路加福音 12

要防备宗教的伪善

1 那时有上万的人群聚集，甚至彼此践踏。耶稣一开始先对他的门徒们说：“你们要提防法利赛人的酵母，就是伪善。2 被掩盖的事没有将不被显露出来的，隐秘的事也没有将不被知道的。3 所以你们在暗中所说的，会在明处被听见；你们在内室里耳语的，将要在屋顶上被宣扬出去。

要惧怕神

4 “我的朋友，我告诉你们：不要怕那些杀了身体以后不能再做什么的人。5 我要指示你们该惧怕的是谁：你们当惧怕那杀了身体以后，又有权把人扔进地狱的那一位。是的，我告诉你们：当惧怕这一位。6 五只麻雀不是卖两个小钱t吗？可是在神面前，一只也不会被忘记；7 而且，就是你们的每一根头发也都被数过了。不要怕！你们比一大群麻雀还重要。

要承认基督

8 “我告诉你们：无论谁在人面前承认我，人子在神的天使们面前也将承认他；9 而那在人面前不认我的，在神的天使们面前也将被否认。10 所有说话抵挡人子的，还能被赦免；但那亵渎圣灵的，不能被赦免。11 当他们把你们带到会堂，或带到统治者和掌权者面前的时候，不要忧虑怎样申辩或说什么。12 因为就在那时候，圣灵会教导你们该说的话。”

无知财主的比喻

13 人群中有一个人对耶稣说：“老师，请吩咐我的哥哥t与我分继业吧！”

14 耶稣对他说：“朋友t，谁委任了我做你们的审判官或仲裁者呢？”15 接着耶稣对他们说：“你们要注意，要提防一切贪心，因为一个人的生命不在于他财产的丰厚。”

16 然后对他们讲了一个比喻，说：“有一个富有的人，田地丰收了。17 他就心里盘算：‘我没有地方储存我的产物了，做什么呢？’18 他就说：‘我要这么做：拆掉我的这些仓库，另建更大的，把我所有的麦子t和美物收集在那里。19 然后，我要对我的灵魂说：灵魂哪，你拥有了很多好东西，足以享用多年，你就休息、吃喝、庆祝吧。’

20 “可是神对他说：‘你这愚妄的人哪！今夜，他们就要召回你的灵魂了。那么，你所预备的要归谁呢？’

21 “那为自己积蓄财富而在神面前不富足的人，也是这样。”

不要忧虑

22 耶稣又对他的门徒们说：“所以我告诉你们：不要为你们的t生命而忧虑吃什么，也不要为身体而忧虑穿什么。23 因为生命比食物更重要，身体比衣服更重要。24 应该想一想乌鸦：它们不撒种，也不收割，没有仓也没有库，神尚且养活它们；更何况你们，你们比飞鸟还重要呢！25 你们当中谁能因着忧虑使自己的寿命延长一刻tt呢？26 因此，你们如果连最小的事也不能做，为什么还要为其他的事忧虑呢？

27 “应该想一想百合花是怎么生长的：它不劳动，也不纺织。但是我告诉你们：就连所罗门在他最荣耀的时候，所穿戴的也不如这些花中的一朵。28 你们这些小信的人哪！野地里的草今天还在，明天就被丢进火炉里，神尚且这样装扮它，更何况你们呢！29 你们不要追求吃什么、喝什么，也不要挂虑。30 因为这一切都是世界外邦人所寻求的，而你们的父已经知道你们需要这些了。

31 “不过你们应当寻求神的t国，这些都t将加给你们了。32 你们这一小群哪，不要怕，因为你们的父乐意把国度t赐给你们。33 你们当卖掉自己所拥有的，施舍给人，为自己预备不会破旧的钱包和没有穷尽的财宝在天上；在那里盗贼不能靠近，也没有虫咬蚀。34 要知道，你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在哪里。

要警醒

35 “你们要束上腰带，点亮油灯，36 要像期待着主人从婚宴上回来的人那样；好在主人回来敲门的时候，能立刻为他开门。37 主人回来的时候，看见哪些奴仆警醒着，那些奴仆就蒙福了。我确实地告诉你们：主人会束上腰带，请他们坐席，并来伺候他们。38 即使主人在二更天或在三更天才回来，也看见他们仍然警醒着，那些人t就蒙福了。39 不过你们应当知道这一点：一家的主人如果知道贼什么时候来，就t不会让他的房子被人钻进。40 你们也应当做好准备，因为在你们意想不到的时候，人子就来了。”

忠仆与恶仆

41 彼得说：“主啊，你这个比喻是对我们说的，还是也对大家说的呢？”

42 主说：“究竟谁是那又忠心又聪明的管家——受主人委任统管他家人、按时分发粮食的人呢？43 主人回来的时候，看见哪个奴仆如此行，那个奴仆就蒙福了。44 我确实地告诉你们：主人会委任他统管自己所拥有的一切。45 但如果这奴仆心里说‘我的主人会迟延回来’，就动手殴打其他的男仆和女仆，并且吃喝、醉酒，46 那么，这奴仆的主人就要在意想不到的日子、在他不知道的时刻回来，并且会严厉惩罚他t，使他与那些不信的人有同样的下场。47 那知道主人的意思t，却没有预备，也不照着主人的意思去做的奴仆，将会受很多鞭打；48 但那因为不知道而做了该打之事的人，将会受很少鞭打。所以谁被赐予的多，将来向谁索取的也多；托给谁多，将来向谁要求的也更多。

不是和平而是分裂

49 “我来是要把火投在地上，我多么希望这火已经点燃了！50 不过我有该受的洗礼，在完成之前，我是多么困苦！51 你们以为我来了，是给地上带来和平吗？不是的！我告诉你们：其实还是分裂t。52 从今以后，一家五口将要分裂：三个与两个，两个与三个分裂。

53 他们将要分裂：父亲反对儿子，儿子反对父亲而分裂；母亲反对女儿，女儿反对母亲而分裂；婆婆反对媳妇，媳妇反对婆婆而分裂。t”

分辨时代

54 然后，耶稣又对众人说：“你们一旦看见云彩在西边升起，就立刻说：‘要下大雨了’，果然就如此。55 南风一吹起，你们就说：‘要热起来了’，果然就如此。56 你们这些伪善的人！你们懂得分辨天地的气象，怎么不懂得t分辨这个时代呢？

要尽力和解

57 “你们为什么自己不判断公义的事呢？58 你和你的对头去见官的时候，在路上就当尽力与他和解，免得他把你拉到审判官面前，审判官把你交给狱卒，狱卒就把你投进监狱。59 我告诉你：除非你还清了最后的一个小钱t，否则你绝不能从那里出来。”

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