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a certain king who made a marriage feast for his son. He sent his servants forth to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast. But they would not come, but went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise, and the rest laid hold on his servants and treated them shamefully and killed them. But the king was wroth, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. And he said to his servants: The wedding is ready; but they that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore to the crossroads, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. And the wedding was filled with guests. When the king went in to behold the guests, he saw one who had not on a wedding garment. And he said to him: Friend, how comest thou in hither, not having a wedding garment? But he was silent. Then the king said to the servants: Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 22:1-13.)
[74. The Talents]
A man going into another country called his servants and delivered unto them his goods. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent. After a long time the lord of those servants came home, and made a reckoning with them. He that received five talents came and said: Lord, thou gavest me five talents; lo, I have gained other five talents. His lord said unto him: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Likewise he said to the servant who received two talents and with them gained two other talents. Then came also the one that had received the one talent and said: Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter. Therefore I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, here it is. His lord said: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I am a hard man; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, so I could have received back mine own with interest. And he commanded that the unprofitable servant be cast out where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 25:14-30.)
[Miracles, or Wonderful Works of Jesus]
[75. Jesus Turns Water Into Wine at the Marriage in Cana]
There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and His disciples were also invited. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said unto Him: They have no more wine. Jesus answered: Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother said to the servants: Whatsoever He saith to you, do it. The Jews always washed their hands before meals, and six water-pots of stone stood there for washing. Jesus said to the servants: Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And He said unto them: Draw out now, and bear unto the steward of the feast. The steward knew not whence the wine was. When he tasted it, he said to the bridegroom: Every man setteth on first good wine, then that which is worse; thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of His signs did Jesus in Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed on Him. (John 2:1-11.)