1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an
innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon
another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of
the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid,
that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in
darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in
the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the
body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will
forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed
hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is
forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall
the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: 9 But he that
denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it
shall not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates,
and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or
what ye shall say: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same
hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother,
that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man,
who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he (Jesus) said
unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain
rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself,
saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my
fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and
build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many
years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto
him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then
whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no
thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye
shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than
raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither
have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye
better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one
cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why
take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and
yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the
field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he
clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be
ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the
world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these
things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax
not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief
approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye
yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return
from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto
him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find
watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make
them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour
the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his
house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son
of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom
his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion
of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when
he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he
will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his
coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat
and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a
day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware,
and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the
unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not
himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of
stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to
whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay;
but rather division: 52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one
house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 The father
shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the
mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the
mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law
against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the
west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 55 And
when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it
cometh to pass. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? 58 When
thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the
way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale
thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the
officer cast thee into prison. 59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart
thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.