1. Before they ate, a Pharisee noticed that Jesus did not take part in their ceremonial washing before sitting at the table, and he was shocked by it.
2. But Jesus said, "See how you Pharisees carefully wash the outside of the cup, but you leave the inside full of robbery and wickedness.
3. "You foolish people: Did not the one who made the outside make the inside as well?
4. "Rather you should clean the inside of the cup and alms from that which is within. Then all things will be clean for you.
5. "But woe to you religious leaders; for you offer to God a tenth of your wealth, and then neglect the very justice and love of God. You would do better to use the former for the latter.
6. "Woe to you religious leaders, for you love to sit in the chief seats of the Church and be recognized with honor in the marketplace.
7. "So I tell you that when you fast, you bring sin upon yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give to charity, you will damage your soul.
8. "Woe to you religious leaders for you are like unmarked graves which people walk over unaware. You are like whitewashed tombs: clean on the outside but full of death."
9. Then one of the religious leaders stood and said, "When You say these things, You insult all of us!"
10. But Jesus replied, "You insult yourselves; for you weigh men down with heavy burdens, while you would never touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
11. "Woe to you, for you build tombs for the righteous heroes and prophets and then honor them after killing them.
12. "For this reason the wisdom of God has said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and they will persecute and kill them, and then shall it be that all the blood of the prophets and apostles shall be charged against this generation.'
13. "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, for you are like dogs sleeping in the cattle manger: The dogs do not eat, neither do they let the cattle eat.
14. "You have taken away the keys of knowledge. You do not enter the kingdom of God, nor do you allow those who want to enter to do so."
15. When Jesus left there, the religious leaders became very hostile towards Him, and whenever they questioned Him, they questioned Him closely, plotting to trap Him in His own words.
16. Later a crowd formed around Jesus and His disciples in order to hear His teachings. From the crowd someone said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."
17. But Jesus said, "Who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And He turned to His disciples and asked, "I am not a divider of property, am I?"
18. Then He taught saying, "Be on your guard against every form of greed, for even when one has abundance, their life does not consist of their possessions."
19. And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man yielded a great harvest, and he began to reason with himself saying, 'What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store all my crops?'
20. "Then he said, 'I know what I will do. I will tear down my old barns and build new larger barns and I will store up all my harvest and my wealth. Then I can say to myself, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease from here on out; eat, drink and be merry.'
21. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'
22. "And so it is with the people who store up treasures from themselves rather than treasures from God.
23. "Sell your possessions and give the money out of compassion to others, and make money belts that do not wear out.
24. Make for yourself an unfailing treasure in heaven where no thief steals it away and no decay destroys it.
25. For wherever your treasure is, there too is your heart.
26. "Do not be afraid My chosen ones, for the Father gladly gives you His kingdom.
27. "Therefore, let the one who has become wealthy reign, and the one who has power renounce it."
28. Now, there were some present who reported to Jesus about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
29. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all others and this is why they suffered their fate?
30. "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
31. "Or do you suppose that the eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell were worse sinners than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem?
32. "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise die."
33. And then He told a parable, "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any.
34. "So, he said to the gardener of the vineyard, 'Behold, three years I have come looking for fruit on this tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the soil?
35. "But the gardener answered him saying, 'Let it alone this year as well, and I will dig around it and put in fertilizer; if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not we shall cut it down.'"
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