New Living Translation

English Standard Version

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, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “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.

2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be 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!

3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on 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.

4“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.

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 warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast 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? And not one of them is forgotten before 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.

7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value 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.

8“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,

9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.

9but the one who 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 the one who 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,

11And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or 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

12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to 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 he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over 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, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, 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.

16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’

17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for 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.

18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store 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!”’

19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, 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, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

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

21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and 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.

22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

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 neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious 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 the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 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?

28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 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 seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.

30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs.

30For all the nations of the world seek after 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.

31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

32“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure 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 needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, 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 will your heart be also.

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,

35“Stay dressed for action 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.

36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

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 awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve 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.

38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.

39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to 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, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

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 said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food 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 whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.

44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over 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 if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, 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 when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

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.

47And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

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 did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!

49“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that 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.

50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress 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 give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather 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.

52For from now on in one house there will be five 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 her 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.

54He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.

55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.

55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.

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 earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?

57“And why do you not 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.

58As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in 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 never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

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.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.