Luke 12

1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so many that they were trampling one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2There is nothing covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

3So whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

4I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more.

5But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

6Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge that person before the angels of God.

9But whoever denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God.

10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,

12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you must say.”

13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14But Jesus said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

15Then he said to them, “Watch out, and guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of their possessions.”

16He told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced a plentiful crop.

17He thought to himself, ‘What should I do? I have nowhere to store my crops.’

18Then 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.

19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared?’

21That is how it is with anyone who stores up treasure for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

22Then Jesus said to his disciples, “That is why I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

24Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than birds!

25Which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to your span of life?

26If then you cannot do even so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider the lilies and how they grow: they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.

28If God clothes the grass in this way, which is in the field today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!

29Do not set your heart on what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about it.

30For the nations of the world run after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

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

35Be dressed and ready for service, and keep your lamps burning.

36Be like people waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, have them recline at the table, and come and wait on them.

38Even if he comes in the second watch of the night, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those servants.

39But 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.

40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?”

42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their share of food at the proper time?

43Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes.

44Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But suppose that servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

47That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what he wanted will receive a severe beating.

48But the one who did not know and did things that deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

49I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

51Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

52For from now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

53They 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.”

54He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens.

55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.

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

57And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

58As you go with your opponent to the magistrate, make every effort on the way to settle with him, or he may drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last lepton.”