| New Living Translation | NET 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. | 1Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast 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 hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret 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! | 3So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private 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. | 4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more 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 you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, 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. | 6Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet 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. | 7In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable 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"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God's angels. |
| 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 God's angels. |
| 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 person 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, | 11But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense 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 at that moment what you must say." |
| 13Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” | 13Then someone from 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 said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?" |
| 15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” | 15Then he said to them, "Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because 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. | 16He then told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, |
| 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ | 17so he thought to himself, 'What should 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. | 18Then he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger 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 myself, "You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!"' |
| 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 demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' |
| 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 it is with the one who stores up riches 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 there is more to life than food, and more to the body 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 do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! |
| 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? | 25And which of you by worrying can add an 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 very little thing as this, 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 flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed 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? | 28And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! |
| 29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. | 29So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. |
| 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 pursue 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, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. |
| 32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. | 32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well 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 purses that do not wear out--a treasure in heaven that never decreases, 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, | 35"Get 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. | 36be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. |
| 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 slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and 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, blessed are those slaves! |
| 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 owner of the house 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 when you do not expect him." |
| 41Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” | 41Then Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" |
| 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. | 42The Lord replied, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance 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 slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. |
| 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. | 44I tell you the truth, the master 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 if that slave should say to himself, 'My master is delayed in returning,' and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, 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. | 46then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place 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. | 47That servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or do what his master asked 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 his master's will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked. |
| 49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! | 49"I have come to bring 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. | 50I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! |
| 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 I have come to bring 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 there will be five in one household 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. | 54Jesus also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and it does. |
| 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 there 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 the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time? |
| 57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? | 57"And 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. | 58As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer 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 never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!" |
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