BEWARE OF RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY

12 Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were tramplingai on one another. He began to say to his disciples first,aj “Be on your guardak against the leavenN,al of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.am 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,an nothing hidden that won’t be made known.ao 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 roomsap will be proclaimed on the housetops.aq

FEAR GOD

4 “I say to you, my friends,ar don’t fearas those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the one to fear: Fearat him who has authority to throw people into hellau after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?O Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.av 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 acknowledgesaw me before others, the Son of Manax will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,ay 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.az 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,ba but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spiritbb will not be forgiven. 11 Wheneverbc they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,bd don’t worrybe about how you should defendbf yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”bg