Warnings
1 As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:
Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. 2 Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. 3 Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.
The One To Fear
(Matthew 10.28-31)4 My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. 5 God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!
6 Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. 7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling Others about Christ
(Matthew 10.32Matthew 33Matthew 12.32Matthew 10.19Matthew 20)8 If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers. 9 But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them. 10 If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.
11 When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
A Rich Fool
13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”
14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”
15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”
16 So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man's farm produced a big crop, 17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”
18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”
20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”
21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”
Worry
(Matthew 6.25-34)22 Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
27 Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won't he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
29 Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well.
Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 6.19-21)32 My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it. 34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
(Matthew 24.45-51)35 Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. 37 Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. 40 So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.
41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord answered:
Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. 44 A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.
45 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. 46 If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.
47 If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. 48 But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.
Not Peace, but Trouble
(Matthew 10.34-36)49 I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! 50 I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.
Knowing What To Do
(Matthew 16.2Matthew 3Matthew 5.25Matthew 26)54 Jesus said to all the people:
As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It's going to rain,” and it does. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, “It's going to get hot,” and it does. 56 Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don't really know what's going on right now. 57 Why don't you understand the right thing to do? 58 When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. 59 You won't get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.
Brīdinājums sargāties no liekulības
1 Kad sapulcējās tūkstošiem ļaužu, tā ka cits citu gandrīz vai sabradāja, viņš sāka sacīt saviem mācekļiem: “Piesargieties no farizeju rauga, tas ir, no liekulības. 2 Nekas nav tā aizsegts, ka netiktu atklāts, un nav nekā slepena, kas nekļūtu zināms. 3 Tādēļ viss, ko būsiet sacījuši tumsā, būs dzirdams gaismā, un, ko jūs būsiet čukstējuši ausī savos kambaros, tas tiks pasludināts no namu jumtiem.
Nebīties apliecināt
(Mt 10:26–33)4 Jums, saviem draugiem, es saku: nebīstieties no tiem, kas nonāvē miesu, bet vairāk neko nespēj nodarīt. 5 Bet es jums sacīšu, no kā jums būs bīties: bīstieties no tā, kam vara pēc nonāvēšanas jūs iemest ellē. Tiešām es jums saku: no tā bīstieties! 6 Vai piecus zvirbuļus nepārdod par diviem grašiem? Un neviens no tiem nav aizmirsts Dieva priekšā. 7 Arī visi jūsu galvas mati ir saskaitīti. Nebīstieties, jūs esat vērtīgāki nekā daudzi zvirbuļi. 8 Bet es jums saku: ikvienu, kas apliecinās mani cilvēku priekšā, arī Cilvēka Dēls apliecinās Dieva eņģeļu priekšā. 9 Bet, kas mani noliegs cilvēku priekšā, tas taps noliegts Dieva eņģeļu priekšā. 10 Un ikvienam, kas kādu vārdu sacīs pret Cilvēka Dēlu, tiks piedots, bet, kas zaimos Svēto Garu, tam netiks piedots. 11 Kad jūs vedīs sinagogās un valdnieku un vareno priekšā, neesiet norūpējušies par to, kā jūs aizstāvēsieties vai ko sacīsiet. 12 Svētais Gars pamācīs jūs tajā stundā, kas ir sakāms.”
Līdzība par bagāto muļķi
13 Kāds no pūļa viņam sacīja: “Skolotāj, saki manam brālim, lai viņš dalās ar mani mantojumā.” 14 Viņš tam atbildēja: “Cilvēk, kas mani ir iecēlis jums par tiesnesi vai mantas dalītāju?” 15 Un viņš tiem sacīja: “Pielūkojiet, sargieties no jelkādas mantrausības. Pat pārpilnībā cilvēks nedzīvo no tā, ka viņam daudz kas pieder.” 16 Tad viņš stāstīja tiem līdzību: “Kādam bagātniekam lauki ienesa labu ražu. 17 Un viņš sāka pie sevis spriest: ko lai es daru? Man nav kur savākt savus augļus. 18 Tad viņš teica: es darīšu tā – nojaukšu savus šķūņus un uzcelšu lielākus, un tur savākšu visu labību un citus labumus. 19 Un savai dvēselei es sacīšu: tev ir daudz labumu iekrāts uz ilgiem gadiem; atpūties, ēd, dzer un līksmo! 20 Tad viņam Dievs sacīja: neprātīgais! Šajā naktī tev atprasīs dzīvību – kam tad piederēs tas, ko esi sakrājis? 21 Tā notiek tam, kas krāj tikai sev, bet netop bagāts Dievā.”
Pasaulīgās raizes un Dieva valstība
(Mt 6:19–21, Mt 25–34)22 Un viņš sacīja saviem mācekļiem: “Tādēļ es jums saku, nezūdieties savas dzīvības dēļ – ko ēdīsiet, nedz savas miesas dēļ – ko vilksiet mugurā. 23 Jo dzīvība ir vērtāka nekā barība un miesa nekā drēbes. 24 Pavērojiet kraukļus; ne tie sēj, ne pļauj; tiem nav ne klēts, ne šķūņa, bet Dievs tos baro. Cik daudz vairāk vērti jūs esat par putniem. 25 Kurš gan no jums ar savu zūdīšanos var pagarināt savu mūžu kaut vai par olekti? 26 Ja pat tādu nieku jūs nespējat, kādēļ tad zūdāties par visu pārējo? 27 Pavērojiet lilijas, kā tās aug. Ne tās nopūlas, ne vērpj. Bet es jums saku: pat Sālamans visā savā godībā nebija tā tērpies kā viena no tām. 28 Ja nu pļavas zāli, kas šodien ir, bet rīt tiek iemesta krāsnī, Dievs tā ģērbj, cik gan vairāk jūs, jūs mazticīgie! 29 Nemeklējiet arī jūs, ko ēdīsiet un ko dzersiet, un neraizējieties! 30 Pēc visa tā pagāni dzenas; jūsu Tēvs tāpat zina, ka jums to vajag. 31 Meklējiet viņa Valstību, tad jums viss tiks iedots. 32 Nebīsties, tu mazais ganāmpulciņ, jo jūsu Tēvam labpaticis dot jums Valstību. 33 Pārdodiet savu mantu un izdaliet žēlastības dāvanās. Dariniet sev naudas makus, kas nenodilst, neizsīkstošu mantu debesīs, kur nedz zaglis tiek klāt, nedz kodes to sagrauž. 34 Kur ir jūsu manta, tur būs arī jūsu sirds.
Esiet nomodā!
35 Lai jūsu gurni ir apjozti un jūsu lāpas degošas! 36 Esiet līdzīgi cilvēkiem, kas gaida savu kungu no kāzām pārnākam, lai tūdaļ tam atvērtu, kad tas nāks un klauvēs. 37 Laimīgi tie kalpi, kurus kungs pārnācis atradīs nomodā. Patiesi es jums saku: viņš apjozīs priekšautu un nosēdinās tos un apstaigādams visus apkalpos. 38 Un, ja viņš nāks otrajā nakts sardzē un trešajā nakts sardzē un atradīs tos nomodā, laimīgi tie! 39 Jel saprotiet: ja nama saimnieks zinātu, kurā stundā zaglis nāks, viņš neļautu tam ielauzties savā namā. 40 Esiet arī jūs gatavi, jo Cilvēka Dēls nāks stundā, kad jūs viņu negaidāt.”
Uzticamais un neuzticamais kalps
(Mt 24:45–51)41 Tad Pēteris jautāja: “Kungs, vai tu šo līdzību stāsti tikai mums vai visiem?” 42 Un Kungs teica: “Kurš tad ir tas uzticamais un saprātīgais namturis, ko kungs iecels pār saviem kalpotājiem, lai tas laikus izdalītu tiem pienākošos barību? 43 Laimīgs ir tas kalps, kuru kungs atnācis atradīs tā darām. 44 Patiesi es jums saku: viņš to iecels pārvaldīt visu savu īpašumu. 45 Bet, ja kalps savā sirdī sacīs: mans kungs kavējas nākt, – un sāks sist kalpus un kalpones, sāks ēst un dzert un piedzersies, 46 tad šī kalpa kungs nāks tajā dienā, kad tas negaidīs, un tajā stundā, kad nezinās, un pāršķels viņu pušu un liks viņa daļu ar neticīgajiem. 47 Bet tāds kalps, kurš, zinādams sava kunga gribu, nebūs sagatavojies vai darījis pēc viņa gribas, saņems daudz sitienu. 48 Bet, kas nezinādams darījis to, par ko pelnījis sitienus, tas saņems maz. No ikviena, kam daudz dots, daudz prasīs un, kam daudz uzticēts, no tā vairāk atprasīs.
Kristus ir šķelšanās iemesls
(Mt 10:34–39)49 Uguni es esmu nācis mest uz zemi, un kā es vēlos, ka tā jau degtu! 50 Bet ir kristība, kurā man jātop kristītam, un cik es esmu sasaistīts, kamēr tā piepildīsies. 51 Jums šķiet, ka esmu ieradies nest mieru uz zemes? Nebūt ne, es jums saku, bet gan šķelšanos! 52 No šā laika pieci vienā namā sašķelsies: trīs pret diviem un divi pret trim. 53 Tēvs stāsies pret dēlu un dēls pret tēvu, māte pret meitu un meita pret māti, vīramāte pret vedeklu un vedekla pret vīramāti.”
Laika zīmju skaidrošana
(Mt 16:1–4)54 Un viņš sacīja ļaužu pūlim: “Kad jūs rietumos redzat paceļamies mākoni, jūs tūlīt sakāt: lietus tuvojas, – un tā notiek. 55 Kad pūš dienvidvējš, jūs sakāt: būs karstums, – un tā notiek. 56 Liekuļi! Zemes un debess izskatu jūs protat pazīt, bet kādēļ jūs nepazīstat šo laiku? 57 Kādēļ jūs paši no sevis neizšķirat, kas ir taisnīgi? 58 Kad tu ar savu pretinieku ej pie pārvaldnieka, centies vēl ceļā ar to izlīgt, lai viņš tevi nevelk pie tiesneša un lai tiesnesis nenodod tevi uzraugam un uzraugs tevi neiemet cietumā. 59 Es tev saku: tu no turienes neiziesi, līdz nebūsi nomaksājis pēdējo grasi.”
