New Testament · Luke

Luke 12

The Leaven of the Pharisees

(Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)

1Under these circumstances, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered so that they were trampling one another, He began to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the leaven^a of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Fear God Alone

(Matthew 10:26–31)

4And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after the killing, has authority^b to throw into the Gehenna; yes, I tell you, fear Him.^c

6Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.^d 7Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered; do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Me before People

(Matthew 10:32–33)

8And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before people, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. 9But the one who denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God. 10And everyone who speaks a word^e against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who has blasphemed against the holy^f spirit^g will not be forgiven.

11When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12for the holy spirit will teach you in that very that hour what you ought to say."^h

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13Someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

14But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15Then He said to them, "Watch out and guard yourselves from greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his lifeⁱ consist of his possessions."

16And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. 17And he began reasoning^j to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' 18And he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul^k, "soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'

20But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'

21So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

Do Not Worry

(Matthew 6:25–34)

22He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your soul, what you will eat; nor for your body, what you will put on. 23For the soul is more than food and the body than clothing. 24Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds.

25And which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to his lifespan? 26If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass in the field — which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace — how much more will He clothe you? O you of little faith!^l

29And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For all these things the nations^m of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6:19–21)

32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heartⁿ will be also.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)

35Be dressed in readiness with your lamps lit, 36and be like people who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, so that when he arrives and knocks they may immediately open the door to him. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master will find on watch when he comes; truly I say to you, he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them. 38Whether he comes in the second watch or even in the third watch and finds them so, blessed are those servants.

39But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what that hour the thief was coming, he would have been on alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 40You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at that hour that you do not expect."

41Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone as well?"

42The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom the master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their portion of food at the proper appointed time?^o 43Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes. 44Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect and at that hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.

47And that servant who knew the will^p of his master and did not get ready or act in accord with his will will receive many blows, 48but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a flogging will receive but few; from everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Not Peace but Division

(Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)

49I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

51Do you suppose that I came to grant peace^q on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52For from now on five members in one household will be divided — three against two and two against three. 53Father will be divided 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."

Interpreting the Present Time

(Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)

54He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it turns out. 55And when a south wind is blowing, you say, 'It will be a scorching day,' and it turns out that way. 56Hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this appointed time?

Reconciling with an Adversary

(Matthew 5:21–26)

57And why do you not even judge^r for yourselves what is right? 58For while you are going with your opponent to the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, otherwise he may drag you before the judge^s, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the last smallest coin^t."