1Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered, so many that they were stepping on each other. Jesus began to say to his disciples first, “Be careful of the Pharisees’ yeast, which is their hypocrisy.
2But there is nothing covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be known.
3Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the rooftops.
4“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who can kill the body, and after that, can do nothing more.
5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after killing, has the power to throw you into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
6“Aren't five small birds sold for two small copper coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
7Even the hairs on your head are all counted. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many small birds.
8“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me publicly, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels.
9But whoever disowns me publicly will be disowned in the presence of God's angels.
10Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11When people bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how you will answer or what you will say,
12because the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.
13One person in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide our inheritance with me."
14But Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed me to be a judge or mediator between you two?"
15He said to them, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against all kinds of greed. A person's life is not measured by how many possessions they have, no matter how great."
16Then he told them this story: "The land of a certain rich man produced a great harvest.
17He thought to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have enough room to store all my crops!'
18He said, 'This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I'll store all my grain and my goods.
19Then I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and enjoy life."'
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will die. Then who will get everything you've saved?'
21This is what happens to anyone who stores up possessions for themselves but is not rich in their relationship with God."
22Then Jesus said to his followers, "So I tell you, don't worry about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear.
23Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than clothes.
24Consider the ravens: they don't plant or harvest, they have no storerooms or barns, yet God feeds them. You are much more valuable than birds!
25Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
26If you can't do even a small thing like that, why do you worry about the rest?
27Consider how the lilies grow: they don't work or make clothes. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
28If that's how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into a fire, how much more will he clothe you, you who have so little faith?
29Don't go chasing after what you'll eat or what you'll drink; and don't be anxious.
30For the people of the world eagerly seek after all these things, but your Father knows that you need them.
31Instead, seek God's Kingdom, and all these other things will be given to you as well.
32Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.
33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make yourselves money bags that won't wear out—a never-ending treasure in heaven where no thief can get near and no moth can destroy it."
34Because your heart will be wherever you put your money and possessions.
35Be ready for action and keep your lamps burning.
36You should be like servants waiting for their master to come home from a wedding feast. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him right away.
37Those servants will be fortunate if the master finds them alert when he arrives. I assure you, he will get ready, have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
38They will be fortunate if he comes during the middle of the night or just before dawn and finds them ready.
39But understand this: if the owner of the house had known when a thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you don't expect him.
41Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?"
42The Lord said, "Who then is the dependable and wise manager, whom his master will put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
43That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing his work when he returns.
44I promise you, the master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns.
45But if that servant thinks, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and starts beating the male and female servants, and eating, drinking, and getting drunk,
46then the master of that servant will come on a day he doesn’t expect and at an hour he doesn’t know. The master will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
47The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t prepare or do what was asked will be punished with many blows.
48But the servant who didn’t know his master’s will and did things deserving punishment will receive few blows. Everyone who has been given much will have much demanded from them; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
49“I came to bring fire to the earth, and I wish it were already burning!
50But I have a difficult experience to go through, and I am deeply troubled until it is completed.
51Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
52From now on, a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three.
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 her mother-in-law.”
54He also told the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.
55When a south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be scorching hot,’ and it is.
56You fakes! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, so why can’t you interpret what this time means?
57Why don’t you decide for yourselves what is right?
58If you are going to court with someone who is accusing you, try hard to settle with them on the way. Otherwise, they might drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you in prison.
59I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid every last bit you owe.”