1In the mean time , when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people , insomuch that they trode one upon another , he began to say unto his disciples first of all , Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees , which is hypocrisy . 2For there is nothing covered , that shall not be revealed ; neither hid , that shall not be known . 3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light ; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets 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 forewarn you whom ye shall fear : Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell ; yea , I say unto you , Fear him . 6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings , and not one of them is forgotten before God ? 7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered . Fear not therefore : ye are of more value than many sparrows . 8Also I say unto you , Whosoever shall confess me before men , him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God : 9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God . 10And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man , it shall be forgiven him : but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven . 11And when they bring you unto the synagogues , and unto magistrates , and powers , take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer , or what ye shall say : 12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say .
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13And one of the company said unto him , Master , speak to my brother , that he divide the inheritance with me . 14And he said unto him , Man , who made me a judge or a divider over you ? 15And he said unto them , Take heed , and beware of 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 thought within himself , saying , What shall I do , because I have no room 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 fruits 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 , and be merry . 20But God said unto him , Thou fool , this night thy soul shall be required of thee : then whose shall those things be , which thou hast provided ? 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 , Take no thought for your life , what ye shall eat ; neither for the body , what ye shall put on . 23The life is more than meat , and the body is more than raiment . 24Consider the ravens : for they neither sow nor reap ; which neither have storehouse nor barn ; and God feedeth them : how much more are ye better than the fowls ? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit ? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least , why take ye thought for the rest ? 27Consider the lilies how they grow : they toil not , they spin not ; and yet I say unto you , that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these . 28If then God so clothe the grass , which is to day in the field , and to morrow is cast into the oven ; how much more will he clothe you , O ye of little faith ? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat , or what ye shall drink , neither be ye of doubtful mind . 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after : and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things . 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God ; and all 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 ye have , and give alms ; provide yourselves bags which wax not old , a treasure in the heavens that faileth not , where no thief approacheth , neither moth corrupteth . 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 lights burning ; 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord , when he will return from the wedding ; that when he cometh and knocketh , they may open unto him immediately . 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 to sit down to meat , and will come forth and serve them . 38And if he shall come in the second watch , or come in the third watch , and find them so , blessed are those servants . 39And this know , that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come , he would have watched , and not have suffered his house to be broken through . 40Be ye therefore ready also : for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not . 41Then Peter said unto him , Lord , speakest thou this parable unto us , or even to all ? 42And the Lord said , Who then is that faithful and wise steward , whom his lord shall make ruler over his household , to give them their portion of meat 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 make him ruler over all that he hath . 45But and if that servant say in his heart , My lord delayeth his coming ; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens , and to eat and drink , and to be drunken ; 46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him , and at an hour when he is not aware , and will cut him in sunder , and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers . 47And that servant , which knew his lord’s will , and prepared not himself , neither did according to his will , shall be beaten with many stripes . 48But he that knew not , and did commit things worthy of stripes , shall be beaten with few stripes . For unto whomsoever much is given , of him shall be much required : and to whom men have committed much , of him they will ask the more .
The Cost of Discipleship
49I am come to send fire on the earth ; and what will I , if it be already kindled ? 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with ; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished ! 51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth ? I tell you , Nay ; but rather division : 52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided , three against two , and two against three . 53The father shall be divided against the son , and the son against the father ; the mother against the daughter , and the daughter against the mother ; the mother in law against her daughter in law , and the daughter in law against her mother in law .
Interpreting the Times
54And he said also to the people , When ye see a cloud rise out of the west , straightway ye say , There cometh a shower ; and so it is . 55And when ye see the south wind blow , ye say , There will be heat ; and it cometh to pass . 56Ye hypocrites , ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth ; but how is it that ye do not discern this time ? 57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right ? 58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate , as thou art in the way , give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him ; lest he hale thee to the judge , and the judge deliver thee to the officer , and the officer cast thee into prison . 59I tell thee , thou shalt not depart thence , till thou hast paid the very last mite .