LUKAS 12

'n Waarskuwing teen huigelary

(Matt. 16:6; 10:26-27; Mark. 8:15)

1 Die mense het intussen by die duisende saamgedrom en mekaar vertrap. Toe het Jesus begin praat en Hom in die eerste plek tot sy dissipels gerig: “Pas op vir die suurdeeg van die Fariseërs, dit is hulle huigelary. 2 Daar is niks bedek wat nie onthul sal word nie, en niks geheim wat nie bekend sal word nie. 3 Daarom, alles wat julle in die donker gesê het, sal in die daglig gehoor word; en wat julle agter geslote deure vir iemand in die oor gefluister het, sal van die dakke af uitgebasuin word.”

Wie gevrees moet word

(Matt. 10:28-31)

4 “Aan julle, my vriende, sê Ek: Moenie bang wees vir dié wat die liggaam doodmaak en daarna niks verder kan doen nie. 5 Ek sal vir julle sê vir wie julle bang moet wees: vir Hom wat mag het om, ná die dood, in die hel te werp. Ja, Ek sê vir julle, Hóm moet julle vrees.

6 “Word vyf mossies nie vir twee sent verkoop nie? Tog word nie een van hulle deur God vergeet nie. 7 Selfs die hare op julle kop is almal getel. Moenie bang wees nie. Julle is meer werd as baie mossies.”

Aansporing om Christus te bely

(Matt. 10:32-33; 12:32; 10:19-20)

8 “Ek sê vir julle: Elkeen wat hom voor die mense openlik vir My uitspreek, vir hom sal die Seun van die mens Hom ook openlik uitspreek voor die engele van God. 9 Maar hy wat My voor die mense verloën, sal voor die engele van God verloën word.

10 “Elkeen wat teen die Seun van die mens iets sê, kan vergewe word; maar hy wat teen die Heilige Gees laster, kan nie vergewe word nie.

11 “Wanneer hulle julle voor sinagoges en owerhede en gesagvoerders bring, moet julle julle nie bekommer oor hoe of waarmee julle julle gaan verdedig of wat julle gaan sê nie, 12 want die Heilige Gees sal julle op daardie oomblik leer wat gesê moet word.”

Die gelykenis van die ryk dwaas

13 Iemand uit die menigte sê toe vir Jesus: “Meneer, sê vir my broer hy moet die erfenis met my deel.”

14 Maar Hy antwoord hom: “Man, wie het My as regter of deler vir julle aangestel?”

15 Toe sê Hy vir hulle: “Pas op en wees op julle hoede vir elke vorm van gierigheid, want 'n mens se lewe is nie afhanklik van die oorvloed van sy besittings nie.”

16 Toe vertel Hy hulle 'n gelykenis: “'n Ryk man se grond het goed gedra. 17 Hy het toe by homself gedink: wat moet ek doen? Ek het nie plek waar ek my oes kan opgaar nie. 18 Toe besluit hy: dit sal ek doen: Ek sal my skure afbreek en groter bou. Daarin sal ek al my graan en my ander goed opgaar. 19 Dan sal ek vir myself sê: ‘Mens, jy het baie goed wat weggesit is vir baie jare. Hou op met werk: eet, drink en leef lekker.’ 20 Maar God het vir hom gesê: ‘Jou dwaas. Vannag nog sal jou lewe van jou opgeëis word, en wie kry dan alles wat jy bymekaargemaak het?’ 21 So gaan dit met hom wat vir homself skatte vergader en nie ryk is by God nie.”

Die sorge van die lewe

(Matt. 6:25-34; 6:19-21)

22 Verder het Jesus vir sy dissipels gesê: “Daarom sê Ek vir julle: Moet julle nie bekommer oor julle lewe, oor wat julle moet eet nie, of oor julle liggaam, oor wat julle moet aantrek nie. 23 Die lewe is tog belangriker as kos en die liggaam as klere. 24 Kyk na die kraaie: hulle saai nie en oes nie; hulle het geen spens of skuur nie, maar God sorg vir hulle. Julle is tog baie meer werd as voëls. 25 Trouens, wie van julle kan deur hom te bekommer sy lewe met een uur verleng? 26 As julle nie eens so 'n klein dingetjie kan regkry nie, waarom bekommer julle julle oor die ander dinge?

27 “Kyk hoe groei die lelies: hulle swoeg nie en hulle maak nie klere nie, maar Ek sê vir julle: Selfs Salomo in al sy prag was nie geklee soos een van hulle nie. 28 As God die gras van die veld, wat vandag nog daar is en môre in die vuur gegooi word, só mooi maak, hoeveel te meer sal Hy julle versorg, julle kleingelowiges! 29 Julle moet julle ook nie gedurig afvra wat julle gaan eet of drink nie, en julle moenie besorg wees nie. 30 Dit is alles dinge waaroor die ongelowiges in die wêreld begaan is, maar julle het 'n Vader wat weet dat julle dit nodig het. 31 Beywer julle vir sy koninkryk, dan sal Hy julle ook hierdie dinge gee.

32 “Moenie bang wees nie, klein kuddetjie, want dit was die wil van julle Vader om die koninkryk aan julle te gee.

33 “Verkoop julle besittings en gee bydraes vir die armes. Skaf vir julle 'n beurs aan wat nie leeg raak nie, 'n onuitputlike rykdom in die hemel, waar geen dief dit kan bykom en geen mot dit kan verniel nie. 34 Waar julle skat is, daar sal julle hart ook wees.”

Die gelykenis van die waaksame slaaf

(Matt. 24:45-51; vgl. Mark. 13:33-37)

35 “Wees gereed, die heupe omgord en die lampe aan die brand! 36 Julle moet wees soos mense wat vir hulle eienaar wag tot hy van die bruilof af terugkom, sodat hulle dadelik vir hom kan oopmaak as hy kom en aanklop. 37 Gelukkig is die slawe vir wie die eienaar by sy koms wakker sal aantref. Dit verseker Ek julle: Hy sal hulle aan tafel laat sit, self 'n voorskoot aansit en hulle kom bedien. 38 Gelukkig is die slawe wat hy wakker aantref, selfs al sou hy eers om middernag of met hanekraai kom. 39 Maar dit moet julle weet: as die huiseienaar geweet het hoe laat die dief kom, sou hy hom nie in sy huis laat inbreek het nie. 40 Ook julle moet gereed wees, want die Seun van die mens kom op 'n tyd wanneer julle Hom nie verwag nie.”

41 Toe vra Petrus: “Here, is hierdie gelykenis net vir ons bedoel of vir almal?”

42 En die Here antwoord: “Wie is eintlik die getroue en verstandige bestuurder vir wie die eienaar oor sy ander slawe sal aanstel om hulle op tyd hulle kos te gee? 43 Dit is die man vir wie sy eienaar, by sy tuiskoms, so aan die werk sal kry. Gelukkig is hy! 44 Ek sê vir julle die waarheid: Sy eienaar sal hom aanstel oor alles wat hy besit.

45 “Maar as die slaaf by homself sê: ‘My eienaar draai lank om te kom,’ en hy die slawe, mans en vroue, begin slaan, terwyl hy self eet en drink en dronk word, 46 sal die eienaar van die slaaf kom op 'n dag dat hy dit nie verwag nie, en op 'n uur wat hy nie vooraf weet nie. Dan sal sy eienaar hom laat doodmaak, en hom die lot van ontroues laat deel.

47 “Die slaaf wat geweet het wat sy eienaar wil hê maar wat nie gereed gemaak of volgens die wil van sy eienaar gehandel het nie, sal 'n swaar straf kry. 48 Maar hy wat nie geweet het nie en dinge gedoen het wat straf verdien, sal 'n ligte straf kry. Van elkeen aan wie baie gegee is, sal baie geëis word; en van hom aan wie baie toevertrou is, sal meer gevra word.”

Jesus die oorsaak van die verdeeldheid

(Matt. 10:34-36)

49 “Ek het gekom om vuur op die aarde aan te steek, en hoe wens Ek dat dit al aan die brand is!

50 “Maar daar is 'n doop waarmee Ek gedoop moet word, en dit sal My heeltemal in beslag neem tot dit afgehandel is! 51 Dink julle dat Ek gekom het om vrede op die aarde te bring? Nee, sê Ek vir julle, eerder verdeeldheid, 52 want van nou af sal daar vyf mense in een huis onderling verdeeld wees, drie teen twee en twee teen drie. 53 Hulle sal verdeeld wees: vader teen seun en seun teen vader, moeder teen dogter en dogter teen moeder, skoonmoeder teen skoondogter en skoondogter teen skoonmoeder.”

Die tekens beoordeel

(Matt. 16:2-3)

54 Jesus het ook vir die skare gesê: “As julle 'n wolk in die weste sien opkom, sê julle dadelik: ‘Dit gaan reën!’ en dit gebeur ook. 55 En as die suidewind waai, sê julle: ‘Dit gaan warm word!’ en dit word warm. 56 Huigelaars! Julle weet hoe om die voorkoms van die aarde en die lug te beoordeel. Hoe is dit dan dat julle nie weet hoe om hierdie tyd te beoordeel nie?”

Vroegtydige versoening

(Matt. 5:25-26)

57 “Waarom maak julle nie vir julleself uit wat die regte ding is om te doen nie?

58 “Terwyl jy saam met jou teenstander op pad is hof toe, moet jy moeite doen om die saak met hom te skik, sodat hy jou nie voor die regter sleep en die regter jou aan die polisie oorgee en die polisie jou in die tronk sit nie. 59 Ek verseker jou: Jy sal sekerlik nie daar uitkom voordat jy die laaste sent betaal het nie.”

Luke 12

1  IN THE meanwhile, when so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were trampling on one another, Jesus commenced by saying primarily to His disciples, Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy [producing unrest and violent agitation].2  Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known.3  Whatever you have spoken in the darkness shall be heard and listened to in the light, and what you have whispered in [people’s] ears and behind closed doors will be proclaimed upon the housetops.4  I tell you, My friends, do not dread and be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do.5  But I will warn you whom you should fear: fear Him Who, after killing, has power to hurl into hell (Gehenna); yes, I say to you, fear Him!6  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And [yet] not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God.7  But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.8  And I tell you, Whoever declares openly [speaking out freely] and confesses that he is My worshiper and acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will declare and confess and acknowledge him before the angels of God.9  But he who disowns and denies and rejects and refuses to acknowledge Me before men will be disowned and denied and rejected and refused acknowledgement in the presence of the angels of God.10  And everyone who makes a statement or speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally comes short of the reverence due the Holy Spirit], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness].11  And when they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be anxious [beforehand] how you shall reply in defense or what you are to say.12  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour and moment what [you] ought to say.13  Someone from the crowd said to Him, Master, order my brother to divide the inheritance and share it with me.14  But He told him, Man, who has appointed Me a judge or umpire and divider over you?15  And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man’s life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.16  Then He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully.17  And he considered and debated within himself, What shall I do? I have no place [in which] to gather together my harvest.18  And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain or produce and my goods.19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily.20  But God said to him, You fool! This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be? 21  So it is with the one who continues to lay up and hoard possessions for himself and is not rich [in his relation] to God [this is how he fares].22  And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear.23  For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes.24  Observe and consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn; and [yet] God feeds them. Of how much more worth are you than the birds!25  And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]?26  If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?27  Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither [wearily] toil nor spin nor weave; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory (his splendor and magnificence) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.]28  But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today, and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you [people] of little faith?29  And you, do not seek [by meditating and reasoning to inquire into] what you are to eat and what you are to drink; nor be of anxious (troubled) mind [unsettled, excited, worried, and in suspense];30  For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them.31  Only aim at and strive for and seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also.32  Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!33  Sell what you possess and give donations to the poor; provide yourselves with purses and handbags that do not grow old, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.35  Keep your loins girded and your lamps burning,36  And be like men who are waiting for their master to return home from the marriage feast, so that when he returns from the wedding and comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.37  Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants whom the master finds awake and alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table and will come and serve them!38  If he comes in the second watch (before midnight) or the third watch (after midnight), and finds them so, blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are those servants!39  But of this be assured: if the householder had known at what time the burglar was coming, he would have been awake and alert and watching and would not have permitted his house to be dug through and broken into.40  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it.41  Peter said, Lord, are You telling this parable for us, or for all alike?42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his master will set over those in his household service to supply them their allowance of food at the appointed time?43  Blessed (happy and to be envied) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.44  Truly I tell you, he will set him in charge over all his possessions.45  But if that servant says in his heart, My master is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants and the maids and to eat and drink and get drunk,46  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he does not know, and will punish him and cut him off and assign his lot with the unfaithful.47  And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many [lashes].48  But he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more. 49  I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!50  I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished!51  Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;52  For from now on in one house there will be five divided [among themselves], three against two and two against three.53  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 54  He also said to the crowds of people, When you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, It is going to rain! And so it does.55  And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, There will be severe heat! And it occurs.56  You playactors (hypocrites)! You know how [intelligently] to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?57  And why do you not judge what is just and personally decide what is right?58  Then as you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make a diligent effort to settle and be quit (free) of him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.59  I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last [fraction of a] cent.