Luke 12
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Beware of Religious Hypocrisy
12 In these circumstances,[a] a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling(A) on one another. He began to say to His disciples first:(B) “Be on your guard(C) against the yeast[b](D) of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.(E) 2 There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered,(F) nothing hidden that won’t be made known.(G) 3 Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms(H) will be proclaimed on the housetops.(I)
Fear God
4 “And I say to you, My friends,(J) don’t fear(K) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you the One to fear: Fear(L) Him who has authority to throw people into hell(M) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the One to fear! 6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?[c] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.(N) 7 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows!
Acknowledging Christ
8 “And I say to you, anyone who acknowledges(O) Me before men, the Son of Man(P) will also acknowledge him before the angels of God,(Q) 9 but whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.(R) 10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,(S) but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit(T) will not be forgiven. 11 Whenever(U) they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities,(V) don’t worry(W) about how you should defend(X) yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”(Y)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher,(Z) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,”[d] He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard(AA) against all greed(AB) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”(AC)
16 Then He told them a parable:(AD) “A rich(AE) man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You[e] have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;(AF) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’(AG)
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(AH) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’(AI)
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure(AJ) for himself and is not rich toward God.”(AK)
The Cure for Anxiety
22 Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you,(AL) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.(AM) 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:(AN) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.(AO) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add a cubit to his height[f] by worrying?(AP) 26 If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon(AQ) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! 28 If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you—you of little faith?(AR) 29 Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks(AS) all these things, and your Father(AT) knows that you need them.
31 “But seek His kingdom,(AU) and these things will be provided for you.(AV) 32 Don’t be afraid,(AW) little flock,(AX) because your Father delights(AY) to give you the kingdom.(AZ) 33 Sell(BA) your possessions and give to the poor.(BB) Make money-bags(BC) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure(BD) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(BE)
Ready for the Master’s Return
35 “Be ready for service[g] and have your lamps lit.(BF) 36 You must be like people waiting for their master(BG) to return[h] from the wedding banquet(BH) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.(BI) 37 Those slaves the master will find alert(BJ) when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready,[i] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.(BK) 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,[j] and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,(BL) he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready,(BM) because the Son of Man(BN) is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”(BO)
Rewards and Punishment
41 “Lord,” Peter asked, “are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?”
42 The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager(BP) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food(BQ) at the proper time? 43 That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. 44 I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’(BR) and starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces[k] and assign him a place with the unbelievers.[l] 47 And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it[m] will be severely beaten.(BS) 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving(BT) of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.[n](BU)
Not Peace but Division
49 “I came(BV) to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with,(BW) and how it consumes(BX) Me until it is finished!(BY) 51 Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth?(BZ) No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided, father against son,
son against father,
mother against daughter,
daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”(CA)[o]
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds:(CB) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.(CC) 55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites!(CD) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time?(CE)
Settling Accounts
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?(CF) 58 As you are going with your adversary(CG) to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge,(CH) the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.(CI) 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent.”[p](CJ)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 Or Meanwhile, or At this time, or During this period
- Luke 12:1 Or leaven
- Luke 12:6 Lit two assaria; the assarion (sg) was a small copper coin
- Luke 12:14 Lit Man
- Luke 12:19 Lit say to my soul, “Soul, you
- Luke 12:25 Or add one moment to his life-span
- Luke 12:35 Lit Let your loins be girded; an idiom for tying up loose outer clothing in preparation for action; Ex 12:11
- Luke 12:36 Lit master, when he should return
- Luke 12:37 Lit will gird himself
- Luke 12:38 Lit even in the second or third watch
- Luke 12:46 Lit him in two
- Luke 12:46 Or unfaithful, or untrustworthy
- Luke 12:47 Lit or do toward his will
- Luke 12:48 Or much
- Luke 12:53 Mc 7:6
- Luke 12:59 Gk lepton, the smallest and least valuable copper coin in use
Luke 12
Contemporary English Version
Warnings
12 (A) As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:
Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching[a] of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. 2 (B) Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. 3 Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.
The One To Fear
(Matthew 10.28-31)
4 (C) My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. 5 God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!
6 Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. 7 Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling Others about Christ
(Matthew 10.32,33; 12.32; 10.19,20)
8 If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers. 9 But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them. 10 (D) If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.
11 (E) When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
A Rich Fool
13 A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”
14 Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”
15 Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”
16 So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man's farm produced a big crop, 17 and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”
18 Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 (F) Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”
20 But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”
21 “This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”
Worry
(Matthew 6.25-34)
22 Jesus said to his disciples:
I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer?[b] 26 If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?
27 (G) Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you Solomon with all his wealth[c] wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won't he do even more for you? You have such little faith!
29 Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well.
Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 6.19-21)
32 My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it. 34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
(Matthew 24.45-51)
35 (H) Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 (I) just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. 37 Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 (J) You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. 40 So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.
41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”
42 The Lord answered:
Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. 44 A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.
45 But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. 46 If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.
47 If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. 48 But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.
Not Peace, but Trouble
(Matthew 10.34-36)
49 I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! 50 (K) I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. 51 Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. 52 A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. 53 (L) Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.
Knowing What To Do
(Matthew 16.2,3; 5.25,26)
54 Jesus said to all the people:
As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It's going to rain,” and it does. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, “It's going to get hot,” and it does. 56 Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don't really know what's going on right now. 57 Why don't you understand the right thing to do? 58 When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. 59 You won't get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.
Luke 12
New King James Version
Beware of Hypocrisy(A)
12 In (B)the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, (C)“Beware of the [a]leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 (D)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God(E)
4 (F)“And I say to you, (G)My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, (H)fear Him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two [b]copper coins? And (I)not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men(J)
8 (K)“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me (L)before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who (M)denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10 “And (N)anyone 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 (O)“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will (P)teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But He said to him, (Q)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, (R)“Take heed and beware of [c]covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, (S)“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; (T)eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night (U)your soul will be required of you; (V)then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, (W)and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry(X)
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, (Y)do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and (Z)God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why [d]are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even (AA)Solomon in all his glory was not [e]arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of (AB)little faith?
29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father (AC)knows that you need these things. 31 (AD)But seek [f]the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for (AE)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 (AF)Sell what you have and give (AG)alms; (AH)provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant(AI)
35 (AJ)“Let your waist be girded and (AK)your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 (AL)Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 (AM)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would [g]have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 (AN)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
42 And the Lord said, (AO)“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food [h]in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 (AP)Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 (AQ)But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a (AR)day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And (AS)that servant who (AT)knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 (AU)But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Christ Brings Division(AV)
49 (AW)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But (AX)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is (AY)accomplished! 51 (AZ)Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, (BA)but rather division. 52 (BB)For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 (BC)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.”
Discern the Time(BD)
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, (BE)“Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55 And when you see the (BF)south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern (BG)this time?
Make Peace with Your Adversary
57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 (BH)When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort (BI)along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 yeast
- Luke 12:6 Gr. assarion, a coin worth about 1⁄16 of a denarius
- Luke 12:15 NU all covetousness
- Luke 12:26 do you worry
- Luke 12:27 clothed
- Luke 12:31 NU His kingdom, and these things
- Luke 12:39 NU not have allowed
- Luke 12:42 at the right time
Luke 12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A Warning against Hypocrisy
12 Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.(A) 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known.(B) 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.
Exhortation to Fearless Confession
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more.(C) 5 But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority[a] to cast into hell.[b] Yes, I tell you, fear that one!(D) 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.(E)
8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,(F) 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.(G) 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how or what[c] you will answer or what you are to say,(H) 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”(I) 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”(J) 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’(K) 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’(L) 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”(M)
Do Not Worry
22 He 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 clothing. 24 Consider 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!(N) 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?[d](O) 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,[e] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.(P) 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! 29 And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations[f] of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.(Q) 31 Instead, seek his[g] kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.(R) 33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(S) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(T)
Watchful Slaves
35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;(U) 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.(V) 38 If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he[h] would not have let his house be broken into.(W) 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”(X)
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Slave
41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?(Y) 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know and will cut him in pieces[i] and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating.(Z) 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.(AA)
Jesus the Cause of Division
49 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(AB) 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!(AC) 52 From now on five in one household will be 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.”(AD)
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and so it happens.(AE) 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.(AF) 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?(AG)
Settling with Your Opponent
57 “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58 Thus when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to reach a settlement,[j] or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison.(AH) 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”(AI)
Footnotes
- 12.5 Or power
- 12.5 Gk Gehenna
- 12.11 Other ancient authorities lack or what
- 12.25 Or add a cubit to your stature
- 12.27 Other ancient authorities read Consider the lilies: they neither spin nor weave
- 12.30 Or gentiles
- 12.31 Other ancient authorities read God’s
- 12.39 Other ancient authorities add would have watched and
- 12.46 Or cut him off
- 12.58 Gk settle with him
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.