Luke 12
Jesus Gives Words of Warning and Hope
1 During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another.
Jesus spoke first to his disciples. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees," he said. "They just pretend to be godly.2 Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered.3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.
4 "My friends, listen to me. Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't do any more than that.5 I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the One who can kill the body and also has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him.
6 "Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them.7 In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
8 "What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say that he knows that person in front of God's angels.9 But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn't know me? I, the Son of Man, will say that I don't know him in front of God's angels.
10 "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 "You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say.12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
The Story of the Rich Man
13 Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "tell my brother to divide the family property with me."
14 Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?"
15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has."
16 Then Jesus told them a story. He said, "A certain rich man's land produced a good crop.17 He thought to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have any place to store my crops.'
18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my storerooms and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and my other things in them.19 I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time." '
20 "But God said to him, 'You foolish man! This very night I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21 "That is how it will be for anyone who stores things away for himself but is not rich in God's eyes."
Do Not Worry
22 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, "I tell you, do not worry. Don't worry about your life and what you will eat. And don't worry about your body and what you will wear.23 There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes.
24 "Think about the ravens. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!
25 "Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?26 You can't do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?
27 "Think about how the lilies grow. They don't work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers.28 If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small!
29 "Don't spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don't worry about it.30 People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father knows that you need them.
31 "But put God's kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.
32 "Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.33 Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Put away riches in heaven that will not be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.34 Your heart will be where your riches are.
Be Ready
35 "Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning.36 Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
37 "It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready when he comes. What I'm about to tell you is true. The master will then dress himself so he can serve them. He will have them take their places at the table. And he will come and wait on them.38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes very late at night.
39 "But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into.40 You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don't expect him."
41 Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?"
42 The Lord answered, "Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of his other servants. The servant's job is to give them the food they are to receive at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise manager for this.43 It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns.44 What I'm about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns.
45 "But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time to come back.' Suppose he begins to beat the other servants. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk.46 The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn't expect him. He will return at an hour the servant doesn't know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send him to the place where unbelievers go.
47 "Suppose a servant knows his master's wishes. But he doesn't get ready. And he doesn't do what his master wants. That servant will be beaten with many blows.
48 "But suppose the servant does not know his master's wishes. And suppose he does things for which he should be punished. He will be beaten with only a few blows.
"Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much.
Jesus Will Separate People From One Another
49 "I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish the fire had already started!50 But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I will be very troubled until it is completed.
51 "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people.52 From now on there will be five members in a family, each one against the other. There will be three against two and two against three.53 They will be separated. Father will turn against son and son against father. Mother will turn against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law will turn against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Understanding What Is Happening
54 Jesus spoke to the crowd. He said, "You see a cloud rising in the west. Right away you say, 'It's going to rain.' And it does.55 The south wind blows. So you say, 'It's going to be hot.' And it is.56 You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can't you understand the meaning of what is happening right now?
57 "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?58 Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don't, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison.59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!"
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.