Luke 12
1 In the meantime so many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each another. Jesus began speaking first to his disciples. “Beware the yeast of the Pharisees—hypocrisy.
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there's nothing hidden that won't be revealed, nothing secret that won't be made known.
But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known.
3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and whatever you whispered in private will be announced from the rooftops.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, for once they've done that there's no more they can do.
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 Let me make it clear whom you should be afraid of. You should be afraid of the one who after he has killed has the power to dispose of them in Gehenna. That's the one you should be afraid of. (Geenna g1067)
But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. (Geenna g1067)
6 Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God doesn't forget a single one of them.
"Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.
7 Even the hairs on your head have been counted. Don't be afraid—you're worth more than many sparrows!
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
8 I tell you the truth, those who declare they belong to me, the Son of man will also declare they belong to him before God's angels,
"I tell you, everyone who confesses me before people, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God;
9 but those who deny me will be denied before God's angels.
but the one who denies me in the presence of people will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
10 Everyone who speaks against the Son of man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 When you're brought to trial before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry about how to defend yourself, or what you should say.
When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what's important to say.”
for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."
13 Someone in the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, please tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
And someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 “My friend,” Jesus replied, “Who appointed me as your judge to decide how your inheritance should be divided?” He told the people,
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
15 “Watch out, and beware of all greedy thoughts and actions, for a person's life isn't summed up by all the things they own.”
He said to them, "Beware. Keep yourselves from all covetousness, for a man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."
16 Then he told them a story as an illustration. “Once there was a rich man who owned land that was very productive.
He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
17 The man said to himself, ‘What shall I do? I've nowhere to store my crops.
He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I do not have room to store my crops?'
18 I know what I'll do,’ he decided. ‘I'll pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and then I'll be able to store all my crops and everything I own.
He said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 Then I'll tell myself: You have enough to live on for many years, so take life easy: eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’
I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."'
20 But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Your life will be demanded back this very night, and then who will get everything you've stored up?’
"But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?'
21 This is what happens to people who hoard up wealth for themselves but are not rich as far as God is concerned.”
So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
22 Jesus told his disciples, “That's why I tell you don't worry about life, about what to eat, or about what clothes you should wear.
He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
23 Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing clothes.
Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Look at the ravens. They don't sow or reap, they don't have any storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you're far more valuable than birds!
Consider the ravens: they do not sow, they do not reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds.
25 Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it?
Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?
26 If you can't do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest?
If then you are not able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?
27 Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don't work, and they don't spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
Consider the lilies, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 So if God clothes the fields with such beautiful flowers, which are here today but gone tomorrow when they are burned in a fire to heat an oven, how much more will God clothe you, you who have so little trust!
But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 Don't be concerned about what you're going to eat or drink—don't worry about it.
Do not seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
30 These are all things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them.
For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
31 Search for God's kingdom, and you'll be given these things as well.
But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor. Get yourselves purses that don't wear out: treasure in heaven that will never run out, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
34 For what you value the most shows who you really are.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit,
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
36 like servants waiting for their master when he returns from his wedding feast, prepared to open the door quickly for him when he comes and knocks.
Be like people watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
37 How good it will be for those servants that the master finds watching when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed, have them sit down for a meal, and will come and serve them himself!
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
38 Even if he comes at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and ready!
And if he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are they.
39 But remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into.
40 You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don't expect him.”
Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you do not expect him."
41 “Is this story you're telling just for us, or for everyone?” Peter asked.
And Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42 The Lord replied, “Who then is the trustworthy and wise manager, the one person in the household that the master puts in charge to share out their food at the right time?
The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right time?
43 It will be good for that servant when his master returns and finds him doing what he should.
Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes.
44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of everything.
Truly I tell you, that he will set him over all that he has.
45 But what if the servant were to say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and then starts beating the other servants, both men and women, feasting and getting drunk?
But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunk,
46 That servant's master will return unexpectedly one day at a time he wasn't aware of, and will punish him severely, treating him as totally untrustworthy.
then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not expecting him, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.
47 That servant who knew what his master wanted and yet didn't get ready or follow his instructions, will be beaten severely;
That servant, who knew his lord's will, and did not prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
48 but the servant who didn't know and did things deserving punishment will be beaten only lightly. From those who are given much, much will be required, and from those who are entrusted with more, more will be demanded.
but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
49 I have come to set the earth on fire, and I really wish it was already burning!
"I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.
50 But I have a baptism to go through, and I'm in agony, wishing it was over!
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.
51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, I bring division.
Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
52 From now on, if there are five in a family, they will be divided against each other: three against two, and two against three.
For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided against each other—father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
They will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
54 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds. “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘a rain-shower's coming,’ and it happens.
He said to the crowds also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.
55 When a south wind blows, you say ‘it's going to be hot,’ and it is.
When a south wind blows, you say, 'There will be a scorching heat,' and it happens.
56 You hypocrites, how is it that you know how to rightly interpret the weather but you don't know how to interpret the present time?
Hypocrites. You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not know how to interpret this time?
57 Why don't you think for yourselves and judge what's the right thing to do?
Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 As you go with your accuser to the magistrate, on the way you should be working on a settlement. Otherwise you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I tell you, you won't get out until you've paid the last penny.”
I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny."
