12Verse 1Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered together by the thousands, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples:“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.Verse 2There is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.Verse 3Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in anyone's ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Fear God Alone
Verse 4“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.Verse 5But I will tell you whom you should fear: Fear him who has authority to throw you into hell after your body has been killed. Yes, I tell you, fear him!Verse 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.Verse 7Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered.+So do not be afraid; you are of+more value than many sparrows.
Acknowledging Christ
Verse 8“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God,Verse 9but whoever denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.Verse 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.Verse 11When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not be anxious about how or what you should speak in your own defense, or what you should say,Verse 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you should say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
Verse 13Then someone from among the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”Verse 14But Jesus said to him,“Man, who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?”Verse 15Then he said to them,“Watch out and be on your guard against+covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”Verse 16And he told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly.Verse 17So he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I do not have anywhere to store my crops?’Verse 18Then 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+produce and my goods.Verse 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, yoʋ have many goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’Verse 20But God said to him, ‘Yoʋ fool! This very night yoʋr life will be demanded+back from yoʋ, and the things yoʋ have prepared, whose will they be?’Verse 21This is how it will be with anyone who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Be Anxious
Verse 22Then Jesus said to+his disciples,“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.Verse 23+Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.Verse 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storehouse or barn, yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds?Verse 25Which of you by being anxious can add a single moment to yoʋr span of life?Verse 26If then you cannot even do a very little thing like that, why are you anxious about the rest?Verse 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: They do not toil or+spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.Verse 28Now if God so clothes the grass+in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?Verse 29And do not be concerned about what you will eat+or what you will drink; do not be anxious about such things.Verse 30For the nations of the world seek after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.Verse 31Rather, seek+the kingdom of God, and+all these things will be added to you.Verse 32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.Verse 33Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Make yourselves moneybags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.Verse 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Be Ready
Verse 35“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,Verse 36like men who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast, so that they can immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks.Verse 37Blessed are those servants whom their master finds keeping watch when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them.Verse 38If he comes in the second watch or the third watch and finds them doing so, blessed are those servants.Verse 39But know this: If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he+would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.Verse 40+Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.”Verse 41Then Peter said+to him, “Lord, are yoʋ telling this parable only for us, or for everyone else as well?”Verse 42The Lord said,“Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?Verse 43Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he comes.Verse 44Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.Verse 45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and he begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,Verse 46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two and assign his portion to be with the unfaithful.Verse 47That servant who knew his master's will, but did not prepare himself or act according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes.Verse 48But the one who did not know his master's will, yet did what deserved a beating, will be beaten with few lashes. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from him to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.
Not Peace, but Division
Verse 49“I have come to bring fire+to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!Verse 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how consumed I am with it until it is completed!Verse 51Do you think I have come to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.Verse 52For from now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.Verse 53+Father 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
Verse 54Jesus also said to the crowds,“When you see a cloud rising+from the west, you immediately say, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and that is what happens.Verse 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.Verse 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the+earth and the sky, so why+can you not interpret this present time?
Settle with Your Adversary
Verse 57“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?Verse 58As yoʋ are going with yoʋr adversary before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag yoʋ to the judge, and the judge+hand yoʋ over to the officer, and the officer+throw yoʋ into prison.Verse 59I tell yoʋ, yoʋ will certainly not come out of there until yoʋ have paid the very last cent.”