Luke 12

Jesus Speaks to His Disciples

1 Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I’m talking about their hypocrisy.2 Nothing has been covered that will not be exposed. Whatever is secret will be made known.

3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. Whatever you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops.
4 “My friends, I can guarantee that you don’t need to be afraid of those who kill the body. After that they can’t do anything more.

5 I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you. I’m warning you to be afraid of him.
6 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two cents? God doesn’t forget any of them.7 Even every hair on your head has been counted. Don’t be afraid! You are worth more than many sparrows.8 I can guarantee that the Son of Man will acknowledge in front of God’s angels every person who acknowledges him in front of others.9 But God’s angels will be told that I don’t know those people who tell others that they don’t know me.

10 Everyone who says something against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But the person who dishonors the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are put on trial in synagogues or in front of rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.

12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

A Story About Material Possessions

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”14 Jesus said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide your inheritance?”15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”16 Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops.17 He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’18 He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them.

19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’

21 That’s how it is when a person treasures material possessions and his riches don’t serve God.”

Stop Worrying—Matthew 6:25–34

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear.23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

24 Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.
25 “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying?26 If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things?27 Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers.

28 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
29 “Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things.30 Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them.31 Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you.

32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure.

34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.

The Son of Man Will Return When You Least Expect Him

35 “Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning.36 Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master’s knock when he returns from a wedding.37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the table, and serve them.

38 They will be blessed if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning and finds them awake.
39 “Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house.

40 Be ready, because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, did you use this illustration just for us or for everyone?”42 The Lord asked, “Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time?43 That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes.44 I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.45 On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk.

46 His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.
47 “The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t get ready to do it will receive a hard beating.

48 But the servant who didn’t know what his master wanted and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.

Jesus Will Cause Conflict

49 “I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started!

50 I have a baptism to go through, and I will suffer until it is over.
51 “Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division.52 From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three.

53 A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Use Good Judgment

54 Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, ‘There’s going to be a rainstorm,’ and it happens.55 When you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and that’s what happens.56 You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don’t know how to judge the time in which you’re living.57 So why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?58 For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison.

59 I can guarantee that you won’t get out until you pay every penny of your fine.”

Luke 12

1 In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.3 Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5 But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.8 And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:9 but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.10 And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.11 And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:12 for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.13 And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.14 But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:17 and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.20 But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.24 Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!25 And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?26 If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.28 But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more shall he clothe you, O ye of little faith?29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.31 Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.33 Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;36 and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him.37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so blessed are those servants.39 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 left his house to be broken through.40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.45 But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;46 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.47 And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;48 but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.49 I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!51 Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:52 for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.53 They shall 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 And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.55 And when ye see a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.56 Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?57 And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?58 For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison.59 I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the very last mite.