Tell the Truth

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors,You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.^{[a](A) 34} But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.^{(B) 36} Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.^(C)

Martha and Mary

³⁸ While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha^(A) welcomed him into her home.^{[a] 39} She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s^[b] feet^(B) and was listening to what he said.^{[c] 40} But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care^(C) that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”^[d](D)

⁴¹ The Lord^[e] answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,^{(E) 42} but one thing is necessary.^[f](F) Mary has made the right choice,^[g] and it will not be taken away from her.”

¹⁵ He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard^(A) against all greed,^(B) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”^(C)

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable:^(D) “A rich^(E) man’s land was very productive. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? ¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;^(F) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’^(G)

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!^(H) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’^(I)

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure^(J) for himself and is not rich toward God.”^(K)

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,^(L) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.^{(M) 23} For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens:^(N) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.^(O) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span^[a] by worrying?^{(P) 26} If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon^(Q) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. ²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?^{(R) 29} Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks^(S) all these things, and your Father^(T) knows that you need them.

³¹ “But seek his kingdom,^(U) and these things will be provided for you.^{(V) 32} Don’t be afraid,^(W) little flock,^(X) because your Father delights^(Y) to give you the kingdom.^{(Z) 33} Sell^(AA) your possessions and give to the poor.^(AB) Make money-bags^(AC) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure^(AD) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

⁹ But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant^(A) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,^[a] who richly provides us with all things^(B) to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,^(C) to be generous and willing to share,^{(D) 19} storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age,^(E) so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

⁵ Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.^[a](A)

Proud or Humble

4 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions^(A) that wage war within you?^{[a] 2} You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war.^[b] You do not have because you do not ask.