Luke 12
Worldwide English (New Testament)
12 Many thousands of people had gathered. They stepped on each other. Jesus began to talk to the disciples. He said, `Take care. Do not let the yeast of the Pharisees spoil you. They are not true to themselves.
2 Everything that is covered up will be seen. Everything that is hidden will be known.
3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light. What you have said in secret with the door shut will be told from the tops of the houses.'
4 `You are my friends. I tell you, do not fear people who can kill your bodies. After that they cannot do anything more to you.
5 I will tell you whom you must fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has the power to throw into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
6 Are not five sparrows sold for a tiny sum of money? Yet God does not forget about one of them.
7 Even the number of hairs on your head is known. So do not fear. You are worth more than many sparrows.'
8 `And I tell you. If anyone tells people that he knows me, the Son of Man will also tell the angels of God that he knows him.
9 But if anyone tells people he does not know me, the Son of Man will also tell the angels of God that he does not know that person.
10 `Everyone who says anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who says wrong things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 `When men take you to the meeting houses and to the rulers and to the courts, do not be troubled about what you will answer or say.
12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at the right time what you must say.'
13 One of the people in the crowd said, `Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the things my father left when he died.'
14 Jesus said, `Man, who made me a judge over you or gave me power to divide your things?'
15 Then he said to the people, `Take care. Do not be greedy in any way to get more and more things. Even if a man has much more than he needs, it cannot give him life.'
16 Then he told them a story. He said, `A rich man had a farm. The things that grew on it were many.
17 He said to himself, "What will I do? I have no place to keep all the food I have grown."
18 So he said, "This is what I will do. I will break down my storehouses and build bigger ones. I will keep in them all the food and everything I have.
19 Then I will say to myself, `Man, you have much in your storehouses for many years. Rest now. Eat, drink, and have a good time.' "
20 But God said to him, "You are a fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will have all the things you have kept for yourself?"
21 So anyone who keeps things for himself is not rich in the way God wants him to be rich.'
22 Jesus said to his disciples, `So I tell you this. Do not be troubled about what you will eat to keep alive. Do not be troubled about clothes to wear on your body.
23 Life itself is worth more than food, and the body is worth more than clothes.
24 `Think of the birds. They do not plant, cut, or keep any food. Yet God feeds them. You are worth much more than the birds!
25 `Can any of you live any longer by troubling yourself about these things?
26 If you cannot do a small thing like that, why do you trouble yourself about the other things?
27 `Think about the flowers. See how they grow. They do not work or make cloth. I tell you, King Solomon was a great man. But he was not dressed as fine as one of these flowers.
28 God dresses the grass in the fields so it looks nice. It is in the field one day and the next day it is burned. If God dresses the grass like that, he cares much more that you have clothes to wear. You do not believe in God very much!
29 `Do not keep asking, "What shall we eat?" and, "What shall we drink?" Do not be troubled about that.
30 All the people who are not Jews work for these things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need them.
31 But work for God's kingdom. Then you will have all these things also.'
32 `Do not fear, little family. Your Father wants to give the kingdom to you.
33 Sell what you have and give it to poor people. Make for yourselves money bags that will not wear out. Keep the things you like in heaven. They will not be lost there. People cannot go in and steal them, and insects cannot spoil them.
34 The place where you keep the things you like is where your heart will be also.'
35 `Be dressed and have your lamps lit.
36 Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding. They are ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.
37 Happy the servants who are ready when the master comes! The servants who are ready when the master comes will be made happy. I tell you the truth. The master will get ready to serve them. He will set them at the table and will come and serve them.
38 He may come in the middle of the night or when it is nearly morning. But if they are watching for the master, they will be happy.
39 `And remember this. If the owner of a house knew at what time a man would come to steal, he would not let the man break into his house.
40 So then, be ready. The Son of Man will come at a time when you are not looking for him.'
41 Peter said, `Lord, are you telling this story for us or for all the people?'
42 The Lord said, `Who is like a wise servant who can be trusted? His master will put him in charge of his other servants. He gives them food to eat at the right time.
43 His master will bless that servant if he is doing this when he comes!
44 I tell you the truth. His master will put him in charge of all that he has
45 But perhaps that servant says to himself, "My master will not come just now." Then he begins to beat the other servants. He begins to eat and drink until he is drunk.
46 If he does that, his master will come on a day when he is not looking for him. He will not know the time when his master is coming. His master will punish him very much and put him away with those he cannot trust.
47 `A servant knew what his master wanted. But he was not ready. He did not do what his master wanted him to do. So he will be beaten much.
48 But if a servant did not know and did something bad, he will be beaten only a little. To whom much has been given, from him much will be asked. When people give much to anyone, they will ask more from him.
49 `I came to start a fire on the earth. I wish the fire were already burning!
50 I will be going through a big trouble, and I feel like a prisoner until it is all over.
51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? I tell you, "No". I came to take away peace.
52 From now, if there are five in a family, they will be against each other. Three of them will be against the other two. And two of them will be against the other three.
53 A father will be against his son, and the son will be against his father. The mother will be against her daughter, and the daughter will be against her mother. A man's mother will be against his wife, and his wife will be against his mother.'
54 Jesus also said to the people, `When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say right away, "Rain is coming." And it comes.
55 When the wind is blowing from the south, you say, "It will be very hot." And it is.
56 You are not true to yourselves! You know the meaning of these signs in the earth and sky. But you do not know the meaning of the signs about the time in which we are living.'
57 `Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
58 If someone wants to take you to court, make an agreement with him quickly on the way. If you do not, he will take you to the judge. The judge will give you to the guard, and the guard will put you in prison.
59 I tell you, you will not get out of prison until you have paid up every piece of money.'
Luke 12
Amplified Bible
God Knows and Cares
12 In the meantime, after so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began speaking first of all to His disciples, “Be continually on your guard against the [a]leaven of the Pharisees [that is, their pervasive, corrupting influence and teaching], which is hypocrisy [producing self-righteousness]. 2 But there is nothing [so carefully] concealed that it will not be revealed, nor so hidden that it will not be made known.(A) 3 For that reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will point out to you whom you should fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority and power to hurl [you] into [b]hell; yes, I say to you, [stand in great awe of God and] fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two [c]copper coins? Yet not one of them has [ever] been forgotten in the presence of God. 7 Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are far more valuable than many sparrows.
8 “I say to you, whoever declares openly and confesses Me before men [speaking freely of Me as his Lord], the Son of Man also will declare openly and confess him [as one of His own] before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who [d]blasphemes against the Holy Spirit [that is, whoever intentionally discredits the Holy Spirit by attributing the authenticating miracles done by Me to Satan], it will not be forgiven him [for him there is no forgiveness].(B) 11 When they bring you before the synagogues and the magistrates and the authorities, do not be worried about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Covetousness Denounced
13 Someone from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or an arbitrator over [the two of] you?” 15 Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”
Parable of the Wealthy Fool
16 Then He told them a parable, saying, “There was a rich man whose land was very fertile and productive. 17 And he began thinking to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place [large enough in which] to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my storehouses and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things stored up, [enough] for many years; rest and relax, eat, drink and be merry (celebrate continually).”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’(C) 21 So it is for the one who continues to store up and hoard possessions for himself, and is not rich [in his relationship] toward God.”
22 Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear.(D) 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the crop]; they have no storehouse or barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add one hour to his life’s span? 26 So if you are not even able to do a very little thing [such as that], why are you worried about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies and wildflowers, how they grow [in the open field]. They neither labor nor spin [wool to make clothing]; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these.(E) 28 But if this is how God clothes the grass which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith! 29 So as for you, do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink; nor have an anxious and unsettled mind. 30 For all the [pagan] nations of the world greedily seek these things; and your [heavenly] Father [already] knows that you need them. 31 But [strive for and actively] seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your possessions (show compassion) and give [donations] to the poor. Provide money belts for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing and inexhaustible treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be in Readiness
35 “Be dressed and ready for active service, and keep your lamps continuously burning. 36 Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they may immediately open the door for him. 37 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he arrives. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will prepare himself to serve, and will have them recline at the table, and will come and wait on them. 38 Whether he comes in the second watch (before midnight), or even in the third (after midnight), and finds them so [prepared and ready], blessed are those servants.
39 “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.(F) 40 You too, be continually ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
41 Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us [disciples], or to everyone else as well?”
Parable of the Faithful Steward
42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time?(G) 43 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives. 44 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking his time in coming,’ and begins to beat the 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 does not know, and will [e]cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip], 48 but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.(H)
Christ Divides Men
49 “I have come to cast fire (judgment) on the earth; and how I wish that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism [of great suffering] with which to be baptized, and how [greatly] I am distressed until it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division [between believers and unbelievers];(I) 52 for from now on five in one household will be divided [over Me], 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.”(J)
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 that is how it turns out. 55 And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! You know how to analyze and intelligently interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [to forecast the weather], but why do you not intelligently interpret this present time?
57 “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58 For while you are going with your opponent [at law] to appear before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle, so that he does not drag you before the judge, and the judge does not [rule against you and] turn you over to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison.(K) 59 I say to you, you [absolutely] will not get out of there until you have paid the very last [f]cent.”
Footnotes
- Luke 12:1 A substance such as yeast that consists mostly of fungi. This analogy relates the impurity of a leavening agent to the impurity of the man-made tradition and hypocrisy of the Pharisees that was preventing the nation of Israel from accepting the Messiah.
- Luke 12:5 See note Matt 5:22.
- Luke 12:6 Gr assarion, a Roman coin equal to a 16th of a denarius (the denarius was counted as a day’s wages for an unskilled worker).
- Luke 12:10 Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit involves treating the Holy Spirit irreverently by denying the power and work of the Holy Spirit. This leads ultimately to rejecting the deity of Christ.
- Luke 12:46 This may be a hyperbole for severe punishment short of execution.
- Luke 12:59 Gr lepton, 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wages.
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