no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord.

So he sent another slave to them again. This one they struck on the head and treated outrageously.

“Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.

So when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.

And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.

And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

At harvest time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his portion of the crop.

One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear.

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.

At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

So the master said to his slave, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled.

“Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, ‘Come at once and sit down for a meal’?

When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed.

Then one of them struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear.

But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his ear.

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest’s slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave’s name was Malchus.)