New Testament in a Year
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven[a] where thief does not approach or moth destroy. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
On the Alert for the Master’s Return
35 “You must be prepared for action[b] and your[c] lamps burning. 36 And you, be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast,[d] so that when he[e] comes back and knocks, they can open the door[f] for him immediately. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by and[g] serve them. 38 Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find them[h] like this, blessed are they! 39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think he will come.”[i]
A Faithful Slave and an Unfaithful Slave
41 And Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or also for everyone?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his servants to give them[j] their[k] food allowance at the right time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find so doing when he[l] comes back. 44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave should say to himself,[m] ‘My master is taking a long time to return,’ and he begins to beat the male slaves and the female slaves and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and assign his place with the unbelievers. 47 And that slave who knew the will of his master and did not prepare or do according to his will will be given a severe beating.[n] 48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving blows will be given a light beating.[o] And from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be demanded, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will ask him for even more.
Not Peace, But a Sword of Divisiveness
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish that it had been kindled already! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to grant peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 For from now on there will be five in one household, divided 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 her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
The Signs of the Times
54 And he also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be burning heat,’ and it happens. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to evaluate the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it you do not know how to evaluate this present time?
Settle Accounts Quickly
57 And why do you not also judge for yourselves what is right? 58 For as you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to come to a settlement with him on the way, so that he will not drag you to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back even the last cent!”[p]
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