The Leaven of the Pharisees
(Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)

1In the mean time, when myriads of the people had come together, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2For there is nothing covered, which shall not be revealed, and hid, which shall not be made known. 3Wherefore, what you have spoken in the darkness, shall be heard in the light; and what you have spoken in the ear in closets, shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.

Fear God Alone
(Matthew 10:26–31)

4But I say to you, my friends, Fear not them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will show you whom you shall fear: Fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ
(Matthew 10:32–33)

8And I further say to you, Whoever confesses me before men, him will the Son of man also confess before the angels of God. 9But he that denies me before men, shall be denied before the angels of God. 10And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but he that speaks impiously against the Holy Spirit, shall not be forgiven. 11When they bring you to the synagogues, and to rulers and authorities, be not anxious how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say; 12for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that hour what you ought to say.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13And a certain one of the multitude said to him: Teacher, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14But he said to him: Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15And he said to them: Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man's life depends not on the abundance of his possessions. 16And he spoke a parable to them, saying: The farm of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. 17And he reasoned within himself, saying: What shall I do? for I have no place in which I can store my fruits. 18And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and I will build larger ones; and there I will store all my produce, and my good things; 19and I will say to my soul: Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20But God said to him: Senseless man, this night shall your soul be required of you; and who shall have the things which you have provided? 21So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Do Not Worry
(Matthew 6:25–34)

22And he said to his disciples: For this reason I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on. 23Life is a greater gift than food, and the body, than clothing. 24Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; which have neither storehouse nor granary; yet God feeds them: you are of far more value than the birds. 25"Which of you, by his anxiety, can add one span to his life? 26If, therefore, you can not do that which is the least, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow. They toil not, they spin not; yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28If, then, God so clothes the herb of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith? 29And seek not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, and be not in anxious suspense. 30For all these things the nations of the world seek after; but your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be given you in addition.

Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 6:19–21)

32Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33Sell what you have, and be charitable. Make for yourselves purses that do not become old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near, and no moth corrupts. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Readiness at Any Hour
(Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)

35Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning; 36and be like men that are waiting for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that, when he comes and knocks, they may open for him immediately. 37Blessed are those servants whom their lord, when he comes, shall find watching. Verily I say to you, That he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and will come forth and serve them. 38And if he shall come in the second watch, and if he shall come in the third watch, and find them thus, blessed are those servants.

39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief comes, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40Be you, therefore, ready also; for at an hour when you think not, the Son of man comes.

41Then Peter said to him: Lord, dost them speak this parable to us, or also to all? 42And the Lord said: "Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his servants, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. 44Of a truth, I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to strike the men-servants and the maid-servants, and to eat and to drink, and to be drunk; 46the lord of that servant will come in a day in which he looks not for him, and at an hour which he knows not; and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful. 47And that servant who knew his lord's will, but made no preparation, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; 48but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. To whomever much has been given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have intrusted much, of him will they ask the more.

Not Peace but Division
(Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)

49I have come to send fire on the earth; and how greatly do I wish that it were already kindled! 50I have an immersion with which to be immersed, and how distressed I am till it be accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I toll you, No; but rather dissension. 52For from this time forth there shall be five in one house at variance, three with two, and two with three. 53The father shall be at variance with the son, and the son with the father; the mother with the daughter, and the daughter with the mother; the mother-in-law with her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law.

Interpreting the Present Time
(Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)

54And he said also to the multitudes: When you see the cloud rising from the west, you immediately say, There comes a shower: and so it is. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, There will be heat: and it comes to pass. 56Hypocrites, you know how to judge of the face of the earth, and of the heavens; but how is it that you do not judge of this time?

Reconciling with an Adversary
(Matthew 5:21–26)

57And why even of yourselves do you not judge what is right? 58For when you are going with your opponent at law to the ruler, while you are on the way, endeavor to be delivered from him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the collector, and the collector throw you into prison. 59I say to you, You shall not come out thence, till you have paid the very last mite.