The Leaven of the Pharisees (Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)
1 UDB Meanwhile, many thousands of people gathered around Jesus. There were so many that they were stepping on each other. But first he said to his disciples, "Be careful that you do not become like the Pharisees, who act religious in public but do evil things in secret. Just like yeast causes a lump of dough to rise, their evil behavior causes others to be hypocrites like they are. BSB BSB: In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 UDB People cannot cover up their sins. Someday God will let everyone know everything people are trying to hide. BSB BSB: There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
3 UDB Everything you say in the dark, someday people will hear in the daylight. Whatever you whisper in your room will someday be as public as if it were shouted from the rooftops. BSB BSB: What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
Fear God Alone (Matthew 10:26–31)
4 UDB "My friends, listen carefully! Do not be afraid of people; they can kill you, but they cannot do anything more to you after that! BSB BSB: I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
5 UDB But I will warn you about the one whom you should truly be afraid of. You should be afraid of God because he not only has the right to cause people to die, he also has the right to throw them into hell afterwards! Yes, he is truly the one whom you should be afraid of! BSB BSB: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
6 UDB Think about the sparrows. They have so little value that you can buy five of them for only two small coins and yet God never forgets any of them! BSB BSB: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.
7 UDB God even knows how many hairs there are on your head. Do not be afraid, because you are more valuable to God than many sparrows. BSB BSB: And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Confessing Christ (Matthew 10:32–33)
8 UDB "I tell you also that if people tell others that they are my disciples, then I, the Son of Man, will say that they are my disciples to God's angels. BSB BSB: I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.
9 UDB But if they tell others that they are not my disciples, then I will say to God's angels that they are not my disciples. BSB BSB: But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 UDB I also tell you that if people say evil things about me, the Son of Man, God will forgive them for that. But if people say evil things about the Holy Spirit, God will not forgive them for that. BSB BSB: And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 UDB So when people bring you into the synagogues to question you before the religious leaders and other people who have power in the country, do not worry about how you will answer them or about what you should say BSB BSB: When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.
12 UDB because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say." BSB BSB: For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool 13 UDB Then one of the people in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide my father's property with me!" BSB BSB: Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 UDB But Jesus replied to him, "Man, no one made me a judge to settle arguments that people have about property!" BSB BSB: But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
15 UDB Then he said to the whole crowd, "Be careful not to be greedy in any way! The value of a man's life is not determined by how many things he owns." BSB BSB: And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16 UDB Then he told them this illustration: "The fields of a certain rich man produced abundant crops. BSB BSB: Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.
17 UDB So he thought to himself, 'I do not know what to do, because I do not have any place big enough to store all my crops!' BSB BSB: So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 UDB Then he thought to himself, 'I know what I will do! I will tear down my grain bins and build larger ones! Then I will store all my grain and other things in the big new bins. BSB BSB: Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.
19 UDB Then I will say to myself, "Now I have enough things stored up to last many years. So now I will take life easy. I will eat and drink and be happy!"' BSB BSB: Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 UDB But God said to him, 'You foolish man! Tonight you will die! Then all the things you have saved up for yourself will belong to someone else, not to you!'" BSB BSB: But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
21 UDB Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying, "That is what will happen to those who store up things just for themselves, but who do not value the things that God considers valuable." BSB BSB: This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25–34)
22 UDB Then Jesus said to his disciples, "So I want to tell you this: Do not worry about things you need in order to live. Do not worry about whether you will have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
23 UDB Your life is more important than the food you eat and your body is more important than the clothes you put on it. BSB BSB: For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24 UDB Think about the birds: They do not plant seeds, and they do not harvest crops. They do not have rooms or buildings in which to store crops. But God provides food for them. You are certainly much more valuable than birds. BSB BSB: Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 UDB None of you can add even a minute to his life by worrying about it! BSB BSB: Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
26 UDB So since you cannot even do that small thing, you certainly should not worry about anything else. BSB BSB: So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 UDB Think about the way that flowers grow. They do not work to earn money and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that even though King Solomon, who lived long ago, wore very beautiful clothes, he was never as well dressed as one of those flowers. BSB BSB: Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
28 UDB God makes the plants beautiful even though they grow for only a short time. Then they are cut and thrown into the fire. But you are very precious to God, and he will care for you much more than he cares for the plants. Why do you trust him so little? BSB BSB: If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 UDB Do not wonder about what you will eat and drink, and do not keep worrying about those things. BSB BSB: And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.
30 UDB The people who do not know God are always worried about such things. But your Father in heaven knows that you need them. BSB BSB: For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
31 UDB Instead, make it the most important thing in your life to accept God when he rules over you. Then he will also give you everything you need. BSB BSB: But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.
Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19–21)
32 UDB "So you should not be afraid, little flock. Your Father in heaven wants to give you all the benefits he plans to when he rules everything completely. BSB BSB: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 UDB So now sell the things that you own. Give the money to those who do not have the food and clothing they need or a place to live. Get yourselves wallets that do not wear out, and you will store up treasure in heaven where it will always be safe. There, no thief can come near to steal it, and no moths can destroy your clothing. BSB BSB: Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
34 UDB Whatever it is that you treasure, that is what you will think about and spend your time on. BSB BSB: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Readiness at Any Hour (Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)
35 UDB "Always be ready for doing God's work, like people who have put on their work clothes and keep their lamps burning all night. BSB BSB: Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
36 UDB Be ready for me to return, like servants who are waiting for their master to return after being at a wedding feast. They are waiting to open the door for him as soon as he arrives and knocks at the door. BSB BSB: Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
37 UDB If those servants are awake when he returns, he will reward them. I will tell you this: He will get dressed to serve, tell them to sit down, and he will serve them a meal. BSB BSB: Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.
38 UDB Even if he comes between midnight and sunrise, if he finds that his servants are awake and ready for him, he will be very pleased with them. BSB BSB: Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.
39 UDB But you must also remember this: If the owner of a house knew what time the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed the thief to break into his house. BSB BSB: But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40 UDB So be ready because I, the Son of Man, will come again at a time when you do not expect me." BSB BSB: You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
41 UDB Peter asked, "Lord, are you giving this illustration only for us or for everyone else also?" BSB BSB: “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”
42 UDB The Lord replied, "I am saying it for everyone who is like a faithful and wise servant who is a manager in his master's house. His master puts him in charge of making sure the other servants get their food at the proper time. BSB BSB: And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
43 UDB If the servant is doing that work when his master returns, his master will reward him. BSB BSB: Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.
44 UDB I tell you this: The master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 UDB But if that servant manager says to himself, 'My master has been away for a long time,' then he might start to beat the other servants, both male and female ones. He might also start to eat a lot of food and get drunk. BSB BSB: But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
46 UDB If he does that, his master might return at a time when the servant does not expect him. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with those who do not serve him faithfully. BSB BSB: The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
48 UDB But every servant who did not know what his master wanted him to do, and then did something wrong, will only get a mild punishment. Much is expected from those people who have been given much. Even more is expected from those who have been entrusted with much. BSB BSB: But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
Not Peace but Division (Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)
50 UDB Soon I must go through a baptism of terrible suffering. I will continue to be distressed until my suffering is finished. BSB BSB: But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
52 UDB Because some people in one house will believe in me and some will not, they will be divided. Three people in one house who do not believe in me will oppose two who do believe. BSB BSB: From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.
53 UDB A man will oppose his son, or a son will oppose his father. A woman will oppose her daughter, or a woman will oppose her mother. A woman will oppose her daughter-in-law, or a woman will oppose her mother-in-law." BSB BSB: They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Interpreting the Present Time (Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)
54 UDB He also said to the crowds, "When you see a dark cloud forming in the west, you immediately say 'It is going to rain!' and that is what happens. BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.
55 UDB When the wind blows from the south, you say, 'It is going to be a very hot day!' and you are right. BSB BSB: And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.
56 UDB You hypocrites! By observing the clouds and the wind, you are able to discern what is happening regarding the weather. Why are you not able to discern what God is doing at this present time? BSB BSB: You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?
Reconciling with an Adversary (Matthew 5:21–26)
57 UDB "Each of you ought to decide what is the right thing for you to do while you still have time to do that! BSB BSB: And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
58 UDB You should try to settle things with someone who has accused you while you are still on the way to the court. If he forces you to go to the judge, the judge could decide that you are guilty and turn you over to the court officer. Then that officer will put you in prison. BSB BSB: Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.
59 UDB I tell you that if you go to prison, you will never get out until you are able to pay every bit of what the judge says you owe." BSB BSB: I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”