1 I n the meanwhile, when so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were trampling on one another, Jesus commenced by saying primarily to His disciples, Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “ Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 N othing is covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known.

But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

3 W hatever you have spoken in the darkness shall be heard and listened to in the light, and what you have whispered in ears and behind closed doors will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

4 I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.

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

5 B ut I will warn you whom you should fear: fear Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell (Gehenna); yes, I say to you, fear Him!

But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

6 A re not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God.

Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

7 B ut the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many of sparrows.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

8 A nd I tell you, Whoever declares openly and confesses that he is My worshiper and acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will declare and confess and acknowledge him before the angels of God.

“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;

9 B ut he who disowns and denies and rejects and refuses to acknowledge Me before men will be disowned and denied and rejected and refused acknowledgement in the presence of the angels of God.

but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10 A nd everyone who makes a statement or speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit '> intentionally comes short of the reverence due the Holy Spirit], it will not be forgiven him.

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.

11 A nd when they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious how you shall reply in defense or what you are to say.

When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say;

12 F or the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour and moment what ought to say.

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Covetousness Denounced

13 S omeone from the crowd said to Him, Master, order my brother to divide the inheritance and share it with me.

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

14 B ut He told him, Man, who has appointed Me a judge or umpire and divider over you?

But He said to him, “ Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

15 A nd He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.

Then He said to them, “ Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

16 T hen He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully.

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

17 A nd he considered and debated within himself, What shall I do? I have no place to gather together my harvest.

And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

18 A nd he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain or produce and my goods.

Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

19 A nd I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 B ut God said to him, You fool! This very night they will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be?

But God said to him, ‘ You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

21 S o it is with the one who continues to lay up and hoard possessions for himself and is not rich to God.

So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

22 A nd said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear.

And He said to His disciples, “ For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

23 F or life is more than food, and the body than clothes.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24 O bserve and consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more worth are you than the birds!

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!

25 A nd which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment of time to his age ?

And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?

26 I f then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?

If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

27 C onsider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory (his splendor and magnificence) was not arrayed like one of these.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

28 B ut if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

29 A nd you, do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious (troubled) mind '> unsettled, excited, worried, and in suspense];

And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

30 F or all the pagan world is seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

31 O nly aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 D o not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

33 S ell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

“ Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

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

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be in Readiness

35 K eep your loins girded and your lamps burning,

“ Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.

36 A nd be like men who are waiting for their master to return home from the marriage feast, so that when he returns from the wedding and comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.

Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.

37 B lessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them!

Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.

38 I f he comes in the second watch (before midnight) or the third watch (after midnight), and finds them so, blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants!

Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39 B ut of this be assured: if the householder had known at what time the burglar was coming, he would have been awake and alert and watching and would not have permitted his house to be dug through and broken into.

“ But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

40 Y ou also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it.

You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”

41 P eter said, Lord, are You telling this parable for us, or for all alike?

Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

42 A nd the Lord said, Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his master will set over those in his household service to supply them their allowance of food at the appointed time?

And the Lord said, “ Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?

43 B lessed (happy and to be envied) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.

Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.

44 T ruly I tell you, he will set him in charge over all his possessions.

Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45 B ut if that servant says in his heart, My master is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants and the maids and to eat and drink and get drunk,

But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;

46 T he master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he does not know, and will punish him and cut him off and assign his lot with the unfaithful.

the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 A nd that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many.

And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,

48 B ut he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.

but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. Christ Divides Men

49 I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!

50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished!

But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51 D o you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;

Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;

52 F or from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.

for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

53 T hey will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

54 H e also said to the crowds of people, When you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, It is going to rain! And so it does.

And He was also saying to the crowds, “ When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out.

55 A nd when a south wind is blowing, you say, There will be severe heat! And it occurs.

And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way.

56 Y ou playactors (hypocrites)! You know how to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?

You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?

57 A nd why do you not judge what is just and personally decide what is right?

“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?

58 T hen as you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make a diligent effort to settle and be quit (free) of him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.

For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last cent.

I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.”