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LukeChapter 12

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Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples: "Guard yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
So whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the rooftops.
I tell you, my friends: do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more.
I will show you the one to fear: fear him who, after killing, has authority to throw you into hell.* [*Greek: Gehenna, a valley outside Jerusalem used as an image of final judgment.]
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge that person before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say."
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
But he said to him, "Man, who appointed me judge or arbitrator over you?"
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on guard against every kind of greed, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."
And he told them a parable: "There was a rich man whose land produced an abundant harvest.
He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have nowhere to store my crops.'
Then he said, 'This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
And I will say to my soul: Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.'
But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—who will get them?'
So it is with anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God."
Then he said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?* [*Or: add a single cubit to his height.]
If you cannot manage even so small a thing, why worry about the rest?
Consider how the lilies grow: they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
So do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink, and do not be anxious.
For all the nations of the world chase after such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that never fails, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be dressed and ready for service, and keep your lamps burning,
like those waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can open the door for him at once.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself for service, have them recline at the table, and come and wait on them.
Whether he comes in the second watch of the night or the third, blessed are those servants he finds ready.
But understand this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
And the Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household staff to give them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing so when he comes.
Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
But suppose that servant says in his heart, 'My master is taking his time in coming,' and he begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk—
The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
The servant who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act on it will be beaten with many blows.
But the one who did not know, and did what deserves punishment, will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
"I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.
From now on five in one household will be divided—three against two and two against three.
They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He also said to the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A storm is coming,' and so it happens.
And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It will be scorching hot,' and it is.
Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. Why then do you not know how to interpret this present time?
And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
As you are going with your accuser to the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last penny." [footnote: The coin named here (a lepton) was the smallest in circulation, worth a tiny fraction of a day's wage.]
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