Luke 12
The Message
Can’t Hide Behind a Religious Mask
12 1-3 By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other’s toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus’ primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, “Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.
4-5 “I’m speaking to you as dear friends. Don’t be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.
6-7 “What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.
8-9 “Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God’s angels. But if you pretend you don’t know me, do you think I’ll defend you before God’s angels?
10 “If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you’re knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won’t be overlooked.
11-12 “When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don’t worry about defending yourselves—what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.”
The Story of the Greedy Farmer
13 Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”
14 He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”
15 Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
16-19 Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
20 “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’
21 “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”
Steep Yourself in God-Reality
22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.
25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
When the Master Shows Up
35-38 “Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He’ll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn’t matter what time of the night he arrives; they’re awake—and so blessed!
39-40 “You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn’t have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. So don’t you be lazy and careless. Just when you don’t expect him, the Son of Man will show up.”
41 Peter said, “Master, are you telling this story just for us? Or is it for everybody?”
42-46 The Master said, “Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he’s doing his job. But if he says to himself, ‘The master is certainly taking his time,’ begins beating up on the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes.
47-48 “The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!
To Start a Fire
49-53 “I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything rightside up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be—
Three against two,
and two against three;
Father against son,
and son against father;
Mother against daughter,
and daughter against mother;
Mother-in-law against bride,
and bride against mother-in-law.”
54-56 Then he turned to the crowd: “When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, ‘Storm’s coming’—and you’re right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, ‘This’ll be a hot one’—and you’re right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now.
57-59 “You don’t have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense, the kind you’d use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to the judge you’d probably go to jail and pay every last penny of the fine. That’s the kind of decision I’m asking you to make.”
Luke 12
Legacy Standard Bible
Fear Only God
12 At this time, after [a]so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, “(A)Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 (B)But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3 Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have [b]whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon (C)the housetops.
4 “But I say to you, (D)My friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom to fear: (E)fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into [c](F)hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 Are not (G)five sparrows sold for two [d]assaria? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 (H)Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
8 “And I say to you, everyone who (I)confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God, 9 but (J)he who denies Me before men will be denied (K)before the angels of God. 10 (L)And everyone who [e]speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. 11 Now when they bring you before (M)the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not (N)worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say, 12 for (O)the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Parable of the Rich Fool
13 And someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “(P)Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 Then He said to them, “(Q)Watch out and be on your guard against every form of greed, for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear 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, (R)you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘(S)You fool! This very night [f](T)your soul is required of you; and (U)now who will own what you prepared?’ 21 So is the one who (V)stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22 And He said to His disciples, “(W)For this reason I say to you, [g]do not worry about your [h]life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the (X)ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor (Y)barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single [i](Z)cubit to his [j]life span? 26 Therefore, if you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, but I tell you, not even (AA)Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? (AB)You of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not (AC)keep worrying. 30 For [k]all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek, but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek His kingdom, and (AD)these things will be added to you. 32 (AE)Do not fear, (AF)little flock, for (AG)your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “(AH)Sell your possessions and give it as charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, (AI)an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For (AJ)where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be Ready for His Coming
35 “(AK)Gird up (AL)your loins, and keep your lamps lit. 36 And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find (AM)awake when he comes; truly I say to you, that (AN)he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38 (AO)Whether he comes in the [l]second watch, or even in the [m]third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39 “(AP)But [n]be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be [o](AQ)broken into. 40 (AR)You too, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not [p]expect.”
41 Now Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or (AS)to everyone else as well?” 42 And (AT)the Lord said, “(AU)Who then is the faithful and prudent (AV)steward, whom his master will put in charge of his [q]servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that (AW)slave whom his [r]master finds so doing when he comes. 44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master [s]will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will (AX)receive many beatings, 48 but the one who did not (AY)know it, and committed deeds worthy of a beating, will receive but a few. (AZ)From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I [t]have come to cast fire upon the earth, and [u]how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a (BA)baptism to [v]undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51 (BB)Do you think that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, (BC)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.”
54 And He was also saying to the crowds, “(BD)When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a (BE)hot day,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! (BF)You know how to examine the appearance of the earth and the sky, but [w]why do you not examine this present time?
57 “And (BG)why do you not even judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For (BH)while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to [x]settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the last [y](BI)lepton.”
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 Lit myriads
- Luke 12:3 Lit spoken in the ear
- Luke 12:5 Gr Gehenna
- Luke 12:6 A Roman copper coin, approx. 1/16 of a laborer’s daily wage
- Luke 12:10 Lit will speak
- Luke 12:20 Lit they are demanding your soul from you
- Luke 12:22 Or stop being worried
- Luke 12:22 Lit soul
- Luke 12:25 A cubit was approx. 18 in. or 45 cm
- Luke 12:25 Or height
- Luke 12:30 Or these things all the nations of the world
- Luke 12:38 9 p.m. to midnight
- Luke 12:38 Midnight to 3 a.m.
- Luke 12:39 Lit know
- Luke 12:39 Lit dug through
- Luke 12:40 Lit think
- Luke 12:42 Lit service
- Luke 12:43 Or lord
- Luke 12:45 Lit is delaying to come
- Luke 12:49 Or came
- Luke 12:49 Lit what do I wish if...?
- Luke 12:50 Lit be baptized with
- Luke 12:56 Lit how
- Luke 12:58 Lit be released from him
- Luke 12:59 Smallest Greek copper coin, approx. 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage
Luke 12
King James Version
12 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
路加福音 12
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
警戒门徒
12 这时，成千上万的人聚集在一起，甚至互相践踏。耶稣先对门徒说：“你们要提防法利赛人的酵，就是他们的伪善。 2 掩盖的事终会暴露出来，隐藏的秘密终会被人知道。 3 你们在暗处说的，将在明处被人听见；你们在密室里的私语，将在屋顶上被人宣扬。
4 “朋友们，我告诉你们，不要惧怕那些杀害人的身体后再也无计可施的人。 5 我告诉你们应该惧怕谁，要惧怕上帝——祂有权终结人的生命，并把人丢在地狱里。是的，我告诉你们，要惧怕祂！
6 “五只麻雀不是只卖两个铜钱吗？但上帝连一只麻雀也不会遗忘。 7 其实就连你们的头发都被数过了。不要害怕，你们比许多麻雀要贵重！
8 “我告诉你们，凡在人面前承认我的，人子在上帝的天使面前也必承认他。 9 凡在人面前否认我的，人子在上帝的天使面前也要否认他。 10 说话得罪人子的，还可以得到赦免，但亵渎圣灵的，必得不到赦免！ 11 当人押你们到会堂，或到官员和当权者面前时，不要顾虑如何辩解，或说什么话， 12 因为到时候圣灵必指示你们当说的话。”
无知富翁的比喻
13 这时，人群中有人对耶稣说：“老师，请你劝劝我的兄长跟我分家产吧。”
14 耶稣答道：“朋友，谁派我做你们的审判官或仲裁，为你们分家产呢？” 15 接着，祂对众人说：“你们要小心防范一切的贪心，因为人的生命并不在于家道富足。”
16 耶稣又讲了一个比喻，说：“有一个富翁，他的田里大丰收， 17 于是心里盘算，‘我储藏农产的地方不够了，怎么办呢？’ 18 于是他说，‘不如把原有的仓库拆掉，建几座更大的，好储藏我所有的粮食和财物！ 19 那时，我就可以对自己说，“你积存这么多财产，一生享用不尽，现在大可高枕无忧、尽情地吃喝玩乐吧！”’ 20 但上帝对他说，‘无知的人啊，今晚就要取走你的命！你所预备的一切留给谁享用呢？’”
21 耶稣说：“这就是那些只顾为自己积财、在上帝面前却不富足之人的写照。”
不要为衣食忧虑
22 耶稣继续对门徒说：“所以，我告诉你们，不要为生活忧虑，如吃什么，也不要为身体忧虑，如穿什么。 23 因为生命比饮食重要，身体比穿着重要。 24 你们看，乌鸦不种也不收，没仓也没库，上帝尚且养活它们，你们比飞鸟不知要贵重多少！
25 “你们谁能用忧虑使自己多活片刻呢？ 26 既然你们连这样的小事都无能为力，又何必为其余的事忧虑呢？ 27 看看百合花如何生长吧，它们既不劳苦，也不纺织，但我告诉你们，就连所罗门王最显赫时的穿戴还不如一朵百合花！
28 “野地的草今天还在，明天就要被丢在炉中，上帝还这样装扮它们，何况你们呢？你们的信心太小了！ 29 你们不要为吃什么喝什么忧虑， 30 因为这些都是外族人的追求，你们的天父知道你们需要这些。 31 你们要寻求祂的国，祂必供给你们的需要。
32 “你们这一小群人啊，不要怕！因为你们的天父乐意把祂的国赐给你们。 33 要变卖你们的家产去周济穷人，要为自己预备永不破损的钱袋，在天上积攒取之不尽的财宝，那里没有贼偷，也没有虫蛀。 34 因为你们的财宝在哪里，你们的心也在哪里。
警醒预备
35 “你们要束上腰带，准备服侍，要点亮灯， 36 像奴仆们等候主人从婚宴回来。主人回来一叩门，奴仆就可以立即给他开门。 37 主人回来，看见奴仆警醒等候，奴仆就有福了！我实在告诉你们，主人必束上腰带请他们坐席，并亲自服侍他们。 38 无论主人在深夜或黎明回家，若发现奴仆警醒等候，奴仆就有福了。
39 “你们都知道，一家的主人若预先知道贼什么时候来，一定不会让贼入屋偷窃。 40 同样，你们也要做好准备，因为在你们意想不到的时候，人子就来了。”
忠仆和恶仆
41 彼得问：“主啊！你这比喻是讲给我们听的，还是讲给众人听的呢？”
42 主说：“谁是那个受主人委托管理家中大小仆役、按时分粮食给他们、又忠心又精明的管家呢？ 43 主人回家时，看见他尽忠职守，他就有福了。 44 我实在告诉你们，主人一定会把所有产业都交给他管理。 45 但如果他以为主人不会那么快回来，就殴打仆婢、吃喝醉酒， 46 主人会在他想不到的日子、不知道的时辰回来，严厉地惩罚[a]他，使他和不忠不信的人同受严刑。 47 明知主人的意思却不准备，也不遵行主人吩咐的仆人，必受更重的责打。 48 但因不知道而做了该受惩罚之事的仆人，必少受责打。多给谁，就向谁多取；多托付谁，就向谁多要。
家庭分裂
49 “我来是要把火丢在地上，我多么希望这火已经燃烧起来。 50 我有要受的‘洗礼’，我何等迫切地想完成这‘洗礼’啊！ 51 你们以为我来是要使天下太平吗？不，我告诉你们，我来是要使地上起纷争。 52 从今以后，一家五口会彼此相争，三个人反对两个人，或是两个人反对三个人， 53 父子相争，母女对立，婆媳反目。”
明辨是非
54 然后，祂又对众人说：“你们看见云从西方升起，就说，‘快下雨了！’果然如此。 55 南风一起，你们就说，‘天必燥热’，你们也说对了。 56 你们这些伪善的人！既然知道观察天色、预测天气，为什么不知道观察这个世代呢？ 57 你们为什么不自己明辨是非呢？ 58 如果你和控告你的人要去对薄公堂，要尽量在路上跟对方和解，以免被拉到审判官面前，审判官派差役把你关进监牢。 59 我告诉你，除非你付清所欠的每一分钱，否则休想出监牢。”
Footnotes
- 12:46 “严厉地惩罚”或作“腰斩”。
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.