²⁴ And the disciples ^(A)were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, ^(B)“Children, ^(C)how difficult it is^[a] to enter ^(D)the kingdom of God!

Warning to the Rich

5 Come now, ^(A)you rich, weep and howl for the ^(B)miseries that are coming upon you. ^2 (C)Your riches have rotted and ^(D)your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. ^(E)You have laid up treasure ^(F)in the last days.

¹⁷ As for the rich in ^(A)this present age, charge them ^(B)not to be haughty, nor ^(C)to set their hopes on ^(D)the uncertainty of riches, but on God, ^(E)who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

^17 (A)For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, ^(B)blind, and naked.

The Law and the Kingdom of God

^14 (A)The Pharisees, who were ^(B)lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ^(C)ridiculed him.

¹⁶ And he told them a parable, saying, ^(A)“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷ and he thought to himself, ^(B)‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my ^(C)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, you have ample goods laid up ^(D)for many years; relax, ^(E)eat, drink, be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ^(F)‘Fool! ^(G)This night ^(H)your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, ^(I)whose will they be?’ ²¹ So is the one ^(J)who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, ^(A)we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.