New King James Version

New Living Translation

1In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of 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.

2For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be 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 spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner 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“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

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 He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to 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.

6“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

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

7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value 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“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess 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 he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

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

10“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it 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“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, 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 in that very hour what you ought to say.”

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

13Then one 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.”

14But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

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

15And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

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

16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

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

17And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

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

18So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

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 will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; 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!”’

20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

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

21“So is he who lays 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 say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

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.

23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

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

24Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you 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!

25And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

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

26If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

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

27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed 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 then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O 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?

29“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

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

30For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

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

31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

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

32“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure 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 what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor 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“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

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

36and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

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 are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will 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!

38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, 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, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to 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.

40Therefore you also be ready, for 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.”

41Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

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

42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

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 his master will find so doing 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 say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

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 begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be 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 is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion 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.

47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

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 he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

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 send 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 be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.

51Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, 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!

52For from now on five in one house 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.

53Father will be divided 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 her 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.’ ”

54Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is.

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 you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is.

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

56Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this 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“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right?

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

58When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you 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 shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.