1I mellemtiden stimlede tusindvis af mennesker sammen omkring Jesus, så de nærmest trådte på hinanden. Jesus talte til folkeskaren, men tænkte især på disciplene: „Pas på! Hold jer fra farisæernes surdej, hykleriet. (Matt 10,26)2Hvad der er skjult nu, vil blive åbenbaret engang. Det, som nu er hemmeligt, vil blive kendt.3Hvad I har sagt i mørket, vil komme frem i lyset, og hvad I har hvisket bag lukkede døre, vil blive udråbt offentligt.
At have tillid til Gud
4Jeg siger jer, mine venner: Vær ikke bange for dem, som nok kan slå jer ihjel rent fysisk, men ikke har magt over, hvad der sker med jer bagefter. (Matt 10,28)5Lad mig fortælle jer, hvem I skal frygte: Frygt ham, der efter at I er slået ihjel, har magt til at kaste i Helvede. Ja, ham skal I frygte.6Hvad koster fem spurve? Nogle få mønter måske. Men ikke én af dem er glemt hos Gud.7Selv hårene på jeres hoved har Gud tal på. Så vær ikke bange. I er mere værd end mange spurve.
At vedkende sig Jesus
8Det siger jeg jer: Dem, der åbent og offentligt vedkender sig Menneskesønnen, vil jeg også åbent vedkende mig over for Guds engle. (Matt 10,19; Matt 10,32; Matt 12,32)9Men dem, der offentligt nægter at kendes ved mig, vil jeg heller ikke kendes ved over for Guds engle.10De, der taler negativt om Menneskesønnen, kan godt blive tilgivet, men de, der håner Helligånden, afskærer sig selv fra tilgivelse.11Når I bliver stillet for retten i synagogerne eller skal forsvare jer over for myndigheder og øvrighedspersoner, skal I ikke bekymre jer om, hvad I skal sige til jeres forsvar,12for Helligånden vil på sådanne tidspunkter inspirere jer til, hvad I skal sige.”
Verdens eller Guds rigdom?
13En mand fra mængden råbte: „Mester, sig til min bror, at han skal dele min fars arv med mig!”14Jesus svarede: „Gud har ikke sendt mig for at være dommer i jeres retssager.”15Så tilføjede han henvendt til de omkringstående: „Vogt jer for al slags pengebegær, for økonomisk velstand kan ikke skænke jer livet.”16Derpå fortalte Jesus en historie: „En rig mand havde en gård, hvis marker havde givet en rekordstor høst.17Han spekulerede derfor på, hvad han skulle gøre, for han havde ikke plads til den enorme høst.18Til sidst sagde han til sig selv: ‚Jeg vil rive mine lader ned og bygge nogle endnu større, så jeg kan få det hele under tag.19Derefter vil jeg tage den med ro og sige til mig selv: Nu har du samlet nok til mange år, og det er på tide, du nyder livet. Spis, drik og vær glad!’20Men Gud sagde til ham: ‚Du er en tåbe! I nat skal du dø! Hvem skal så have alt det, du har skrabet sammen?’21Sådan går det den, der kun tænker på at samle sig rigdomme på jorden i stedet for at tjene Gud.”
Om at stole på Gud
22Jesus fortsatte, nu henvendt til sine disciple: „Det er grunden til, at jeg siger, at I ikke skal bekymre jer for, om I nu også har mad at spise og tøj at tage på. (Matt 6,19; Matt 6,25)23Livet er jo mere end maden og tøjet.24Se på ravnene. De hverken sår eller høster, og de samler ikke forråd, men alligevel giver Gud dem, hvad de har brug for. Er I ikke meget mere værd end fuglene?25Hvad hjælper det at bekymre sig? Kan I derved lægge bare én dag til jeres liv?26Hvis altså uro og ængstelse ikke kan ændre noget, hvorfor så i det hele taget gøre sig bekymringer?27Se på liljerne, hvordan de vokser uden at gøre sig anstrengelser. De hverken spinder eller væver. Men det siger jeg jer: Ikke engang Salomon i al sin kongepragt var klædt så smukt som dem.28Når Gud nu sørger for blomsterne, der folder sig ud i dag og visner i morgen, skulle han så ikke sørge for jer? Hvor er jeres tro dog lille!29-30I skal ikke være så optaget af, hvad I skal spise og drikke. Det går folk ude i verden højt op i, men I skal ikke bekymre jer om sådan noget, for jeres Far i Himlen ved, at I har brug for det.31Nej, søg først Guds rige, så skal I få alt det andet i tilgift.32Vær ikke bange, du lille flok, for jeres Far har besluttet at give jer del i sit Rige.33Sælg hvad I har og giv pengene til dem, der er i nød. Skaf jer punge, der aldrig bliver slidt op, og rigdomme i Himlen, der aldrig mister deres værdi, for dér bliver der hverken stjålet eller ødelagt noget.34Hvor jeres rigdomme er, vil også jeres tanker være.
Vær altid parat
35-36Vær altid parate og hold lamperne tændt som tjenere, der venter på, at deres herre skal komme hjem efter en bryllupsfest, så de kan lukke op for ham, lige så snart han banker på døren. (Matt 24,42)37Velsignede er de, som han således finder parate, når han kommer tilbage. Det siger jeg jer: Han vil tage et forklæde på og få dem til at sætte sig til bords for selv at varte dem op.38Måske kommer han ikke før midnat, måske først i de tidlige morgentimer. Men i alle tilfælde bliver de tjenere velsignet, som står parate til at tage imod ham.39Hvis en husejer var klar over, hvornår der ville komme en tyv, ville han holde vagt for at forhindre et indbrud.40Sådan skal I være parate, for Menneskesønnen kommer på et tidspunkt, I ikke regner med.”41Peter spurgte: „Er det med henblik på os, du fortæller den historie, eller gælder det alle?”42Jesus svarede: „En klog og god forvalter passer sin herres ejendom godt og sørger for, at alle de øvrige tjenere får noget at spise til rette tid.43Lykkelig den forvalter, som trofast er i gang med at udføre sit arbejde, når hans herre vender tilbage.44Det siger jeg jer: Hans herre vil give ham ansvaret for alt, hvad han ejer.45Men hvis forvalteren tænker: ‚Det varer nok længe, inden min herre viser sig’, kan han give sig til at mishandle alle tjenestefolkene, alt imens han selv fester og drikker.46Når så hans herre kommer på et uventet tidspunkt, bliver forvalteren hårdt straffet og kommer til at dele skæbne med de vantro.47Når han bliver straffet så hårdt, er det fordi, han var blevet bedt om at holde sig parat, og han udmærket vidste, hvad hans herre havde befalet ham at gøre. Alligevel gjorde han det ikke.48Men de, der ikke kender deres herres vilje og gør sig skyldige i noget, de fortjener straf for, vil få en mildere straf, for man forlanger mest af dem, der har fået mest betroet.
Nogle vil tage imod Jesus, andre vil blive hans fjender
49Jeg er kommet for at sætte verden i brand, og hvor ville jeg ønske, at ilden allerede havde fænget! (Matt 10,34)50Men jeg skal igennem en lidelsens dåb, og indtil det er overstået, gruer jeg for det.51Tro ikke, at fordi jeg er kommet til denne jord, vil der være fred og ingen fare. Nej, der vil blive splid blandt mennesker.52Fra nu af vil fem personer i samme familie være indbyrdes uenige, tre mod to og to mod tre.53En far og en søn vil blive uenige, og ligeledes en mor og en datter, en svigermor og svigerdatter.”
Om at forstå tidens tegn
54Derpå sagde Jesus henvendt til folkeskaren omkring ham: „Når I ser skyerne trække sammen i vest, siger I straks: ‚Nu bliver det regn.’ Det har I ret i. (Matt 16,2)55Og når vinden kommer fra syd, siger I: ‚Det bliver varmt i dag.’ Det har I også ret i.56Alligevel bedrager I jer selv. I kan tyde jordens og himlens tegn. Hvorfor kan I så ikke tyde tidens tegn?”
Om at få sin sag bragt i orden, inden det er for sent
57Til sidst sagde Jesus: „Hvorfor kan I ikke selv bedømme, hvad der er det rigtige? (Matt 5,25)58Er der nogen, som anklager dig for ikke at have betalt din gæld, så gør, hvad du kan, for at få sagen bragt i orden, inden det er for sent. Ellers ender sagen hos dommeren, som vil overgive dig til retsbetjenten, og retsbetjenten vil sætte dig i fængsel.59Det siger jeg dig: Du slipper aldrig ud derfra, medmindre din gæld bliver betalt fuldt ud!”
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. (Matt 16,6; Matt 16,11; Matt 23,28; Mark 8,15; Mark 12,15; Luk 11,29; 1.Kor 5,6; Gal 5,9)2Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Matt 10,26; Mark 4,22; Luk 8,17; 1.Tim 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. (Matt 6,6; Luk 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. (Es 8,12; Es 51,12; Jer 1,8; 1.Pet 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! (Jak 4,12)6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?[2] And not one of them is forgotten before God. (Salm 50,11)7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. (1.Sam 14,45; Matt 6,26; Matt 12,12)
13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Luk 11,27)14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (2.Mos 2,14; Mika 6,8; Ap G 7,27; Rom 2,1; Rom 2,3; Rom 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.” (1.Tim 6,6; Heb 13,5)16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, (Salm 49,16)17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ (Præd 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. (Luk 12,24)19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ (Ord 27,1; Præd 2,24; Præd 11,9; Luk 15,23; 1.Kor 15,32; Jak 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; Salm 39,6; Præd 2,18; Præd 2,21; Jer 17,11; Matt 16,26; Luk 12,19)21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Matt 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. (Matt 6,25; Matt 10,19; Matt 13,22; Luk 10,41; Luk 12,11; 1.Kor 7,32; Filip 4,6; 1.Pet 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; Salm 147,9; Luk 12,7)25And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[3] (Luk 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. (1.Kong 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! (Matt 8,26; Matt 14,31; Matt 16,8; Luk 17,6)29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. (Jak 1,6)30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (Matt 6,8)31Instead, seek his[5] kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (1.Kong 3,11; Matt 5,6; Matt 5,20; Mark 10,29; Luk 11,2; 1.Tim 4,8; 1.Pet 3,9)32“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Es 40,11; Es 41,14; Es 44,2; Matt 11,26; Matt 13,19; Matt 26,31; Luk 10,21; Luk 22,29; Joh 10,16; Joh 21,15; Ap G 20,28; Ef 1,5; Ef 1,9; Filip 2,13; 1.Pet 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. (Matt 6,20; Matt 19,21; Luk 11,41; Luk 12,21; Luk 16,9; 1.Pet 1,4)34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6,21)
You Must Be Ready
35“Stay dressed for action[6] and keep your lamps burning, (Matt 25,7; Ef 6,14; 1.Pet 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. (2.Pet 3,12; Åb 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. (Matt 24,42; Matt 24,46; Luk 12,35; Luk 17,8; Luk 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. (Matt 24,43; 1.Thess 5,2; 2.Pet 3,10; Åb 3,3)40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matt 25,10; Luk 12,47; Luk 21,27)41Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” (Mark 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? (Matt 24,45; Luk 16,1)43Blessed is that servant[9] whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Joh 13,17; Åb 16,15)44Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. (Matt 25,21; Matt 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, (Matt 25,5; 1.Thess 5,7; Heb 10,37; 2.Pet 3,4; 2.Pet 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. (Luk 12,40; 2.Pet 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. (5.Mos 25,2; Matt 11,24; Luk 12,40; Joh 15,22; Joh 15,24; Jak 4,17; 2.Pet 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. (3.Mos 5,17; 4.Mos 15,29; Matt 13,12; Matt 25,29; Rom 1,19; Rom 2,14; 1.Tim 1,13)
Not Peace, but Division
49“I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! (Matt 3,11)50I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! (Mark 10,38; 2.Kor 5,14)51Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Matt 10,34; Åb 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.” (Mika 7,6; Matt 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. (1.Kong 18,43; Matt 16,2)55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. (Matt 20,12; Luk 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? (Matt 16,3)
Settle with Your Accuser
57“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? (Luk 21,30; Joh 7,24; 1.Kor 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. (Ord 25,8; Matt 5,25)59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”[10] (Matt 18,34; Mark 12,42; Luk 21,2)