12
1 When many thousands of the people were gathered together so much that they trampled on each other, he began to say to his disciples first of all, “Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 But nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
3 So whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 But I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that do not have anything more to do.
5 But I will warn you whom to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has authority to throw into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.
7 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear. You are more valuable than many sparrows.
8 But I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God,
9 but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11 When they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you should speak in your defense, or what you should say,
12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you ought to say.”
13 Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or a mediator over you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Beware and keep yourselves from all greedy desires, because any person’ s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.”
16 Then he spoke to them a parable, saying, “The field of a certain rich man yielded abundantly,
17 and he reasoned with himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I do not have a place to store my crops?’
18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all of my grain and other goods.
19 Then I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Rest easy, eat, drink, be merry.”’
20 But God said to him, ‘Foolish man, this very night your soul is required of you, and the things you have 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 Then he said to his disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat— or about your body, what you will wear.
23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24 Consider the ravens, that they do not sow nor reap. They have no storeroom nor barn, but God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 But which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his lifespan?
26 If then you are not able to do such a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies— how they grow. They do not labor, neither do they spin. But I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
28 Now if God so clothes the grass in the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
29 So do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.
30 For all the nations of the world seek 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 fear, little flock, because your Father is very pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make for yourselves purses which will not wear out— treasure in the heavens that does not run out, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35 Let your long clothing be tucked in at your belt, and let your lamps be kept burning,
36 and be like people waiting for their master when he returns from the marriage feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open the door for him.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will tuck in his clothing at his belt, and have them recline, and he will come and serve them.
38 Whether the master comes in the second, or even in the third watch, and finds them thus, blessed are those servants.
39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known at which hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour which you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said, “Lord, are you speaking this parable to us, or also to everyone?”
42 Then the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his master will appoint to care for his servants, to give them their portion of food at the right time?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes.
44 Truly I say to you that he will appoint him over all his property.
45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time to return,’ and begins to beat the male and the female servants, and to eat and drink, and to become drunk,
46 the master of that servant will come in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and appoint the place for him with the unfaithful.
47 But that servant, the one having known the will of his master, and not having prepared or done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.
48 But the one who did not know, and did things that deserved blows will be beaten with few blows. But everyone to whom much has been given, from them much will be required, and to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be asked of him.
49 I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled.
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is completed!
51 Do you think that I came to bring 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 her daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother- in- law against her daughter- in- law, and daughter- in- law against her mother- in- law.”
54 Now he 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 happens.
55 And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.
56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky and of the earth, but how do you not know how to interpret the present time?
57 And why do you not even judge what is right for yourselves?
58 For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the matter with him so that he might not drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid the very last bit of money.”
The Gospel of Luke