路加福音 12

提防法利赛人的酵

1 那时有成千上万的人聚在一起，甚至彼此践踏。耶稣就先对门徒说：“你们要提防法利赛人的酵，就是虚伪。2 没有甚么掩盖的事不被揭露，也没有甚么隐藏的事不被人知道。3 所以，你们在暗处所说的，必在明处被人听见；在内室附耳所谈的，必在房顶上宣扬出来。
应该怕谁4 “我的朋友，我告诉你们，那杀身体以后不能再作甚么的，不要怕他们。5 我要指示你们当怕的是谁：当怕那杀身体以后，有权把人投入地狱里的；我告诉你们，应当怕他。6 五只麻雀，不是卖两个大钱吗？但在 神面前，一只也不被忘记。7 甚至你们的头发都一一数过了。不要怕，你们比许多麻雀贵重得多呢。
要在人面前承认主8 “我告诉你们，凡在人面前承认我的，人子在 神的使者面前也承认他；9 在人面前不认我的，我在 神的使者面前也不认他。10 凡说话得罪人子的，还可以赦免；但亵渎圣灵的，必不得赦免。11 人把你们拉到会堂、官长和当权者的面前，你们不要思虑怎样申辩或说甚么话。12 到了时候，圣灵必把当说的话教导你们。”
无知富翁的比喻13 群众中有一个人对耶稣说：“老师，请吩咐我的兄弟和我分家业。”14 耶稣说：“你这个人，谁立我作你们的审判官和分家业的人呢？”15 于是他对众人说：“你们要谨慎，远离一切贪心，因为人的生命并不在于家道丰富。”16 就对他们讲了一个比喻，说：“有一个富翁的田地丰收。17 他自己心里说：‘怎么办呢？因为我没有足够的地方收藏出产了！’18 又说：‘我要这样办：我要拆掉这些仓房，建造更大的，好在那里收藏我的一切粮食和货物。19 然后，我要对我的灵魂说：灵魂啊，你拥有许多好东西，足够多年享用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快乐吧！’20 神却对他说：‘无知的人哪，今天晚上，你的灵魂必被取去，你所预备的要归给谁呢？’21 凡为自己积财，在 神面前却不富足的，也是这样。”
不要忧虑，积财于天22 耶稣又对门徒说：“所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑吃甚么，也不要为身体忧虑穿甚么。23 因为生命比饮食重要，身体比衣服重要。24 你们想想乌鸦：牠们不种也不收，无仓又无库， 神尚且养活牠们；你们比飞鸟贵重得多了。25 你们中间谁能用忧虑使自己的寿命延长一刻呢？26 既然连这极小的事都不能作，为甚么还忧虑其他的事呢？27 你们想想百合花，怎样不劳苦，也不纺织。但我告诉你们，就是所罗门最荣华的时候所穿的，也比不上这花中的一朵呢。28 小信的人哪，田野的草，今天还在，明天就投进炉里， 神尚且这样给它装饰，何况你们呢？29 你们不要求吃甚么，喝甚么，也不要忧虑，30 因为这一切都是世上不信的人所寻求的。你们的父原知道你们需要这一切。31 你们只管求他的国，这些东西都必加给你们。32 你们这小群，不要怕，因为你们的父乐意把国赐给你们。33 当变卖你们所有的施舍给人，为自己制造不朽坏的钱囊，积蓄用不尽的财宝在天上，就是贼不能近、虫不能蛀的地方。34 因为你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在哪里。
忠心的仆人有福了35 “你们的腰当束起来，灯也该点着，36 像等候自己的主人从婚筵回来一样，好叫你们在主人回来敲门时，立刻给他开门。37 主人来到了，看见仆人警醒，这些仆人就有福了。我实在告诉你们，主人必亲自束腰，招待他们吃饭，进前来侍候他们。38 主人也许半夜之前，或天亮之前回来，看见他们这样，这些仆人就有福了。39 你们都知道，家主若晓得窃贼甚么时候来，就不会让他摸进屋里。40 你们也要准备妥当，因为在想不到的时候，人子就来了。”41 彼得说：“主啊，你说这比喻，是为我们还是为众人呢？”42 主说：“谁是那忠心精明的管家，被主人指派管理家里的仆人，按时分粮呢？43 主人来到的时候，看见他这样作，那仆人就有福了。44 我实在告诉你们，主人要指派他管理主人的一切财产。45 如果那仆人心里说：‘我的主人不会那么快回来’，就动手打其他的仆人使女，并且吃喝醉酒；46 在他想不到的日子、不知道的时间，那仆人的主人要来，严厉地处罚他，使他和不信的人同在一起。47 那仆人知道主人的意思，却不预备，也不照他的意思行，必多受责打；48 但那不知道的，虽然作了该受责打的事，也必少受责打。多给谁就向谁多取，多讬谁就向谁多要。
将引起纷争49 “我来要把火投在地上，如果烧了起来，那是我所愿意的。50 我有应当受的洗，我是多么迫切地期待这事完成。51 你们以为我来是要地上有和平吗？不是的，我告诉你们，是要有纷争。52 从今以后，一家五口将起纷争，三个反对两个，两个反对三个。53 他们将起纷争：
父亲反对儿子，
儿子反对父亲，
母亲反对女儿，
女儿反对母亲，
婆婆反对媳妇，
媳妇反对婆婆。”
当晓得分辨和判断54 耶稣又对众人说：“你们一看见西边有云彩升起来，就说：‘要下大雨’，果然这样；55 起了南风，就说：‘天要热了’，也果然这样。56 伪君子啊！你们知道分辨天地的气象，怎么不知道分辨这个时代呢？57 “你们为甚么自己不能判断甚么是对的呢？58 你和你的对头去见官长，还在路上的时候，应当尽力向他求和，免得他把你拉到法官面前，法官把你交给差役，差役把你关在监里。59 我告诉你，除非你还清最后的一个小钱，否则决不能从那里出来。”

Luke 12

Fear God, Not People

1 Meanwhile,t when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesust began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard againstt the yeast of the Pharisees,s which is hypocrisy.s2 Nothing is hiddent that will not be revealed,s and nothing is secret that will not be made known.

3 So thent whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whisperedt in private roomss will be proclaimed from the housetops.t
4 “It tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body,s and after that have nothing more they can do.5 But I will warnt you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing,s has authority to throw yout into hell.s Yes, I tell you, fear him!6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?s Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid;s you are more valuable than many sparrows.
8 “It tell you, whoever acknowledgest me before men,t the Son of Man will also acknowledges before God’s angels.9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirits will not be forgiven.t11 But when they bring you before the synagogues,ss thet rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defenset or what you should say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that momentt what you must say.”t

The Parable of the Rich Landowner

13 Thent someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tells my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 But Jesust said to him, “Man,t who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?”t15 Thent he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself fromt all types of greed,t because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”16 He thent told them a parable:t “The land of a certain rich man producedt an abundant crop,17 sot he thought to himself,t ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’s18 Thent he said, ‘Is will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to myself,t “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your lifet will be demanded back fromt you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’t

21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself,s but is not rich toward God.”

Exhortation Not to Worry

22 Thent Jesust said to hiss disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worryt about yours life, what you will eat, or about yourss body, what you will wear.23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing.24 Consider the ravens:t They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feedst them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!25 And which of you by worryingt can add an hour to his life?t26 So ift you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry aboutt the rest?27 Consider how the flowerst grow; they do not workt or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!28 And ift this is how God clothes the wild grass,t which is heret today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,ts how much mores will he clothe you, you people of little faith!29 Sot do not be overly concerned aboutt what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.t30 For all the nations of the world pursuet these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 Instead, pursuet hiss kingdom,s and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleasedt to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessionss and give to the poor.t Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heavent that never decreases,t where no thief approaches and no motht destroys.

34 For where your treasures is, there your heart will be also.

Call to Faithful Stewardship

35 “Get dressed for servicet and keep your lamps burning;s36 be like peoplet waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,s so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.37 Blessed are those slavest whom their master finds alertt when he returns! I tell you the truth,t he will dress himself to serve,t have them take their place at the table,t and will comet and wait on them!s38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the nights and finds them alert,t blessed are those slaves!t39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thiefs was coming, he would not have lets his house be broken into.

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”s
41 Thent Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”s42 The Lord replied,t “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,t whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,t to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?43 Blessed is that slavet whom his master finds at workt when he returns.44 I tell you the truth,t the mastert will put him in charge of all his possessions.45 But ift thatt slave should say to himself,t ‘My master is delayedt in returning,’ and he begins to beats the othert slaves, both men and women,t and to eat, drink, and get drunk,46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,t and assign him a place with the unfaithful.t47 Thatt servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master askedt will receive a severe beating.

48 But the one who did not know his master’s willt and did things worthy of punishmentt will receive a light beating.t From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,t and from the one who has been entrusted with much,s even more will be asked.t

Not Peace, but Division

49 “I have comes to bringt fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled!50 I have a baptisms to undergo,t and how distressed I am until it is finished!51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!t52 For from now ons there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three.

53 They will be divided,t 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 mother-in-law.”

Reading the Signs

54 Jesust also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west,s you say at once, ‘A rainstormt is coming,’ and it does.55 And when you see the south winds blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is.

56 You hypocrites!s You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know hows to interpret the present time?

Clear the Debts

57 “Andt why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate,s make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer,s and the officer throw you into prison.

59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”ts