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Beware of Religious Hypocrisy

¹ Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling^(C1) on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,^(C2) “Be on your guard² There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,³ Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms

Fear God

⁴ “I say to you, my friends,⁵ But I will show you the one to fear: Fear⁶ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?⁷ Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Acknowledging Christ

⁸ “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges⁹ but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.¹⁰ Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,¹¹ Whenever¹² For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher,^(C1) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ “Friend,”¹⁵ He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard

¹⁶ Then he told them a parable:^(C1) “A rich¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops?¹⁸ I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there.¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool!

²¹ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then he said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you,²³ For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.²⁴ Consider the ravens:²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span²⁶ If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon²⁸ If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will he do for you—you of little faith?²⁹ Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious.³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks

³¹ “But seek his kingdom,³² Don’t be afraid,³³ Sell³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵ “Be ready for service³⁶ You are to be like people waiting for their master³⁷ Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert³⁸ If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,⁴⁰ You also be ready,

Rewards and Punishment

⁴¹ “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?”

⁴² The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’⁴⁶ that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces⁴⁷ And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it⁴⁸ But the one who did not know and did what deserved

Not Peace but Division

⁴⁹ “I came⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to undergo,⁵¹ Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth?⁵² From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.