New Testament in a Year
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased[a] to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions[b] and give to the poor.[c] Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out—a treasure in heaven[d] that never decreases,[e] where no thief approaches and no moth[f] destroys. 34 For where your treasure[g] is, there your heart will be also.
Call to Faithful Stewardship
35 “Get dressed for service[h] and keep your lamps burning;[i] 36 be like people[j] waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,[k] so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 Blessed are those slaves[l] whom their master finds alert[m] when he returns! I tell you the truth,[n] he will dress himself to serve,[o] have them take their place at the table,[p] and will come[q] and wait on them![r] 38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night[s] and finds them alert,[t] blessed are those slaves![u] 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief[v] was coming, he would not have let[w] his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”[x]
41 Then[y] Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”[z] 42 The Lord replied,[aa] “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,[ab] whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,[ac] to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave[ad] whom his master finds at work[ae] when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth,[af] the master[ag] will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if[ah] that[ai] slave should say to himself,[aj] ‘My master is delayed[ak] in returning,’ and he begins to beat[al] the other[am] slaves, both men and women,[an] and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,[ao] and assign him a place with the unfaithful.[ap] 47 That[aq] servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked[ar] will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know his master’s will[as] and did things worthy of punishment[at] will receive a light beating.[au] From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,[av] and from the one who has been entrusted with much,[aw] even more will be asked.[ax]
Not Peace, but Division
49 “I have come[ay] to bring[az] fire on the earth—and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism[ba] to undergo,[bb] and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division![bc] 52 For from now on[bd] there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided,[be] 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.”
Reading the Signs
54 Jesus[bf] also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west,[bg] you say at once, ‘A rainstorm[bh] is coming,’ and it does. 55 And when you see the south wind[bi] blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 56 You hypocrites![bj] You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how[bk] to interpret the present time?
Clear the Debts
57 “And[bl] why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate,[bm] make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer,[bn] and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”[bo]
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