New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. | 1Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. |
2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. | 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. |
3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. | 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! |
4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. | 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. |
5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. | 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. |
6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. | 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. |
7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. | 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. |
8"I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. | 8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. |
9But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. | 9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. |
10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. | 10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. |
11"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, | 11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, |
12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." | 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” Parable of the Rich Fool |
13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." | 13Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” |
14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" | 14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” |
15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." | 15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” |
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. | 16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. |
17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' | 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ |
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. | 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. |
19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' | 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ |
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' | 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ |
21"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." | 21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Teaching about Money and Possessions |
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. | 22Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. |
23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. | 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. |
24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! | 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! |
25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? | 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? |
26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? | 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? |
27"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. | 27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. |
28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you--you of little faith! | 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? |
29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. | 29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. |
30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. | 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. |
31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. | 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. |
32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. | 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. |
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. | 33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. |
34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. | 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming |
35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, | 35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, |
36like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. | 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. |
37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. | 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! |
38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. | 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. |
39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. | 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. |
40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." | 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” |
41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" | 41Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” |
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? | 42And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. |
43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. | 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. |
44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. | 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. |
45But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. | 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? |
46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. | 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. |
47"The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. | 47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. |
48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. | 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Jesus Causes Division |
49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! | 49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! |
50But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! | 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. |
51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. | 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! |
52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. | 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. |
53They 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." | 53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ ” |
54He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. | 54Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. |
55And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. | 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. |
56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? | 56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. |
57"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? | 57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? |
58As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. | 58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. |
59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." | 59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. ” |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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