Beware of Hypocrisy^(A)

12 In ^(B)the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, ^(C)“Beware of the ^[a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ^2 (D)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. ³ Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God^(E)

^4 (F)“And I say to you, ^(G)My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, ^(H)fear Him!

⁶ “Are not five sparrows sold for two ^[b]copper coins? And ^(I)not one of them is forgotten before God. ⁷ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men^(J)

^8 (K)“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me ^(L)before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. ⁹ But he who ^(M)denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

¹⁰ “And ^(N)anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

^11 (O)“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. ¹² For the Holy Spirit will ^(P)teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God^(A)

²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, ^(B)speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ^28 (C)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather ^(D)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[a]hell. ²⁹ Are not two ^(E)sparrows sold for a ^[b]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ^30 (F)But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men^(G)

^32 (H)“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, ^(I)him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ^33 (J)But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Christ Brings Division^(K)

^34 (L)“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ^(M)‘set^[c] a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ^(N)‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ^37 (O)He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ^38 (P)And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ^39 (Q)He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.