Luke 12
Luke 12
Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Verse 2. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Verse 3. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Verse 4. “I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Verse 5. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Verse 6. “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. Verse 7. But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Verse 8. “I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God; Verse 9. but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels. Verse 10. Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Verse 11. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer or what you will say; Verse 12. for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”
Verse 13. One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Verse 14. But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” Verse 15. He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
Verse 16. He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. Verse 17. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ Verse 18. He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. Verse 19. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’
Verse 20. “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ Verse 21. So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Verse 22. He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Verse 23. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Verse 24. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! Verse 25. Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height? Verse 26. If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Verse 27. Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Verse 28. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
Verse 29. “Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. Verse 30. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. Verse 31. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Verse 32. “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Verse 33. Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. Verse 34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Verse 35. “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Verse 36. Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Verse 37. Blessed are those servants whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them. Verse 38. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. Verse 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 allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 40. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
Verse 41. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”
Verse 42. The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Verse 43. Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Verse 44. Truly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. Verse 45. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and to be drunken, Verse 46. then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. Verse 47. That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, Verse 48. but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
Verse 49. “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled. Verse 50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Verse 51. Do you think that I have come to give peace on the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division. Verse 52. For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. Verse 53. They will 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.”
Verse 54. He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. Verse 55. When a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. Verse 56. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?
Verse 57. “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? Verse 58. For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. Verse 59. I tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.”