Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
Fear God, Not People
12 Meanwhile,[a] when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus[b] began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against[c] the yeast of the Pharisees,[d] which is hypocrisy.[e] 2 Nothing is hidden[f] that will not be revealed,[g] and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 3 So then[h] whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered[i] in private rooms[j] will be proclaimed from the housetops.[k]
4 “I[l] tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body,[m] and after that have nothing more they can do. 5 But I will warn[n] you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing,[o] has authority to throw you[p] into hell.[q] Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?[r] Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.[s] 7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid;[t] you are more valuable than many sparrows.
8 “I[u] tell you, whoever acknowledges[v] me before men,[w] the Son of Man will also acknowledge[x] before God’s angels. 9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit[y] will not be forgiven.[z] 11 But when they bring you before the synagogues,[aa] the[ab] rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense[ac] or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment[ad] what you must say.”[ae]
The Parable of the Rich Landowner
13 Then[af] someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell[ag] my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus[ah] said to him, “Man,[ai] who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?”[aj] 15 Then[ak] he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from[al] all types of greed,[am] because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 He then[an] told them a parable:[ao] “The land of a certain rich man produced[ap] an abundant crop, 17 so[aq] he thought to himself,[ar] ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’[as] 18 Then[at] he said, ‘I[au] will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,[av] “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life[aw] will be demanded back from[ax] you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’[ay] 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself,[az] but is not rich toward God.”
Exhortation Not to Worry
22 Then[ba] Jesus[bb] said to his[bc] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry[bd] about your[be] life, what you will eat, or about your[bf] body, what you will wear. 23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:[bg] They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds[bh] them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying[bi] can add an hour to his life?[bj] 26 So if[bk] you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about[bl] the rest? 27 Consider how the flowers[bm] grow; they do not work[bn] or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 28 And if[bo] this is how God clothes the wild grass,[bp] which is here[bq] today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,[br] how much more[bs] will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 29 So[bt] do not be overly concerned about[bu] what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.[bv] 30 For all the nations of the world pursue[bw] these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue[bx] his[by] kingdom,[bz] and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased[ca] to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions[cb] and give to the poor.[cc] Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out—a treasure in heaven[cd] that never decreases,[ce] where no thief approaches and no moth[cf] destroys. 34 For where your treasure[cg] is, there your heart will be also.
Call to Faithful Stewardship
35 “Get dressed for service[ch] and keep your lamps burning;[ci] 36 be like people[cj] waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,[ck] so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 Blessed are those slaves[cl] whom their master finds alert[cm] when he returns! I tell you the truth,[cn] he will dress himself to serve,[co] have them take their place at the table,[cp] and will come[cq] and wait on them![cr] 38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night[cs] and finds them alert,[ct] blessed are those slaves![cu] 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief[cv] was coming, he would not have let[cw] his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”[cx]
41 Then[cy] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”[cz] 42 The Lord replied,[da] “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,[db] whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,[dc] to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave[dd] whom his master finds at work[de] when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth,[df] the master[dg] will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if[dh] that[di] slave should say to himself,[dj] ‘My master is delayed[dk] in returning,’ and he begins to beat[dl] the other[dm] slaves, both men and women,[dn] and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,[do] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.[dp] 47 That[dq] servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked[dr] will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know his master’s will[ds] and did things worthy of punishment[dt] will receive a light beating.[du] From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,[dv] and from the one who has been entrusted with much,[dw] even more will be asked.[dx]
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I have come[dy] to bring[dz] fire on the earth—and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism[ea] to undergo,[eb] and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division![ec] 52 For from now on[ed] there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided,[ee] father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Reading the Signs
54 Jesus[ef] also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west,[eg] you say at once, ‘A rainstorm[eh] is coming,’ and it does. 55 And when you see the south wind[ei] blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 56 You hypocrites![ej] You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how[ek] to interpret the present time?
Clear the Debts
57 “And[el] why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate,[em] make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer,[en] and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”[eo]
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