Old/New Testament
Further warnings
12 Crowds were gathering in their thousands, so much so that they were trampling on each other. Jesus began to say to his disciples, “Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees—I mean, their hypocrisy. This is a matter of first importance.
2 “Nothing is concealed that won’t be uncovered; nothing is hidden that won’t be made known. 3 So whatever you say in the darkness will be heard in the light, and whatever you speak indoors into someone’s ear will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 “So, my friends, I have this to say to you: don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 5 I will show you who to fear: fear the one who starts by killing and then has the right to throw people into Gehenna. Yes, let me tell you, that’s the one to fear!
6 “How much do five sparrows cost? Two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten in God’s presence. 7 But the hairs of your head have all been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than lots of sparrows.
8 “Let me tell you: if anyone acknowledges me before others, the son of man will acknowledge that person before God’s angels. 9 But if anyone denies me before others, that person will be denied before God’s angels.
10 “Everyone who speaks a word against the son of man will have it forgiven; but the one who blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When they bring you before synagogues, rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to give an answer or what to say. 12 The holy spirit will teach you what to say at that very moment.”
The parable of the rich fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”
14 “Tell me, my good man,” replied Jesus, “who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?
15 “Watch out,” he said to them, “and beware of all greed! Your life doesn’t consist of the sum total of your possessions.”
16 He told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a fine harvest. 17 ‘What shall I do?’ he said to himself. ‘I don’t have enough room to store my crops!
18 “ ‘I know!’ he said. ‘I’ll pull down my barns—and I’ll build bigger ones! Then I’ll be able to store all the corn and all my belongings there. 19 And I shall say to my soul, Soul, you’ve got many good things stored up for many years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, have a good time!’
20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you! Now who’s going to have all the things you’ve got ready?’ 21 That’s how it is with someone who stores up things for himself and isn’t rich before God.
22 “So let me tell you this,” he said to the disciples. “Don’t be anxious about your life—what you should eat; or about your body—what you should wear. 23 Life is more than food! The body is more than clothing! 24 Think about the ravens: they don’t sow seed, they don’t gather harvests, they don’t have storehouses or barns; and God feeds them. How much more will he feed you! Think of the difference between yourselves and the birds!
25 “Which of you by being anxious can add a day to your lifetime? 26 So if you can’t even do a little thing like that, why worry about anything else? 27 Think about the lilies and the way they grow. They don’t work hard, they don’t weave cloth; but, let me tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed up like one of them. 28 So if that’s how God clothes the grass in the field—here today, into the fire tomorrow—how much more will he clothe you, you little-faith lot!
29 “So don’t you go hunting about for what to eat or what to drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 The nations of the world go searching for all that stuff, and your father knows you need it. 31 This is what you should search for: God’s kingdom! Then all the rest will be given you as well.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.