Chapter 12

The Yeast of the Pharisees.^{[a] 1} Meanwhile a crowd of many thousands of people had gathered, and they were so tightly packed together that they were trampling on each other. Then Jesus began to speak, saying first to his disciples: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—which is their hypocrisy. ² There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing secret that will not become known. ³ Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops.

Courage in Time of Persecution. ⁴ “I tell you, my friends, have no fear of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further. ⁵ But I will tell you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who, after he has killed, has the authority to cast into Gehenna. I tell you, fear him!

⁶ “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. ⁷ Even the hairs on your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth far more than any number of sparrows.

⁸ “I tell you this: whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. ⁹ But whoever denies me before men, he will be denied before the angels of God.

¹⁰ Sayings about the Holy Spirit.“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.^{[b] 11} When you are brought before synagogues and rulers and authorities, do not be concerned about how or what you are to answer or what you are to say. ¹² When the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say.”