Luke 12

1 Meanwhile, when tens of thousands of the crowd had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Guard yourselves against the leaven — which is hypocrisy — of the Pharisees. 2 But there is nothing covered over that will not be uncovered, and hidden that will not be known. 3 Because of that, whatever you said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you spoke into the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

4 “And I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more they can do. 5 But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear that one. [a] † 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God. [b] 7 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the messengers of God; [c] 9 but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the messengers of God. 10 And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit it will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you are to answer in your defense, or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what must be said.”

13 And someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or a divider over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against all greed, because even when someone has more than enough, his life is not out of what he owns.”

16 And he told them a parable, saying: “The land of a certain rich man produced well. 17 And he was reasoning within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do? For I have nowhere to gather my crops.’ 18 And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and I will gather there all my grain and my good things, 19 and I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; rest, eat, drink, be glad.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night they are demanding your soul back from you; and the things you prepared — whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

22 And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you: do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat; nor for your body, what you will put on. 23 For the life is more than the food, and the body more than the clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious is able to add eighteen inches to his span? [d] 26 So if you cannot do even the smallest thing, why are you anxious about the rest?

27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. 28 And if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more you, you of little faith! 29 And you — do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be left hanging. [e] 30 For the nations of the world go after all these things; and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father was pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give as an act of mercy. Make yourselves purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. † 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be as well.

35 “Let your waists be belted and your lamps burning, 36 and you yourselves like people waiting for their own master, for when he comes back from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks they may open to him at once. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master, when he comes, will find staying awake. Amen I tell you that he will belt himself and have them recline, and he will come by and serve them. 38 And if he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them so, blessed are they.

39 “But know this: if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief comes, he would not have let his house be broken into. [f] 40 You too be ready, because the Son of Man comes at an hour you do not expect.” 41 And Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone as well?”

42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful household manager, the discerning one, whom the master will set over his household servants to give them their measure of grain at the right time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find doing so. 44 Truly I tell you that he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the servant boys and the servant girls, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in two and will put his portion with the faithless. [g]

47 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready, or act toward his will, will be beaten with many blows; 48 but the one who did not know, and did what deserved blows, will be beaten with few. And from everyone to whom much was given, much will be required of him; and to whom much was entrusted, they will ask him for more.

49 “I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! [h] 50 But I have an immersion to be immersed with, and how I am gripped until it is completed! [i] 51 Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They 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 the mother-in-law.” [j]

54 And he was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to judge the face of the earth and the sky; how is it that you do not know how to judge this present time?

57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For as you are going with your opponent before a ruler, on the road make an effort to be rid of him, so that he does not drag you off to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the collector, and the collector throw you into prison. [k] 59 I tell you, you will never come out of there until you pay back even the last lepton.” [l]