1 M eanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast 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 B ut there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will 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 whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on 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 “ I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who 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 warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell 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 “ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins ? Not one of them is forgotten by 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 the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don’t be afraid. You 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 “ I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will 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 who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of 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 E veryone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will 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 W hen they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will 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 Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”

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

13 O ne of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to 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 B ut he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

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

15 H e said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

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 H e spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.

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

17 H e reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’

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

18 H e said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain 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 I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, 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 “ But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’

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 who lays 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 H e said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

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 L ife is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

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

24 C onsider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

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 W hich of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?

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

26 I f then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about 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 don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even 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 B ut if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you 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 D on’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

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

30 F or the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.

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

31 B ut seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.

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

32 D on’t be afraid, 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 which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.

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 “ Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.

“Be ready and dressed. Have your lights burning.

36 B e like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.

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 will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come 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 T hey will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.

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 B ut know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into.

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 T herefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”

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 P eter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”

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

42 T he Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?

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 will find doing so when he comes.

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

44 T ruly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.

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

45 B ut if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, 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 hen the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.

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 T hat servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will 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 who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

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 came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were 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 distressed I am until it is accomplished!

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

51 D o you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, 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 now on, there will 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 hey will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and 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 H e said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.

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 W hen a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.

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

56 Y ou hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret 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 W hy don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Why do you not know for yourselves what is right?

58 F or when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you 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 you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny. ”

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