²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(A) not because you saw the signs^(B) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(A) because you ask with wrong motives,^(B) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(C) people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(D) means enmity against God?^(E) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^(F)

¹⁹ Their destiny^(A) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(B) and their glory is in their shame.^(C) Their mind is set on earthly things.^(D)

²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(A) not those of Jesus Christ.

³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(B) for unjust gain.^(C)

⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth^(A) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ,^(A) but their own appetites.^(B) By smooth talk and flattery they deceive^(C) the minds of naive people.

¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

²⁰ Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!^{(A) 21} You have no part or share^(B) in this ministry, because your heart is not right^(C) before God.

² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs^(A) he had performed by healing the sick.