Jesus Gives Words of Warning and Hope
1During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another. Jesus spoke first to his disciples. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees,” he said. “They just pretend to be godly. 2Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.
4“My friends, listen to me. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t do any more than that. 5I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after you have been killed. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him. 6Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them. 7In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
8“What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say in front of God’s angels that he knows that person. 9But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I, the Son of Man, will say in front of God’s angels that I don’t know him. 10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11“You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say. 12The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The Story of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “tell my brother to divide the family property with me.”
14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”
16Then Jesus told them a story. He said, “A certain rich man’s land produced a very large crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.’
18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store my extra grain in them. 19I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.” ’
20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Tonight I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21“That is how it will be for whoever stores things away for themselves but is not rich in the sight of God.”
Do Not Worry
22Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear. 23There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes. 24Think about the ravens. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t have any barns at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds! 25Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? 26You can’t do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?
27“Think about how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in his royal robes was dressed like one of those flowers. 28If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small! 29Don’t spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry about it. 30People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31But put God’s kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.
32“Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it. 34Your heart will be where your riches are.
Be Ready
35“Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning. 36Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready when he comes. What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will then dress himself so he can serve them. He will have them take their places at the table. And he will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning. 39But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.”
41Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?”
42The Lord answered, “Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of his other servants. The servant’s job is to give them the food they are to receive at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise manager for this. 43It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns. 44What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to come back.’ Suppose that servant begins to beat the other servants, both men and women. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk. 46The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn’t expect him. The master will return at an hour the servant doesn’t know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send the servant to the place where unbelievers go.
47“Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating. 48But suppose the servant does not know his master’s wishes. And suppose the servant does things for which he should be punished. He will receive a lighter beating. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much.
Jesus Will Separate People From One Another
49“I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish the fire had already started! 50But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I must go through it. 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people. 52From now on there will be five members in a family, each one against the other. There will be three against two and two against three. 53They will be separated. Father will turn against son and son against father. Mother will turn against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law will turn against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Understanding the Meaning of What Is Happening
54Jesus spoke to the crowd. He said, “You see a cloud rising in the west. Right away you say, ‘It’s going to rain.’ And it does. 55The south wind blows. So you say, ‘It’s going to be hot.’ And it is. 56You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can’t you understand the meaning of what is happening right now?
57“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don’t, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!”
Chenjezo ndi Chilimbikitso
1Nthawi yomweyo, anthu miyandamiyanda atasonkhana, ndi kumapondanapondana, Yesu anayamba kuyankhula poyamba kwa ophunzira ake, nati, “Chenjereni ndi yisiti wa Afarisi, amene ndi chinyengo. 2Palibe chinthu chophimbika chimene sichidzawululika, kapena chobisika chimene sichidzadziwika. 3Chimene mwanena mu mdima chidzamveka dzuwa likuwala, ndipo zimene mwanongʼona mʼkhutu mʼchipinda chamʼkati, zidzayankhulidwa pa denga la nyumba.
4“Ine ndikuwuzani, abwenzi anga, musachite mantha ndi amene amapha thupi chifukwa akatero sangachitenso kanthu. 5Koma Ine ndidzakuonetsani amene muyenera kumuopa: Wopani Iye, amene pambuyo pakupha thupi, ali ndi mphamvu yakukuponyani ku gehena. Inde, Ine ndikuwuzani, muopeni Iye. 6Kodi atimba asanu samagulidwa ndi ndalama ziwiri? Ngakhale zili chomwecho palibe imodzi ya izo imene imayiwalika ndi Mulungu. 7Ndithudi, tsitsi lonse la mʼmutu mwanu ndi lowerengedwa. Musachite mantha; inu ndi oposa kwambiri mpheta zambiri.
8“Ine ndikukuwuza kuti, aliyense amene avomereza Ine pamaso pa anthu, Mwana wa Munthu adzamuvomerezanso pamaso pa angelo a Mulungu. 9Koma iye amene andikana Ine pamaso pa anthu adzakanidwanso pamaso pa angelo a Mulungu. 10Ndipo aliyense amene ayankhulira Mwana wa Munthu mawu oyipa adzakhululukidwa, koma iye wochitira mwano Mzimu Woyera sadzakhululukidwa.
11“Akadzakutengerani ku masunagoge pamaso pa oweruza ndi a maulamuliro, musadere nkhawa mmene mudzadzitchinjirizire nokha kapena chimene mudzayankhule, 12pakuti Mzimu Woyera nthawi imeneyo adzakuphunzitsani zoyenera kunena.”
Fanizo la Munthu Wachuma Wopusa
13Munthu wina mʼgulu la anthu anati kwa Iye, “Aphunzitsi, muwuzeni mʼbale wanga andigawireko chuma chamasiye.”
14Yesu anayankha kuti, “Munthu iwe, ndani anandiyika Ine kukhala woweruza kapena wogawa chuma pakati panu?” 15Kenaka Iye anawawuza kuti, “Chenjerani! Khalani tcheru ndi makhalidwe onse adyera; moyo wa munthu sukhala chifukwa cha kuchuluka kwa zimene ali nazo.”
16Ndipo Iye anawawuza fanizo ili, “Munda wa munthu wina wachuma unabereka kwambiri. 17Iye anaganiza kuti, ‘Ndichite chiyani? Ndilibe malo osungiramo mbewu zanga.’
18“Ndipo Iye anati, ichi ndi chimene ndidzachite: Ndidzaphwasula nkhokwe zanga zonse ndi kumanga zokulirapo, ndipo ndidzasungira mʼmenemo mbewu ndi katundu. 19Ndipo ndidzawuza moyo wanga kuti, ‘Uli nazo zinthu zabwino zambiri zimene zikhalepo zaka zambiri, usapupulume; idya, imwa ndi kukondwera.’ ”
20“Koma Mulungu anati kwa iye, ‘Iwe wopusa! Usiku womwe uno moyo wako udzachotsedwa kwa iwe, ndipo ndi ndani amene adzatenge zimene iwe wadzikonzera?’
21“Umu ndi mmene zidzakhalire ndi aliyense amene amadziwunjikira chuma, koma si wachuma pamaso pa Mulungu.”
Musadere Nkhawa
22Kenaka Yesu anati kwa ophunzira ake, “Choncho Ine ndikuwuzani kuti musadere nkhawa za moyo wanu, zimene mudzadya; kapena za thupi lanu, zimene mudzavala. 23Moyo uposa chakudya, ndi thupi liposa chovala. 24Taonani makwangwala: iwo safesa kapena kukolola, alibe nyumba zosungamo zinthu kapena nkhokwe; komabe, Mulungu amawadyetsa. Koposa kotani inu amene ndi ofunikira kuposa mbalame. 25Ndi ndani wa inu akhoza kuwonjeza ora pa moyo wake chifukwa cha kudandaula? 26Popeza simungathe kuchita kanthu kakangʼono aka, nʼchifukwa chiyani mumadandaula ndi zinazi?
27“Taonani mmene maluwa amakulira. Iwo sagwira ntchito kapena kusoka zovala. Koma Ine ndikuwuzani kuti, ngakhale Solomoni muulemelero wake wonse sanavalepo ngati limodzi la awa. 28Ngati umu ndi mmene Mulungu amavekera udzu wakuthengo, umene lero ulipo ndipo mawa uponyedwa pa moto, nanga Iye adzakuvekani inu motani. Haa! Inu achikhulupiriro chochepa! 29Ndipo musayike mtima wanu pa zimene mudzadye kapena kumwa; musade nazo nkhawa. 30Pakuti anthu akunja amathamanga kufunafuna zinthu zotere, ndipo Atate amadziwa kuti mumazifuna zimenezi. 31Koma funafunani ufumu wake, ndipo mudzapatsidwa zonsezi.
Chuma cha Kumwamba
32“Musachite mantha, inu kagulu kankhosa, pakuti zinakondweretsa Atate anu kuti akupatseni ufumu. 33Gulitsani zonse zimene muli nazo, ndipo ndalama zake mupereke kwa osauka. Dzipezereni zikwama zandalama zimene sizidzatha, ndi kudzikundikira chuma chomwe sichidzatha kumwamba, kumene mbala sizingafikeko, ndipo dzimbiri silingawononge. 34Popeza kumene kuli chuma chanu, mtima wanunso udzakhala komweko.”
Kukhala a Atcheru
35“Khalani okonzekeratu ndipo nyale zanu ziziyaka, 36ngati anthu oyembekezera kubwera kwa mbuye wawo kuchokera kuphwando la ukwati, kuti pamene afika ndi kugogoda akhoza nthawi yomweyo kumutsekulira chitseko. 37Zidzakhala bwino kwa antchitowo amene mbuye wawo pobwera adzawapeze akudikira. Zoonadi, Ine ndikuwuzani kuti adzakonzekera kuwatumikira, adzakhala nawo pa tebulo ndipo adzabwera ndi kuwatumikira. 38Zidzakhala bwino kwa antchitowo amene mbuye wawo adzawapeze ali okonzeka, ngakhale iye atabwera pa ora lachiwiri kapena lachitatu usiku. 39Koma zindikirani izi: Ngati mwini nyumba akanadziwa ora limene mbala ibwera, sakanalola kuti nyumba yake ithyoledwe. 40Inunso muyenera kukhala okonzeka, chifukwa Mwana wa Munthu adzabwera pa ora limene simukumuyembekezera Iye.”
Wantchito Wokhulupirika ndi Wosakhulupirika
41Petro anafunsa kuti, “Kodi mukunena fanizoli kwa ife, kapena kwa aliyense?”
42Ambuye anayankha kuti, “Kodi tsono woyangʼanira wokhulupirika ndi wanzeru ndani? Kodi ndi amene mbuye wake wamuyika kukhala oyangʼanira antchito ake kuti aziwapatsa ndalama yachakudya pa nthawi yake yoyenera? 43Zidzamukhalira bwino wantchito amene mbuye wake adzamupeza akuchita zimene pamene iye abwera. 44Zoonadi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti adzamuyika kukhala woyangʼanira katundu wake yense. 45Koma tiyerekeze kuti wantchitoyo aziganiza mu mtima mwake kuti, ‘Bwana wanga akuchedwa kwambiri kubwera,’ ndipo kenaka ndi kuyamba kumenya antchito aamuna ndi aakazi ndi kudya, kumwa ndi kuledzera. 46Mbuye wake adzabwera tsiku limene iye sakumuyembekezera ndi ora limene iye sakudziwa. Iye adzamulanga ndi kumusiya kumalo kumene kuli osakhulupirira.
47“Wantchito amene amadziwa chifuniro cha mbuye wake koma wosakonzeka kapena wosachita chimene mbuye wake akufuna adzakwapulidwa zikwapu zambiri. 48Koma wantchito amene sadziwa koma nʼkuchita zinthu zoyenera chilango, adzakwapulidwa zikwapu zochepa. Aliyense amene anapatsidwa zambiri, adzayenera kubwezanso zambiri; ndipo amene anamusungitsa zambiri, adzamulamula kuti abweze zambirinso.”
Za Kugawikana
49“Ine ndabwera kudzayatsa moto pa dziko lapansi, ndipo ndikanakonda ukanayaka kale. 50Koma Ine ndiyenera kubatizidwa, ndipo ndikusautsika mu mtima mpaka utachitika! 51Kodi mukuganiza kuti Ine ndinabwera kudzabweretsa mtendere pa dziko lapansi? Ayi, Ine ndikukuwuzani kuti, ndinabweretsa kugawikana. 52Kuyambira tsopano mpaka mʼtsogolo mʼbanja limodzi mudzakhala anthu asanu ndipo adzawukirana wina ndi mnzake, atatu kuwukira awiri, ndipo awiri kuwukira atatu. 53Anthu adzawukirana. Abambo kudzawukira mwana wawo wamwamuna, mwana wawoyo adzawukira abambo ake. Amayi adzawukira mwana wawo wamkazi, mwana wawoyo adzawukira amayi ake. Amayi adzawukira mpongozi wawo wamkazi, mpongoziyo adzawukira amayiwo.”
Kumasulira Nthawi
54Iye anati kwa gulu la anthu, “Pamene mukuona mtambo ukukwera kummawa, nthawi yomweyo inu mumati, ‘kugwa mvula,’ ndipo imagwadi. 55Ndipo pamene mphepo yakummwera ikuwomba, inu mumati ‘kutentha’ ndipo kumaterodi. 56Achiphamaso inu! Inu mumadziwa kutanthauzira maonekedwe a dziko lapansi ndi thambo. Zikutheka bwanji kuti simukudziwa kumasulira kwa nthawi ino?
57“Bwanji simukuzindikira nokha zoyenera kuchita? 58Pamene mukupita kwa woweruza ndi amene munalakwirana naye, yesetsani kwambiri kuti muyanjane naye mʼnjiramo, chifukwa mukapanda kutero akhoza kukutengerani ku bwalo la milandu ndipo woweruzayo adzakuperekani kwa woyangʼanira ndende, ndipo woyangʼanira ndendeyo adzakuponyani mʼndende. 59Ine ndikuwuzani kuti, simudzatulukamo mpaka mutalipira ndalama zonse.”
