1During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another. Jesus spoke first to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees,’ he said. ‘They just pretend to be godly.2Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered.3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.4‘My friends, listen to me. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t do any more than that.5I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after you have been killed. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him.6Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them.7In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.8‘What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say in front of God’s angels that he knows that person.9But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I, the Son of Man, will say in front of God’s angels that I don’t know him.10Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.11‘You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say.12The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’
The story of the rich fool
13Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, he said, ‘tell my brother to divide the family property with me.’14Jesus replied, ‘Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?’15Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.’16Then Jesus told them a story. He said, ‘A certain rich man’s land produced a very large crop.17He thought to himself, “What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.”18‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store my extra corn in them.19I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of corn stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.’ ”20‘But God said to him, “You foolish man! Tonight I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”21‘That is how it will be for whoever stores things away for themselves but is not rich in the sight of God.’
Do not worry
22Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, ‘I tell you, do not worry. Don’t worry about your life and what you will eat. And don’t worry about your body and what you will wear.23There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes.24Think about the ravens. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t have any barns at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!25Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?26You can’t do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?27‘Think about how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in his royal robes was dressed like one of those flowers.28If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small!29Don’t spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry about it.30People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father knows that you need them.31But put God’s kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.32‘Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.33Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.34Your heart will be where your riches are.
Be ready
35‘Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning.36Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready when he comes. What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will then dress himself so he can serve them. He will let them take their places at the table. And he will come and wait on them.38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes in the middle of the night or towards morning.39But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into.40You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.’41Peter asked, ‘Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?’42The Lord answered, ‘Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of his other servants. The servant’s job is to give them the food they are to receive at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise manager for this.43It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns.44What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns.45But suppose the servant says to himself, “My master is taking a long time to come back.” Suppose that servant begins to beat the other servants, both men and women. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk.46The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn’t expect him. The master will return at an hour the servant doesn’t know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send the servant to the place where unbelievers go.47‘Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating.48But suppose the servant does not know his master’s wishes. And suppose the servant does things for which he should be punished. He will receive a lighter beating. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much.
Jesus will separate people from one another
49‘I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish the fire had already started!50But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I must go through it.51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people.52From now on there will be five members in a family, each one against the other. There will be three against two and two against three.53They will be separated. Father will turn against son and son against father. Mother will turn against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother-in-law will turn against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
Understanding the meaning of what is happening
54Jesus spoke to the crowd. He said, ‘You see a cloud rising in the west. Right away you say, “It’s going to rain.” And it does.55The south wind blows. So you say, “It’s going to be hot.” And it is.56You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can’t you understand the meaning of what is happening right now?57‘Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?58Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don’t, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw you into prison.59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!’
Luke 12
English Standard Version
Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees
1In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. (Mt 16:6; Mt 16:11; Mt 23:28; Mr 8:15; Mr 12:15; Lu 11:29; 1Co 5:6; Ga 5:9)2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Mt 10:26; Mr 4:22; Lu 8:17; 1Ti 5:25)3Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Mt 6:6; Lu 5:19)
Have No Fear
4“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. (Isa 8:12; Isa 51:12; Jer 1:8; 1Pe 3:14)5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.[1] Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Jas 4:12)6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?[2] And not one of them is forgotten before God. (Ps 50:11)7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (1Sa 14:45; Mt 6:26; Mt 12:12)
13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Lu 11:27)14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (Ex 2:14; Mic 6:8; Ac 7:27; Ro 2:1; Ro 2:3; Ro 9:20)15And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (1Ti 6:6; Heb 13:5)16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, (Ps 49:16)17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ (Ec 5:10)18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. (Lu 12:24)19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (Pr 27:1; Ec 2:24; Ec 11:9; Lu 15:23; 1Co 15:32; Jas 4:13)20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ (Job 27:8; Job 27:17; Ps 39:6; Ec 2:18; Ec 2:21; Jer 17:11; Mt 16:26; Lu 12:19)21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Mt 6:19)
Do Not Be Anxious
22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. (Mt 6:25; Mt 10:19; Mt 13:22; Lu 10:41; Lu 12:11; 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6; 1Pe 5:7)23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! (Job 38:41; Ps 147:9; Lu 12:7)25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[3] (Lu 2:52)26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,[4] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (1Ki 10:4)28But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (Mt 8:26; Mt 14:31; Mt 16:8; Lu 17:6)29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. (Jas 1:6)30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (Mt 6:8)31Instead, seek his[5] kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (1Ki 3:11; Mt 5:6; Mt 5:20; Mr 10:29; Lu 11:2; 1Ti 4:8; 1Pe 3:9)32“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Isa 40:11; Isa 41:14; Isa 44:2; Mt 11:26; Mt 13:19; Mt 26:31; Lu 10:21; Lu 22:29; Joh 10:16; Joh 21:15; Ac 20:28; Eph 1:5; Eph 1:9; Php 2:13; 1Pe 5:2)33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. (Mt 6:20; Mt 19:21; Lu 11:41; Lu 12:21; Lu 16:9; 1Pe 1:4)34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Mt 6:21)
You Must Be Ready
35“Stay dressed for action[6] and keep your lamps burning, (Mt 25:7; Eph 6:14; 1Pe 1:13)36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. (2Pe 3:12; Re 3:20)37Blessed are those servants[7] whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. (Mt 24:42; Mt 24:46; Lu 12:35; Lu 17:8; Lu 22:27; Joh 13:4)38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[8] would not have left his house to be broken into. (Mt 24:43; 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10; Re 3:3)40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Mt 25:10; Lu 12:47; Lu 21:27)41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” (Mr 13:37)42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? (Mt 24:45; Lu 16:1)43Blessed is that servant[9] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Joh 13:17; Re 16:15)44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. (Mt 25:21; Mt 25:23)45But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, (Mt 25:5; 1Th 5:7; Heb 10:37; 2Pe 3:4; 2Pe 3:9)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 in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. (Lu 12:40; 2Pe 3:12)47And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. (De 25:2; Mt 11:24; Lu 12:40; Joh 15:22; Joh 15:24; Jas 4:17; 2Pe 2:21)48But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Le 5:17; Nu 15:29; Mt 13:12; Mt 25:29; Ro 1:19; Ro 2:14; 1Ti 1:13)
Not Peace, but Division
49“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! (Mt 3:11)50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! (Mr 10:38; 2Co 5:14)51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Mt 10:34; Re 6:4)52For from now on in one house there will be five 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 mother-in-law.” (Mic 7:6; Mt 10:21)
Interpreting the Time
54He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. (1Ki 18:43; Mt 16:2)55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. (Mt 20:12; Lu 12:54)56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Mt 16:3)
Settle with Your Accuser
57“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? (Lu 21:30; Joh 7:24; 1Co 11:13)58As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. (Pr 25:8; Mt 5:25)59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”[10] (Mt 18:34; Mr 12:42; Lu 21:2)