1In the mean time , when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together , insomuch that they trod one upon another , he began to say unto his disciples first of all , Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees , which is hypocrisy . 2But there is nothing covered up , that shall not be revealed; and hid , that shall not be known . 3Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light ; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops . 4And I say unto you my friends , Be not afraid of them that kill the body , and after that have no more that they can do . 5But I will warn you whom ye shall fear : Fear him , who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell ; yea , I say unto you , Fear him . 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God . 7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not : ye are of more value than many sparrows . 8And I say unto you , Every one who shall confess me before men , him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God : 9but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God . 10And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man , it shall be forgiven him : but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. 11And when they bring you before the synagogues , and the rulers, and the authorities , be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say : 12for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say .
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13And one out of the multitude said unto him , Teacher , bid my brother divide the inheritance with me . 14But he said unto him , Man , who made me a judge or a divider over you ? 15And he said unto them , Take heed , and keep yourselves from all covetousness : for a man ’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16And he spake a parable unto them , saying , The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17and he reasoned within himself , saying , What shall I do , because I have not where to bestow my fruits ? 18And he said , This will I do : I will pull down my barns, and build greater ; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul , Soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat , drink , be merry . 20But God said unto him , Thou foolish one , this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared , whose shall they be ? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself , and is not rich toward God .
Do Not Worry
22And he said unto his disciples , Therefore I say unto you , Be not anxious for your life , what ye shall eat ; nor yet for your body , what ye shall put on . 23For the life is more than the food , and the body than the raiment . 24Consider the ravens , that they sow not , neither reap ; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them : of how much more value are ye than the birds ! 25And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life ? 26If then ye are not able to do even that which is least , why are ye anxious concerning the rest ? 27Consider the lilies , how they grow: they toil not , neither do they spin ; yet I say unto you , Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these . 28But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is , and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more shall he clothe you , O ye of little faith ? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat , and what ye shall drink , neither be ye of doubtful mind . 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after : but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things . 31Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you . 32Fear not , little flock ; for it is your Father ’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell that which ye have , and give alms ; make for yourselves purses which wax not old , a treasure in the heavens that faileth not , where no thief draweth near , neither moth destroyeth. 34For where your treasure is , there will your heart be also .
Be Ready for the Master’s Return
35Let your loins be girded about , and your lamps burning ; 36and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord , when he shall return from the marriage feast ; that , when he cometh and knocketh , they may straightway open unto him . 37Blessed are those servants , whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching : verily I say unto you , that he shall gird himself , and make them sit down to meat , and shall come and serve them . 38And if he shall come in the second watch , and if in the third , and find them so , blessed are those servants . 39But know this , that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming , he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. 40Be ye also ready : for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh . 41And Peter said , Lord , speakest thou this parable unto us , or even unto all ? 42And the Lord said , Who then is the faithful and wise steward , whom his lord shall set over his household , to give them their portion of food in due season ? 43Blessed is that servant , whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing . 44Of a truth I say unto you , that he will set him over all that he hath . 45But if that servant shall say in his heart , My lord delayeth his coming ; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink , and to be drunken ; 46the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not , and in an hour when he knoweth not , and shall cut him asunder , and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. 47And that servant , who knew his lord ’ s will , and made not ready , nor did according to his will , shall be beaten with many stripes ; 48but he that knew not , and did things worthy of stripes , shall be beaten with few stripes . And to whomsoever much is given , of him shall much be required : and to whom they commit much , of him will they ask the more .
The Cost of Discipleship
49I came to cast fire upon the earth ; and what do I desire , if it is already kindled? 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with ; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished ! 51Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth ? I tell you , Nay ; but rather division : 52for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided , three against two , and two against three . 53They shall be divided , father against son , and son against father ; mother against daughter , and daughter against her mother ; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.
Interpreting the Times
54And he said to the multitudes also , When ye see a cloud rising in the west , straightway ye say , There cometh a shower ; and so it cometh to pass . 55And when ye see a south wind blowing , ye say , There will be a scorching heat ; and it cometh to pass . 56Ye hypocrites , ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven ; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time ? 57And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right ? 58For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him ; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge , and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer , and the officer shall cast thee into prison . 59I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence , till thou have paid the very last mite .