| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 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. | 1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. |
| 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. | 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. |
| 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! | 3What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops. |
| 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. | 4I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. |
| 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. | 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! |
| 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. | 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. |
| 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. | 7And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. |
| 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. | 8I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. |
| 9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. | 9But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. |
| 10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. | 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. |
| 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, | 11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. |
| 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” Parable of the Rich Fool | 12For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.” |
| 13Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” | 13Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” |
| 14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” | 14But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” |
| 15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” | 15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” |
| 16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. | 16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. |
| 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ | 17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ |
| 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. | 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. |
| 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!”’ | 19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’ |
| 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ | 20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ |
| 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 | 21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. | 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. |
| 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! | 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! |
| 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? | 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? |
| 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? | 26So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? |
| 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. | 27Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. |
| 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? | 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith! |
| 29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. | 29And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. |
| 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. | 30For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. |
| 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. | 31But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you. |
| 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. | 32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. |
| 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. | 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. |
| 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming | 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. |
| 35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, | 35Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. |
| 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. | 36Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. |
| 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! | 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. |
| 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. | 38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed. |
| 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. | 39But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. |
| 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” | 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” |
| 41Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” | 41“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” |
| 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. | 42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? |
| 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. | 43Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. |
| 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. | 44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. |
| 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? | 45But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. |
| 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. | 46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. |
| 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. | 47That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. |
| 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 | 48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded. |
| 49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! | 49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! |
| 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. | 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! |
| 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! | 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. |
| 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. | 52From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. |
| 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.’ ” | 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.” |
| 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. | 54Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens. |
| 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. | 55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is. |
| 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. | 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time? |
| 57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? | 57And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? |
| 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. | 58Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. |
| 59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. ” | 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.” |
|
