1 I n the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

At that time thousands of people gathered together. There were so many that they walked on each other. Jesus spoke to His twelve followers first, saying, “Look out! Have nothing to do with the yeast of the proud religious law-keepers which is pretending to be something it is not.

2 F or there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

For there is nothing covered up that will not be seen. There is nothing hidden that will not be known.

3 T herefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light. What you have said in a low voice in a closed room will be spoken with a loud voice from the top of houses.

4 A nd I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and then can do no more.

5 B ut I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

I will tell you the one to be afraid of. Be afraid of Him Who has power to put you into hell after He has killed you. Yes, I say to you, be afraid of Him!

6 A re not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

“Are not five small birds sold for two small pieces of money? God does not forget even one of the birds.

7 B ut even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God knows how many hairs you have on your head. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many small birds.

8 A lso I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

“Also, I tell you, everyone who makes Me known to men, the Son of Man will make him known to the angels of God.

9 b ut he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

But whoever acts as if he does not know Me and does not make Me known to men, he will not be spoken of to the angels of God. The Sin That Cannot Be Forgiven

10 A nd whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

“Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 A nd when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

When they take you to the places of worship and to the courts and to the leaders of the country, do not be worried about what you should say or how to say it.

12 f or the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

The Holy Spirit will tell you what you should say at that time.”

13 A nd one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

One of the people said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the riches that our father left us.”

14 A nd he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Jesus said to him, “Friend, who has told Me to say who should get what?”

15 A nd he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Then Jesus said to them all, “Watch yourselves! Keep from wanting all kinds of things you should not have. A man’s life is not made up of things, even if he has many riches.” The Picture-Story of the Rich Fool

16 A nd he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Then He told them a picture-story, saying, “The fields of a rich man gave much grain.

17 a nd he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

The rich man thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to put the grain.’

18 A nd he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will take down my grain building and I will build a bigger one. I will put all my grain and other things I own into it.

19 A nd I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things put away in your building. It will be all you need for many years to come. Now rest and eat and drink and have lots of fun.”’

20 B ut God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

But God said to him, ‘You fool! Tonight your soul will be taken from you. Then who will have all the things you have put away?’

21 S o is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

It is the same with a man who puts away riches for himself and does not have the riches of God.” Jesus Teaches about the Cares of This Life

22 A nd he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Jesus said to His followers, “Because of this, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you are going to eat. Do not worry about your body, what you are going to wear.

23 T he life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Life is worth more than food. The body is worth more than clothes.

24 C onsider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?

25 A nd which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

“Which of you can make yourself a little taller by worrying?

26 I f ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

If you cannot do that which is so little, why do you worry about other things?

27 C onsider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. Yet, I tell you, that King Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers.

28 I f then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

God puts these clothes on the grass of the field. The grass is in the field today and put into the fire tomorrow. How much more would He want to give you clothing? You have so little faith!

29 A nd seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Do not give so much thought to what you will eat or drink. Do not be worried about it.

30 F or all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

For all the nations of the world go after these things. Your Father knows you need these things.

31 B ut rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Instead, go after the holy nation of God. Then all these other things will be given to you.

32 F ear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Do not be afraid, little flock. Your Father wants to give you the holy nation of God.

33 S ell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Sell what you have and give the money to poor people. Have money-bags for yourselves that will never wear out. These money-bags are riches in heaven that will always be there. No robber can take them and no bugs can eat them there.

34 F or where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Your heart will be wherever your riches are. Jesus Says to Watch and Be Ready for His Second Coming Be Ready for His Second Coming

35 L et your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

“Be ready and dressed. Have your lights burning.

36 a nd ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Be like men who are waiting for their owner to come home from a wedding supper. When he comes and knocks on the door, they will open it for him at once.

37 B lessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Those servants are happy when their owner finds them watching when he comes. For sure, I tell you, he will be dressed and ready to care for them. He will have them seated at the table.

38 A nd if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

The owner might come late at night or early in the morning. Those servants are happy if their owner finds them watching whenever he comes.

39 A nd this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

But understand this, that if the owner of a house had known when the robber was coming, he would have been watching. He would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

40 B e ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

You must be ready also. The Son of Man is coming at a time when you do not think He will come.” Faithful Servants and Servants Who Are Not Faithful

41 T hen Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this picture-story to us or to all the people?”

42 A nd the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

The Lord said, “Who is the faithful and wise servant his owner made boss over the others? He is the one who is to have food ready at the right time.

43 B lessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

That servant is happy who is doing his work when the owner comes.

44 O f a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

For sure, I tell you, he will make him boss over all he has.

45 B ut and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

“But what if that servant says to himself, ‘The owner will not be coming soon,’ and then beats the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk?

46 t he lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

The owner of that servant will come on a day and at an hour when he is not looking for him. He will cut him in pieces and will put him with those who do not believe.

47 A nd that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

“The servant who knew what the owner wanted done, but did not get ready for him, or did not do what he wanted done, will be beaten many times.

48 B ut he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

But the servant who did not know what his owner wanted done, but did things that would be reason to be beaten, will be beaten only a few times. The man who receives much will have to give much. If much is given to a man to take care of, men will expect to get more from him. Men Are Divided When They Follow Christ

49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

“I have come to bring fire down to the earth. I wish it were already started!

50 B ut I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

I have a baptism to go through. How troubled I am until it is over!

51 S uppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Do you think I came to bring peace on the earth? I tell you, no! I came to divide.

52 f or from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

From now on there will be five in one house divided. Three will be against two and two will be against three.

53 T he father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

The father will be against the son. The son will be against the father. The mother will be against the daughter. The daughter will be against the mother. The mother-in-law will be against the daughter-in-law. The daughter-in-law will be against the mother-in-law.”

54 A nd he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

Then Jesus also said to the people, “When you see a cloud coming in the west, you say at once, ‘It is going to rain.’ And it does.

55 A nd when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

When you see the wind blow from the south, you say, ‘It will be a hot day.’ And it is.

56 Y e hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

You who pretend to be someone you are not, you know all about the sky and the earth. But why do you not know what is happening these days?

57 Y ea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Why do you not know for yourselves what is right?

58 W hen thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

When a person says you are wrong and takes you to court, try to make it right with him as you go, or he will take you to the head of the court. Then he will take you to the police and you will be put in prison.

59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

I tell you, you will not be let out of prison until you have paid the last piece of money of the fine.”