JMNT(i)
1 Under these circumstances, [with] a crowd of tens of thousands (myriads) being gathered together upon [the event] – so as to be time after time trampling (or: stepping down on) one another – He began a discourse to His disciples first: "Be constantly holding your attention toward, and continuously guarding yourselves from, the yeast permeating the Pharisees, which is to put texts under close inspection, to sift and separate, and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion (or: to live by separating things yet, under-discern; or: being overly critical and making judgments from a low view; or: perverse scholarship which focuses on tiny distinctions). [comment: their yeast would inflate them with pride]
2 "Now there is nothing [which] continues having been completely concealed (or: veiled and covered together) which will not be progressively unveiled (uncovered; revealed; disclosed), and [nothing] hidden which will not continue being intimately and experientially made known.
3 "Instead, whatever (or: as many things as) you folks said (or: say) within the darkness (or: in union with darkness) will proceed being listened to and heard in the midst of and in union with the Light – and that which you speak (or: spoke) to the ear within the private rooms (or: inner chambers) will continue being heralded in public proclamation upon housetops (or: roofs).
4 "So I am now saying to you, My friends, Do not (or: You should not) be afraid of (or: caused to fear from) the people presently (or: in the process of) killing off the body, and yet after these things are not having (holding; possessing) anything more excessive to do.
5 "Now I will continue expressly pointing out to (indicating and even underlining for) you people [him] of whom you folks should be made fearful: Be made to fear (be wary of; have respect for) the person [who], after the killing off, continues possessing (having and holding) the right (or: authority) to throw you into the Valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna; = the City Dump outside of Jerusalem; [= to dishonor you by giving no burial; to treat you as a criminal]). Yes, I continue saying to you folks, Be afraid of this one (or: Have serious respect for this person).
6 "Are not five sparrows normally being sold for two of the smallest copper coins (an assarion; 1/16th of a denarius)? And yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight or presence.
7 "But in comparison, even the hairs of your head have all been numbered (or: given a number, and thus, counted)! So then, stop fearing (or: do not continue being caused to fear or be wary)! You folks constantly carry through to be of [more] consequence and value [than] many sparrows.
8 "Now I am saying to you folks that everyone who will ever publicly confess (acknowledge; avow; speak the same thing of) union with Me – in front of people (or: humanity), the Son of the Man (the Human Being; the Son of mankind; = Adam's Son) will also proceed publicly confessing (acknowledging; avowing; speaking the same thing of) union with him – in front of God's agents (messengers)!
9 "But the person denying (disowning; renouncing) Me in the sight and presence of people (or: humanity) will continue being fully denied (disowned so as to be written off; fully renounced) in the sight and presence of God's agents and messengers (folks with the message).
10 "And furthermore, everyone who utters a word (declares a thought; speaks a message) [aimed] into the midst of the Son of the Man (the Son of the Human Being; = Adam's Son; or: = a human), it will be forgiven and sent away for him (or: let go away from him). Yet for the one speaking abusively (or: slandering; speaking injuriously; blaspheming) into the Set-apart Breath-effect (the Holy Spirit; Sacred Breath or Attitude), it will not be forgiven or sent away.
11 "Now whenever they may bring you folks into the midst, upon [some charge before] the synagogues (or: public assemblies), or [haul you up before] the government officials (rulers) and the authorities, you should not be anxious or overly concerned about how or what you should speak in your defense, nor what you should say.
12 "You see, the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; Sacred Breath and Attitude) will continue teaching you within that very hour what things it is necessary to say."
13 Then someone out of the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance (or: the concerns and possessions acquired by lot) into parts with me."
14 But He said to him, "Man (perhaps: = Mister; Friend), who appointed and set Me down [to be] a judge (or: decider) or a divider (or: arbiter) upon you folks?"
15 So He said toward them, "Be continuously seeing [the situation] and constantly watching over so as to guard yourselves from all greed and desire to have more, because for anyone, his life does not exist in the superabundance of the goods and possessions undergirding and being a subsistence for (or: to) him."
16 And so He told an illustrative story (a parable) to them, saying, "The farming space (or: cultivated tracts of fields; the region) belonging to a certain rich person produced well.
17 "Consequently he reasoned and debated within himself, presently saying, 'What should (or: shall) I do, [seeing] that I am not presently having [a place, or, room] where I will continue gathering (or: collecting and storing) my fruits (= crops)?'
18 "And so he said, 'I will proceed doing this: I will progressively pull (or: tear) down my barns (storehouses; granaries) and I will progressively build bigger ones. After that I will continue gathering and storing there all my grain and goods.
19 "'Then I will proceed saying to my soul (interior self and life), Soul, you are now possessing (having and holding) many goods (or: good things) [that] continue lying [in storage] on unto (or: into; = for) many years. Continue resting and taking it easy: eat, drink, continue easy-minded and keep on being merry.'
20 "But God said to him, 'O senseless (foolish; imprudent) man, on this night they are presently requesting (or: demanding) your soul (interior self; person; or: = life) from you. So whose will the things which prepare and make ready continue being?'
21 "This is how it is (or: So it goes) [with; for] the person constantly laying up treasure (amassing and hording goods) for (or: to; in) himself, while not becoming progressively rich with regard to God (or: in [proceeding] into God)."
22 Then He said to His disciples, "On account of this I am now saying to you folks, Quit (or: Do not continue) being anxious and overly concerned for the [other MSS: your] soul (the inner life and its concerns; or: your person) – what you should eat! Nor for your body – what you should put on (or: with what you can clothe yourselves)!
23 "You see, the soul (the inner being and its life; [your] person) is more than nourishment – and the body [more] than what is put on (clothing).
24 "Focus your mind down on and consider the ravens (or: rooks; jackdaws) – that they are not sowing seeds, nor are they reaping [the grain], [and for] which critters there is no storeroom nor yet a barn – and yet God constantly provides food to nourish them, and provision to maintain them. To what an extent and in how many ways are you folks rather constantly carrying through to be of [more] consequence and value [than] the birds (or: the flying creatures)?
25 "Now who of you, by being anxious and worrying, is able (or: has power) to add a cubit (about eighteen inches) upon the span of his life (or: to his size or stature)?
26 "Since (or: If), then, you folks continue being not even able (or: having power) [for the] least thing, why continue anxious and overly concerned about the rest (the remaining things)?
27 "Focus your mind down on and consider the lilies – how it progressively (or: repeatedly) grows and increases? It is not constantly working hard (toiling; spent with labor), neither is it continuously spinning thread [for cloth]. Yet I am now saying to you folks, not even Solomon – in the midst of all his glory (splendor; manifestations which called forth praise) – was arrayed (or: cast clothing around himself) as one of these!
28 "So if God continues thus clothing the vegetation – being in a field today, and proceeding in being cast into an oven (or: furnace) the next day (or: tomorrow) – how much rather [will He continue clothing and adorning, and thus, taking care of] you folks: people having little faith and small trust!
29 "And thus, as for you folks, stop constantly seeking what you can (or: should) eat, and what you can (or: should) drink – and stop being repeatedly unsettled and in suspense.
30 "You see, all the ethnic multitudes (the nations; the non-Jews; = the pagans) of the ordered system (world of governments, cultures and religions; secular society) are habitually searching for and seeking out all these things – yet your Father has seen, and thus knows, that you folks constantly need these things.
31 "However, and more so, be continuously seeking His [other MSS: God's] reign (rule; kingship; sovereignty; kingdom; sovereign influence and activities), and all these things will continue being set toward, and then added to, you people.
32 "Stop fearing (or: Do not continue being wary), little flock, because it delights the Father (or: because the Father thought it good, and thus, approved) to give the rule (reign; kingship; kingdom; sovereign influence and activities) to you folks.
33 "You folks at once sell your possessions (the things constantly providing subsistence for you), and then at once give a gift of mercy (or: a charitable donation; alms) – [and thus] at once make money pouches [that are] not progressively becoming old and worn out: an unfailing and inexhaustible treasury (or: storehouse for treasure or things of value) within the midst of the heavens (or: atmospheres), where a thief does not come near nor is a moth constantly eating (consuming and thoroughly ruining).
34 "For you see, where your treasury is (exists), there also will continue being your heart.
35 "Let your loins (from the waist to the genitals) constantly exist being bound around and fastened (or: girded about; = be dressed and ready for work or prepared for battle) and your lamps continuously burning,
36 "and you, yourselves, [be] like people habitually focused toward anticipating, welcoming and receiving their own master (lord; owner) – whenever he can loosen up [his involvement] and break away to return from the midst of the marriage banquet – so that, upon coming and knocking, they might immediately open up to (or: for) him.
37 "Those slaves [are] happy and fortunate whom the master (lord; owner) – upon coming – will proceed to find being continuously awake, alert and watchful. Truly (or: Amen; It is so; Count on it)! I say to you folks that he will proceed to gird himself about (as with an apron) and will continue in causing them to recline [at a meal]. Then, coming alongside, he will give attending service to them! (or, as a question: In truth, I am now asking you: Will he proceed to tie an apron around himself then have them lie back for dinner and then serve them?)
38 "And should he arrive in the second watch (= just before midnight) – or even during the third (= past midnight or in the early hours of the morning) – and might find [them, or, the situation] thus, happy and fortunate are those slaves!
39 "Now you normally know this by personal experience (or, as an imperative: But be coming to experientially know this), that if the householder had seen, or by foresight had perceived so as to be aware, at what hour the thief is proceeding in coming, he would stay awake and be watchful – and thus not allow his house [wall] to be dug through (= let his house be broken into).
40 "And so you folks, yourselves, therefore progressively come to be ready and prepared – because in an hour in which you folks are not normally supposing (or: in the habit of assuming or imagining), the Son of Mankind (or: the Son of the Human Being; = Adam's Son; = the anticipated eschatological messianic figure) is then coming (or: normally comes)."
41 So Peter said, "Lord (Master), are you presently saying this illustration (parable) [aimed] toward us, or also, toward all?"
42 Then the Lord said, "Who, consequently (or: really), is the faithful (trustworthy; reliable) house manager (steward; administrator who also enforces the laws of the house) – the thoughtful (sensible; considerate; prudent; discreet) one – whom the lord (master; owner) will proceed to appoint and place down upon and over his household staff (the group in charge of care, attending treatment and curing) to keep on (or: to repeatedly be) giving [to them their] measure of grain (= food allowance) when it is due, and in the fitting situation?
43 "That slave [is] happy and fortunate whom his lord (master; owner), upon coming, will continue to be finding habitually operating in this way (or: constantly doing thus).
44 "I am now saying to you folks that truly (or: certainly) he will proceed in appointing and placing him down upon and over all his possessions and those things which sustain him.
45 "Yet, if that slave should ever say within his heart, 'My lord (master; owner) continues taking a long time and delays [his] coming,' and then should begin both to habitually beat the boys and the maids (= the male and female servants) and to be constantly eating and drinking – even to be repeatedly getting drunk,
46 "the owner (lord; master) of that slave will proceed in arriving on a day in which he continues not anticipating or suspecting [it], and in an hour in which he continues having no personal knowledge [of it]. Then he will proceed to cut him in two (figurative: = severely punish him; perhaps: = sever him from his position after lashing him with a whip) and next will proceed putting his part (or: setting his position) with the unfaithful and unreliable [slaves].
47 "Now that slave who by experience is knowing and personally understanding his owner's (his lord's; his master's) will and intent – and yet is not preparing (or: making ready) or performing with an aim toward his [owner's] will or intent – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] many lashes.
48 "But the person not knowing or understanding – yet doing [things] deserving of blows (or: a beating) – will proceed in being flayed (severely whipped) [with] few lashes. So to everyone to whom much was given, much will continue being sought for from him (at his side or situation); and to whom they set much alongside (or: committed to and put in charge of much), of him they will continue more excessively requesting and demanding.
49 "I came to throw Fire upon the earth (or: I come to cast a fire upon the Land) – and what am I now wishing?, since it is already ignited (or: and what do I intend, if it is already kindled?).
50 "Now I continue having an immersion (or: a baptism) [in which] to be immersed and saturated (plunged and baptized) – and how am I continuing being held together, until it can be brought to its purposed goal and destiny? (or: and how [greatly] I am being pressed together {or: constrained; sustained; held in custody; gripped} till it should be finished and accomplished!)
51 "Do you folks continue supposing (assuming; imagining) that I came along (or: was birthed to be present) to give peace [= shalom] within the Land (or: on the earth)? No, I am saying to you, to the contrary, complete division (or: a thorough dividing).
52 "You see, from now on, within one house there will proceed in being five people that are existing having been completely divided: three on (= against, or, from) two, and two on (= against, or, from) three.
53 "A father will continue being thoroughly divided on (= from; or: about; against; or: on [decisions, issues or perspectives in regard to]) a son, and ‘a son on a father;’ a mother on a daughter, and ‘a daughter on a mother;’ a mother-in-law on her daughter-in-law, and ‘a daughter-in-law on the mother-in-law.’" [Micah 4:6]
54 And now He went on saying to the crowds, also, "Whenever you people may (or: should) see a cloud progressively arising upon [other MSS: from] the west (or: on the western regions), you are immediately saying that a rainstorm is progressively (or: presently) coming – and thus it comes to be (or: it happens).
55 "And whenever a south [wind] continues blowing you are normally saying that there will proceed being heat (or: a heat wave) – and it comes to be (or: it happens).
56 "O you the overly judging and critical folks (hupokrites; or: those who put texts under close inspection to sift and separate and then give an answer, an interpretation, an opinion; or: those who live by separating things yet who under-discern; or: those who make judgments from a low view; or: those who under-estimate reality; or: perverse scholars who focus on tiny distinctions)! You have seen and come to know [how] to constantly examine and discern, and then to assess and interpret the face (or: outward appearance) of the land and the sky (or: the earth and the heaven), yet you have not seen, and thus do not know, how to examine, discern and interpret this present situation and season (or: fertile moment)!
57 "So why are you people not also habitually discerning and deciding for yourselves [what is] right (just; the fair and equitable course to follow which accords with the Way pointed out)?
58 "For example: as you proceed with your opponent in a suit at law (perhaps: = a creditor) to bring [a situation] under control before a magistrate (or: civil ruler), while on the way (or: road), make an effort (take action; get to work; endeavor) to have come to a settlement so as to have the situation or conditions completely changed and to be delivered from him (or: be rid of him and the dispute for good), otherwise he can continue to drag you down to the judge, and then the judge will proceed giving you over to the court officer (bailiff; constable; sheriff), and finally the court officer will proceed throwing you into jail (or: prison)!
59 "I tell you, you can (or: may) not come out from that place until you should pay back in full even the last fraction of a cent (small brass coin; mite)!"