THE CURE FOR ANXIETY

22 Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,m don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.n 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:o They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.p Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add one moment to his life spanB by worrying?q 26 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 Solomonr in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. 28 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?s 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 seekst all these things, and your Fatheru knows that you need them.

31 “But seek his kingdom,v and these things will be provided for you.w 32 Don’t be afraid,x little flock,y because your Father delightsz to give you the kingdom.aa 33 Sellab your possessions and give to the poor.ac Make money-bagsad for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasureae in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.af

READY FOR THE MASTER’S RETURN

35 “Be ready for service* and have your lamps lit.ag 36 You are to be like people waiting for their masterah to return from the wedding banquetai so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.aj 37 Blessed will be those servants the master finds alertak when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,D have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.al 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,E and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,am he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready,an because the Son of Manao is coming at an hour you do not expect.”ap

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 manageraq his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted foodar at the proper time? 43 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,’as and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 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 piecesF and assign him a place with the unfaithful.G 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do itH will be severely beaten.at 48 But the one who did not know and did what deservedau punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.A,a