Luke 12:22-40

Christian Standard Bible

The Cure for Anxiety

²² Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you,^(A) don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.^{(B) 23} For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens:^(C) They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them.^(D) Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? ²⁵ Can any of you add one moment to his life span^[a] by worrying?^{(E) 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^(F) 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?^{(G) 29} Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. ³⁰ For the Gentile world eagerly seeks^(H) all these things, and your Father^(I) knows that you need them.

³¹ “But seek his kingdom,^(J) and these things will be provided for you.^{(K) 32} Don’t be afraid,^(L) little flock,^(M) because your Father delights^(N) to give you the kingdom.^{(O) 33} Sell^(P) your possessions and give to the poor.^(Q) Make money-bags^(R) for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure^(S) in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(T)

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵ “Be ready for service^[b] and have your lamps lit.^{(U) 36} You are to be like people waiting for their master^(V) to return from the wedding banquet^(W) so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.^{(X) 37} Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert^(Y) when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready,^[c] have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.^{(Z) 38} If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn,^[d] and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. ³⁹ But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming,^(AA) he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also be ready,^(AB) because the Son of Man^(AC) is coming at an hour you do not expect.”^(AD)