Old/New Testament

The leaven of the Pharisees. Christ strengthens his disciples against persecution, and warns them to beware of covetousness by the similitude of a certain rich man. He does not want them to hang upon earthly things, but to watch and to be ready for his coming.

12 As there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people (insomuch that they trod on one another), he began and said to his disciples, First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² For there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, nor hid that will not be known. ³ For whatever you have spoken in darkness, that same shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear, even in secret places, shall be declared even on the top of the houses.

⁴ I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you: him fear!

⁶ Are not five sparrows bought for two copper coins? And yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, even the very hairs of your heads are numbered. Fear not, therefore. You are of more value than many sparrows.

⁸ I say to you, whoever confesses me before men, him also shall the Son of man confess before the angels of God. ⁹ And he who denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it may be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

¹¹ When they bring you before the synagogues, and before the rulers and officers, take no thought how or what thing to answer, or what you will say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you ought to say.

¹³ A man in the company said to him, Master, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. ¹⁴ And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? ¹⁵ And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness. For no man’s life stands in the abundance of the things that he possesses.

¹⁶ And he put forth a similitude to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth fruits plenteously, ¹⁷ and he thought in himself, saying, What should I do, since I have no room to store my fruits? ¹⁸ And he said, This I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my fruits and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have goods enough laid up in store for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry! ²⁰ But God said to him, You fool, this night they will call away your soul back from you. Then whose will be those things that you have laid up?

²¹ This is how it is with him who gathers riches, but is not rich in God.

²² And he spoke to his disciples: Therefore I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat; neither for your body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens. For they neither sow nor reap, and have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more of value are you than the birds? ²⁵ Which of you, with taking thought, can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do that which is least, why be anxious about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not labour, they do not spin, and yet I say to you that Solomon in all his royalty was not clothed like one of these. ²⁸ If God so clothes the grass that is today in the field and tomorrow will be cast into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? ²⁹ And ask not what you shall eat or what you shall drink, neither climb up on high. ³⁰ For all such things the heathen people of the world seek for. Your Father knows that you have need of such things. ³¹ Therefore seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be ministered unto you.