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Luke 12:13-59
New International Version
Luke 12:13-59
New International Version
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.”(A)
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!(B) This very night your life will be demanded from you.(C) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(D)
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”(E)
Do Not Worry(F)
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.(G) And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[a]? 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(H) 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!(I) 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(J) knows that you need them.(K) 31 But seek his kingdom,(L) and these things will be given to you as well.(M)
32 “Do not be afraid,(N) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(O) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(P) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(Q) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(R) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(S)
Watchfulness(T)(U)
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.(V) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(W) 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(X) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(Y) 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(Z) 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.(AA) 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.(AB) 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.(AC) 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(AD)
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism(AE) to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!(AF) 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.”(AG)
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.(AH) 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?(AI)
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.(AJ) 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”(AK)
Footnotes
- Luke 12:25 Or single cubit to your height
Luke 12:13-59
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Luke 12:13-59
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher,(A) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,”[a] He said to him, “who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard(B) against all greed(C) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”(D)
16 Then He told them a parable:(E) “A rich(F) 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[b] have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;(G) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’(H)
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(I) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’(J)
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure(K) for himself and is not rich toward God.”(L)
The Cure for Anxiety
22 Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you,(M) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.(N) 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens:(O) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.(P) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? 25 Can any of you add a cubit to his height[c] by worrying?(Q) 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(R) 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?(S) 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(T) all these things, and your Father(U) knows that you need them.
31 “But seek His kingdom,(V) and these things will be provided for you.(W) 32 Don’t be afraid,(X) little flock,(Y) because your Father delights(Z) to give you the kingdom.(AA) 33 Sell(AB) your possessions and give to the poor.(AC) Make money-bags(AD) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure(AE) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(AF)
Ready for the Master’s Return
35 “Be ready for service[d] and have your lamps lit.(AG) 36 You must be like people waiting for their master(AH) to return[e] from the wedding banquet(AI) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.(AJ) 37 Those slaves the master will find alert(AK) when he comes will be blessed. I assure you: He will get ready,[f] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.(AL) 38 If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,[g] and finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. 39 But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,(AM) he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready,(AN) because the Son of Man(AO) is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”(AP)
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(AQ) his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food(AR) 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,’(AS) 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[h] and assign him a place with the unbelievers.[i] 47 And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it[j] will be severely beaten.(AT) 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving(AU) 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.[k](AV)
Not Peace but Division
49 “I came(AW) 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,(AX) and how it consumes(AY) Me until it is finished!(AZ) 51 Do you think that I came here to give peace to the earth?(BA) 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.”(BB)[l]
Interpreting the Time
54 He also said to the crowds:(BC) “When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, ‘A storm is coming,’ and so it does.(BD) 55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It’s going to be a scorcher!’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites!(BE) You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why don’t you know how to interpret this time?(BF)
Settling Accounts
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?(BG) 58 As you are going with your adversary(BH) to the ruler, make an effort to settle with him on the way. Then he won’t drag you before the judge,(BI) the judge hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff throw you into prison.(BJ) 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent.”[m](BK)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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 12:13-59
New Living Translation
Luke 12:13-59
New Living Translation
Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Teaching about Money and Possessions
22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.
32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming
35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
41 Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”
42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
Jesus Causes Division
49 “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50 I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! 52 From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
53 ‘Father will be divided against son
and son against father;
mother against daughter
and daughter against mother;
and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law
and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’[b]”
54 Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55 When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. 56 You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
57 “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 58 When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. 59 And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.[c]”
Read full chapter
Luke 12:13-59
New King James Version
Luke 12:13-59
New King James Version
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, (A)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, (B)“Take heed and beware of [a]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, (C)“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; (D)eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night (E)your soul will be required of you; (F)then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, (G)and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry(H)
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, (I)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 (J)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 [b]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 (K)Solomon in all his glory was not [c]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 (L)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 (M)knows that you need these things. 31 (N)But seek [d]the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for (O)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 (P)Sell what you have and give (Q)alms; (R)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(S)
35 (T)“Let your waist be girded and (U)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 (V)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 (W)But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would [e]have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 (X)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, (Y)“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food [f]in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 (Z)Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 (AA)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 (AB)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 (AC)that servant who (AD)knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 (AE)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(AF)
49 (AG)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But (AH)I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is (AI)accomplished! 51 (AJ)Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, (AK)but rather division. 52 (AL)For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 (AM)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(AN)
54 Then He also said to the multitudes, (AO)“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 (AP)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 (AQ)this time?
Make Peace with Your Adversary
57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58 (AR)When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort (AS)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.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.