12So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites. ²Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. ³What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops.

⁴“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of people who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more to hurt you. ⁵I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who has the power to kill you and also to throw you into hell. Yes, this is the one you should fear.

⁶“Five sparrows are sold for only two pennies, and God does not forget any of them. ⁷But God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Don’t Be Ashamed of Jesus

⁸“I tell you, all those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I, the Son of Man, will say before the angels of God that they belong to me. ⁹But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before the angels of God that they do not belong to me.

¹⁰“Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

¹¹“When you are brought into the synagogues before the leaders and other powerful people, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say. ¹²At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

Jesus Warns Against Selfishness

¹³Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.”

¹⁴But Jesus said to him, “Who said I should judge or decide between you?” ¹⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns.”

¹⁶Then Jesus told this story: “There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. ¹⁷He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’ ¹⁸Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods. ¹⁹Then I can say to myself, “I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!” ’

²⁰“But God said to him, ‘Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?’

²¹“This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God.”

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