The Daily Audio Bible

⁸ “Let me tell you: if anyone acknowledges me before others, the son of man will acknowledge that person before God’s angels. ⁹ But if anyone denies me before others, that person will be denied before God’s angels.

¹⁰ “Everyone who speaks a word against the son of man will have it forgiven; but the one who blasphemes against the holy spirit will not be forgiven.

¹¹ “When they bring you before synagogues, rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to give an answer or what to say. ¹² The holy spirit will teach you what to say at that very moment.”

The parable of the rich fool

¹³ Someone from the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!”

¹⁴ “Tell me, my good man,” replied Jesus, “who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?

¹⁵ “Watch out,” he said to them, “and beware of all greed! Your life doesn’t consist of the sum total of your possessions.”

¹⁶ He told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a fine harvest. ¹⁷ ‘What shall I do?’ he said to himself. ‘I don’t have enough room to store my crops!

¹⁸ “ ‘I know!’ he said. ‘I’ll pull down my barns—and I’ll build bigger ones! Then I’ll be able to store all the corn and all my belongings there. ¹⁹ And I shall say to my soul, Soul, you’ve got many good things stored up for many years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, have a good time!’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you! Now who’s going to have all the things you’ve got ready?’ ²¹ That’s how it is with someone who stores up things for himself and isn’t rich before God.

²² “So let me tell you this,” he said to the disciples. “Don’t be anxious about your life—what you should eat; or about your body—what you should wear. ²³ Life is more than food! The body is more than clothing! ²⁴ Think about the ravens: they don’t sow seed, they don’t gather harvests, they don’t have storehouses or barns; and God feeds them. How much more will he feed you! Think of the difference between yourselves and the birds!

²⁵ “Which of you by being anxious can add a day to your lifetime? ²⁶ So if you can’t even do a little thing like that, why worry about anything else? ²⁷ Think about the lilies and the way they grow. They don’t work hard, they don’t weave cloth; but, let me tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed up like one of them. ²⁸ So if that’s how God clothes the grass in the field—here today, into the fire tomorrow—how much more will he clothe you, you little-faith lot!

²⁹ “So don’t you go hunting about for what to eat or what to drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ The nations of the world go searching for all that stuff, and your father knows you need it. ³¹ This is what you should search for: God’s kingdom! Then all the rest will be given you as well. ³² Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your father is delighted to give you the kingdom.

³³ “Sell your possessions and give alms. Make yourselves purses that don’t wear out, a treasure in heaven that lasts forever, where the thief doesn’t come near and the moth doesn’t destroy. ³⁴ Yes: where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be too.”