Covetousness Denounced

¹³ Someone ^[a]in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But He said to him, “^(A)Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “^(B)Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, ^(C)you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘^(D)You fool! This very night ^[b](E)your soul is required of you; and ^(F)now who will own what you have prepared?’ ²¹ So is the man who ^(G)stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

²² And He said to His disciples, “^(H)For this reason I say to you, ^[c]do not worry about your ^[d]life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ^(I)ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor ^(J)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add a single ^[e](K)hour to his ^[f]life’s span? ²⁶ If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even ^(L)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? ^(M)You men of little faith! ²⁹ And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not ^(N)keep worrying. ³⁰ For ^[g]all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek His kingdom, and ^(O)these things will be added to you. ^32 (P)Do not be afraid, ^(Q)little flock, for ^(R)your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

³³ “^(S)Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, ^(T)an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For ^(U)where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.