Christian Standard Bible

New Living Translation

1Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, "Be on your guard against the leaven 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 covered that won't be uncovered, nothing hidden that won't 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.

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

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 say to you, my friends, don't fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing 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 the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!

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.

6Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight.

6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

7Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. 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"And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him 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 denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

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

10Anyone 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.

10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should 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 very hour what must be said."

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” Parable of the Rich Fool

13Someone from 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.”

14"Friend," he said to him, "who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”

15He then told them, "Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one's life is not in the abundance of his possessions."

15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16Then he told them a parable: "A rich man's land was very productive.

16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.

17He thought to himself, 'What should I do, since I don't have anywhere to store my crops?

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

18I will do this,' he said. 'I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.

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.

19Then I'll say to myself, "You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'

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 is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared--whose will they be?'

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21"That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and 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 he said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, don't worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the 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 clothing.

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

24Consider the ravens: They don't sow or reap; they don't have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren't you worth much more than the 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!

25Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying?

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

26If then you're not able to do even a little thing, why 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 wildflowers grow: They don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned 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's how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for 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?

29Don't strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don't be anxious.

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.

30For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these 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.

31"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you.

31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

32Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights 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. Make money-bags for yourselves that won't grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, 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 ready for service and have your lamps lit.

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

36You are to be like people 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.

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.

37Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve 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!

38If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants.

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 know this: If the homeowner 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 be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

41"Lord," Peter asked, "are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?"

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

42The Lord said: "Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food 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.

43Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

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 if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and starts to beat the male and female servants, 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?

46that servant's master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47And that servant who knew his master's will and didn't prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

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 did not know and did what deserved 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 expected.

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 came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!

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 how it consumes me until it is finished!

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 that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather 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, five in one household will be divided: 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, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her 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 also said to the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, 'A storm is coming,' and so 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 is blowing, 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, but why don't you 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 ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won't drag you before the judge, the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff 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 never get out of there until you have paid the last cent."

59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. ”

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.