Warning Against the Leaven of the Pharisees

1. In the meantime, when the countless multitude had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

2. “But nothing is concealed which will not be revealed, nor hidden which will not be known.”

3. “Instead, whatever you said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you spoke into the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

4. “But I say to you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after these things have nothing more to do.”

5. “But I will show you whom you should fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear this one.”

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

7. “But even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

8. “And I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man also will confess him before the angels of God.”

9. “But the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”

10. “And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”

11. “And when they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should reply in defence or what you should say.”

12. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what it is necessary to say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13. And someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14. But he said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or divider over you?”

15. And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed, because not even when someone has abundance does his life consist in his possessions.”

16. And he spoke a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man produced plentifully.”

17. “And he was reasoning within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do? For I do not have a place where I shall gather my fruits.’”

18. “And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and will build larger ones, and I will gather there all my grain and my goods.’”

19. “‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; rest, eat, drink, be merry.”’”

20. But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is demanded from you; and the things you prepared, whose will they be?”

21. So is the one storing up treasure for himself and not being rich toward God.

Do Not Be Anxious

22. And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you should eat, nor for your body, what you should wear.”

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

24. “Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds.”

25. “And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his lifespan.”

26. “If then you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest.”

27. “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.”

28. “But if God thus clothes the grass, which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more you, O you of little faith.”

29. “And you, do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, and do not be unsettled.”

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

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

32. “Do not fear, little flock, because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

33. “Sell your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where thief does not approach and moth does not destroy.”

34. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Be Ready for the Son of Man

35. “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning.”

36. “And you, be like men waiting for their master whenever he returns from the wedding feast, so that, having come and knocked, they may immediately open to him.”

37. “Blessed are those servants whom the master, having come, will find watching. Truly I say to you that he will gird himself and have them recline and will come and serve them.”

38. “And if he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those.”

39. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”

40. “You also, be ready, because the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not think.”

41. And Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or also to everyone?”

42. And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful, prudent steward whom the master will set over his household servants, to give them their portion of food at the right time?”

43. “Blessed is that servant whom his master, having come, will find doing so.”

44. “Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.”

45. “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master delays in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and become drunk,”

46. “the master of that servant will come in a day on which he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in two and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.”

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

48. “But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows will be beaten with few. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, more will be demanded.”

Jesus Brings Division, Not Peace

49. “I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.”

50. “But I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.”

51. “Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.”

52. “For from now on, five in one house will be divided, three against two and two against three.”

53. “They 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.”

Interpreting the Present Time

54. And he was saying also to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.”

55. “And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be heat,’ and it happens.”

56. “Hypocrites, you know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to interpret this time.”

57. “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right.”

58. “For as you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, make an effort to be reconciled to him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.”

59. “I tell you, you will certainly not come out from there until you have paid the last farthing.”