¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches^(A) and pleasures, and they do not mature.

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^(A)

Do Not Worry^(B)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(C) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth^(A) choke the word, making it unfruitful.

¹⁸ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth^(A) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah^(A)

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist;^(B) others say Elijah;^(C) and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”^(D)

¹³ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”^(A)

²⁴ Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!^{(A) 25} Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(A) and that day will close on you suddenly^(B) like a trap.

¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](A) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

⁹ Those who want to get rich^(A) fall into temptation and a trap^(B) and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money^(C) is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith^(D) and pierced themselves with many griefs.^(E)