I’ve been trying to climb a tree ever since I heard the story last week about Zacchaeus in the tree.

Scratchy is useless.

He’s supposed to teach me how to climb and he won’t even leave the house.

Okay, I’m not getting anywhere with the tree thing, I might as well listen to the next story.

Maybe this story will be about treats.

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Jesus told a parable because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

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Do dogs get treats when the kingdom of God appears? Because if they do I’m voting for it to appear at once.

I am listening.

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Jesus said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas.”

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What are minas? Are they like treats?

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“’Put this money to work,’ the man said, ‘until I come back.”

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Oh, it’s money. Well, I can pretend they’re treats.

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“But the man’s subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’”

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He must have been stingy with his treats.

I’m listening. How do you think I know what the man is doing?

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“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the treats money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina treat has earned ten more.’”

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Woo woo! Treats for everybody!

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“’Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina treat has earned five more.’”

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And more treats for everybody. It’s a real party!

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“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’”

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What a loser. He’s not even invited to the party.

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“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’”

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He could have left that mina treat with me.

I would have deposited a lot of slobber on it.

Yes, I’m listening.

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“Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina treat away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas treats.’

‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

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I’ll eat some!

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He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them – bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

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I know who I’m hanging out with.

That guy who has eleven minas treats has plenty to share.

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After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

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Hey Jesus, where did that guy with all the treats go?