Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, ‘Isa began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Jahannam.[1] Yes, I tell you, fear him.
6“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins[2]? Not one of them is forgotten by Allah. 7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
8“I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will Ibn Adam also confess before the angels of Allah; 9but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of Allah. 10Everyone who speaks a word against Ibn Adam will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.“
13One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.“
14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?“ 15He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.“
16He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly. 17He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I do not have room to store my crops?’ 18He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.“‘
20“But Allah said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared–whose will they be?’ 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward Allah.“
22He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they do not sow, they do not reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and Allah feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 25Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? 26If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Sulayman in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But if this is how Allah clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 29Do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. 30For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31But seek Allah’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. 32Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. 33Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35“Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning. 36Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. 37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most assuredly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. 38They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. 39But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40Therefore be ready also, for Ibn Adam is coming in an hour that you do not expect him.“
41Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?“
42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? 43Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. 44Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has. 45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, 46then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. 47That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, 48but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. Those to whom much is given, from him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
49“I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. 52For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.“
54He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not interpret this time? 57Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.[3]“
[1] 12:5 or, Hell
[2] 12:6 An assertion was a small copper coin worth about an hour’s wages for an agricultural labourer.
[3] 12:59 Literally, lepton. A lepton is a very small bronze Jewish coin worth half a Roman quadrans each, which is worth a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.