New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. | 1Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees! |
2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. | 2There is nothing covered up that won't be exposed and nothing secret that won't be made known. |
3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear! | 3Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops." |
4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. | 4"But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can't do anything more. |
5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. | 5I'll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him! |
6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. | 6"Five sparrows are sold for two pennies, aren't they? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. |
7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. | 7Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows." |
8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. | 8"But I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before God's angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. |
9 But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels. | 9But whoever denies me before people will be denied before God's angels. |
10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. | 10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit won't be forgiven. |
11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, | 11When people bring you before synagogue leaders, rulers, or authorities, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, |
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” Parable of the Rich Fool | 12because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say." |
13Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” | 13Then someone in the crowd told him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." |
14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” | 14But Jesus asked him, "Mister, who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?" |
15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” | 15Then he told them, "Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person's life doesn't consist of the amount of possessions he has." |
16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. | 16Then he told them a parable. He said, "The land of a certain rich man produced good crops. |
17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ | 17So he began to think to himself, 'What should I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' |
18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. | 18Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods in them. |
19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ | 19Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' |
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ | 20But God told him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?' |
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Teaching about Money and Possessions | 21That's how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God." |
22Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. | 22Then Jesus told his disciples, "That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear, |
23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. | 23because life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. |
24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! | 24Consider the crows. They don't plant or harvest, they don't even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! |
25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? | 25Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life by worrying? |
26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? | 26So if you can't do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? |
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. | 27Consider how the lilies grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. |
28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? | 28Now if that's the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you—you who have little faith? |
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. | 29"So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, |
30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. | 30because it is the unbelievers who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! |
31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. | 31Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. |
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. | 32Stop being afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. |
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. | 33"Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out—a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything. |
34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming | 34Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." |
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, | 35"You must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. |
36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. | 36Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. |
37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! | 37How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. |
38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. | 38How blessed they will be if their master comes in the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them awake! |
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. | 39But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. |
40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” | 40So be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at a time when you don't expect him." |
41Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?” | 41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable just for us or for everyone?" |
42And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. | 42The Lord said, "Who, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time? |
43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. | 43How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes! |
44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. | 44I tell you with certainty, he will put him in charge of all his property. |
45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? | 45But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time to come back,' and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, |
46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful. | 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people. |
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. | 47That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. |
48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Jesus Causes Division | 48But the servant who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted." |
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! | 49"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze! |
50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. | 50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and what stress I am under until it's completed! |
51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! | 51Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? Not at all, I tell you, but rather division! |
52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against. | 52From now on, five people in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. |
53 ‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ ” | 53They will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." |
54Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. | 54Then Jesus told the crowds, "When you see a cloud coming in from the west, you immediately say, 'There's going to be a storm,' and that's what happens. |
55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. | 55When you see a south wind blowing, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and so it is. |
56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. | 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don't know how to interpret the present time?" |
57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? | 57"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? |
58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. | 58For example, when you go with your opponent in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him on the way there. Otherwise, you will be dragged in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. |
59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. ” | 59I tell you, you will never get out of there until you pay back the last penny!" |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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