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12 in which circumstances, the myriads of the crowd having been gathered-together so that they were trampling one another:

Watch Out For The Leaven of The Pharisees, But Do Not Fear Them

He began to speak to His disciples first, “Take heed to yourselves because of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But nothing has been covered-up[a] which will not be revealed, and is secret which will not be known. Because whatever you said in the darkness will be heard in the light. And what you spoke to the ear in the inner-rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. And I say to you My friends, do not fear anything from[b] the ones killing the body, and after these things not having anything more to do. But I will show you Whom you should fear— fear the One having the authority to throw into Gehenna[c] after the killing. Yes, I say to you, fear this One. Are not five sparrows sold for two assarion[d]? And one of them has not been forgotten before God. Yet even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not be fearing; you are more valuable than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me in front of people, the Son of Man also will confess him in front of the angels of God. But the one having denied Me before people will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who shall speak a word against the Son of Man— it will be forgiven to him. But to the one having blasphemed against the Holy Spirit— it will not be forgiven. 11 And whenever they bring you in before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious-about how or what you should speak-in-defense, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at the very hour the things which you ought-to say”.

Life Is Not In What Abounds To You From Your Possessions. Be Rich Toward God

13 And someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”. 14 But the One said to him, “Man, who appointed Me judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from all greed, because one’s life is not in what abounds to him out of his possessions”. 16 And He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man was productive. 17 And he was reasoning within himself, saying, ‘What should I do, because I do not have a place where I will gather my fruits?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this— I will tear-down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will gather all my grain and good things. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things lying-in-store for many years. Be resting. Eat, drink. Be enjoying-yourself ”’. 20 But God said to him, ‘Foolish one! On this night they[e] are demanding your life[f] from you. And the things which you prepared— for whom will they be?’ 21 So is the one storing-up for himself, and not being rich toward God”.

Do Not Worry About The Necessities of This Life; Seek God’s Kingdom

22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason[g], I say to you, do not be anxious for your life as to what you may eat, nor for your body as to what you may put-on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens— that they do not sow nor reap, for which there is not a storeroom nor a barn. And God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds! 25 And which of you while being anxious is able to add a cubit[h] upon his life-span? 26 If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They do not labor nor spin, but I say to you— not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these! 28 But if God dresses in this manner the grass in a field existing today and being thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will He care for you— ones-of-little-faith? 29 And don’t you be seeking what you may eat and what you may drink. And do not be unsettled[i]. 30 For the nations of the world are seeking-after all these things. And your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31 But be seeking His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Do Not Fear. Sell Your Possessions For a Heavenly Return

32 “Do not be fearing, little flock, because your Father was well-pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give it as alms[j]. Make yourselves money-bags not becoming-old— an unfailing[k] treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not draw-near, nor does a moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.

Keep Watch For Your Master’s Return. Be Prepared

35 Let your waists be girded[l] and your lamps burning, 36 and you be like people waiting-for their master when he departs from the wedding-celebrations— in order that he having come and having knocked, they may immediately open [the door] for him. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master, having come, will find keeping-watch. Truly I say to you that he will gird himself, and have them lie back [to eat]. And having come-to the table, he will serve them. 38 Even if in the second[m], even if he comes in the third watch and finds them so, blessed are those ones. 39 And you know[n] this saying— that if the house-master had known at which hour the thief was coming, he would not have permitted his house to be broken-into. 40 You also be[o] prepared ones, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour which you do not expect”.

Wise Servants Found Working When The Master Returns Will Be Rewarded

41 And Peter said, “Lord, are You speaking this parable to us, or also to everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then[p] is the faithful, wise steward[q] whom his master will put-in-charge over his body-of-servants, that he might be giving them their food-allowance at the proper-time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master, having come, will find so doing. 44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge over all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying to come’, and he begins to strike the male-servants and the female-servants, and to eat and drink and get-drunk— 46 the master of that slave will come on a day which he does not expect, and at an hour which he does not know. And he will cut him in two, and assign him his part[r] with the unbelievers[s]. 47 But that slave having known the will of his master, and not having prepared or acted in accordance with his will, will be beaten many blows. 48 But the one not having known, and having done things worthy of blows, will be beaten a few blows. And to everyone whom much was given, much will be sought from him. And to whom they entrusted much, they will ask him even more.

I Came To Cause Division On Earth, Not To Bring It Peace

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; and how I am held[t] by it until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I came[u] to grant peace on earth? No, I say to you, but rather division! 52 For from now on, there[v] will be five in one house having been 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 mother-in-law”.

Read The Signs of The Times. Judge For Yourselves

54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “Whenever you see the cloud rising in the west, immediately you say that ‘A rainstorm is coming’, and so it happens. 55 And whenever a south wind is blowing, you say that ‘There will be burning-heat’, and it happens. 56 Hypocrites! You know-how to test the appearance of the earth and the heaven, but how is it you do not know-how to test this time? 57 And why also are you not judging the right thing from yourselves? 58 For as you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, make an effort on the way to be released from him, so that he may not perhaps drag you before the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will by no means come out from there until you pay even the last leptos[w]”.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:2 Or, concealed.
  2. Luke 12:4 Or, be-afraid of.
  3. Luke 12:5 That is, hell.
  4. Luke 12:6 One assarion was one sixteenth of a denarius (a day’s wage for a laborer).
  5. Luke 12:20 That is, the angels sent by God for this purpose.
  6. Luke 12:20 Or, soul.
  7. Luke 12:22 That is, the true source of life.
  8. Luke 12:25 That is, 18 inches; one step.
  9. Luke 12:29 That is, worried, in suspense, up in the air about things.
  10. Luke 12:33 That is, charitable giving to the poor.
  11. Luke 12:33 Or, inexhaustible. That is, treasure that will never run out.
  12. Luke 12:35 That is, tied with your belt, in a state of readiness.
  13. Luke 12:38 That is, the second watch, 9 p.m. to midnight. The third watch is midnight to 3 a.m.
  14. Luke 12:39 Or, know (a command); And know this.
  15. Luke 12:40 Or, prove-to-be.
  16. Luke 12:42 In view of the sudden nature of Christ’s return, who is the wise steward among those left to lead when the master left? The wise one is the one still doing his will when he returns.
  17. Luke 12:42 That is, household manager.
  18. Luke 12:46 Or, share, place.
  19. Luke 12:46 Or, unfaithful ones, faithless ones.
  20. Luke 12:50 Or, gripped, occupied, under the control of. Or taking it negatively, distressed.
  21. Luke 12:51 Or, appeared, arrived.
  22. Luke 12:52 Or, five in one house will have been divided.
  23. Luke 12:59 This is the smallest Jewish coin, 1/128th of a denarius.

Warnings and Encouragements(A)

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.(B) There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.(C) What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

“I tell you, my friends,(D) do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.(E) Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.(F) Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.(G)

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.(H) But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned(I) before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man(J) will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.(K)

11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,(L) 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”(M)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”(N)

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no 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, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(O) This very night your life will be demanded from you.(P) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(Q)

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”(R)

Do Not Worry(S)

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell 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: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.(T) And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor(U) was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!(V) 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father(W) knows that you need them.(X) 31 But seek his kingdom,(Y) and these things will be given to you as well.(Z)

32 “Do not be afraid,(AA) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(AB) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(AC) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(AD) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(AE) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(AF)

Watchfulness(AG)(AH)

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(AI) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(AJ) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(AK) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(AL) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord(AM) answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.(AN) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.(AO) 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.(AP) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Not Peace but Division(AQ)

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(AR) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(AS) 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”(AT)

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.(AU) 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?(AV)

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.(AW) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(AX)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 12:1 Or speak to his disciples, saying: “First of all, be
  2. Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height