Luke 12

12 ¹Meanwhile, as thousands crowded together, trampling each other, Jesus began speaking first to his disciples: "Guard yourselves against the yeast of the Pharisees—that is, hypocrisy. ²Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. ³So whatever you said in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you whispered in private rooms will be announced from the rooftops.

⁴"I tell you, my friends: don't fear those who kill the body, then can do nothing more. ⁵I'll show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

⁶Aren't five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one is forgotten before our Father. ^a a v6 An assarion was a small copper coin of little value—two of them bought five sparrows. ⁷But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Don't be afraid—you're worth more than many sparrows.

⁸"And I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before our Father's angels. ⁹But whoever denies me before others will be denied before our Father's angels. ¹⁰Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. ¹¹When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, don't worry how to defend yourselves or what to say, ¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say."

The Fool Who Forgot Our Father

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

¹⁴But Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?" ¹⁵He said to them, "Watch out! Guard against every kind of greed, because life isn't made up of possessions, however many."

¹⁶And he told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced a good harvest.

¹⁷He thought to himself, 'What should I do? I have no place to store my crops.' ¹⁸So he said, 'Here's what I'll do: tear down my barns, build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods there.' ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have plenty stored up for many years—rest, eat, drink, enjoy life."

²⁰But our Father said to him, 'Fool! Tonight your soul is demanded back from you. Then what you've prepared, whose will it be?' ²¹That's what happens to anyone who piles up treasure for himself but isn't rich toward our Father."

Our Father Knows What You Need

²²Then Jesus told his disciples, "So I tell you: don't worry about your life—what you'll eat—or about your body—what you'll wear. ²³For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴Look at the ravens: they don't sow or reap, have no storeroom or barn, yet our Father feeds them. How much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁶Since you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷Notice how the lilies grow: no toil, no spinning. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If this is how our Father clothes the grass of the field—here today, thrown into the oven tomorrow—how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith?

²⁹Do not seek what you will eat or drink, and do not be anxious. ³⁰For all the nations of the world seek these things; your Father knows you need them. ³¹Instead, seek our Father's kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³²"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make yourselves purses that don't wear out—an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be Ready When the Master Returns

³⁵"Be dressed and ready for service, and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶like servants waiting for their master's return from the wedding feast, so when he comes and knocks, they open the door at once. ³⁷Blessed are the servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself for service, have them recline at the table, and come serve them. ³⁸Whether he comes at midnight or just before dawn, blessed are those servants if he finds them ready. ³⁹Know this: if the homeowner knew what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰You too must be ready—the Son of Man comes at an hour you don't expect."

⁴¹Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?"

⁴²The Lord replied, "Who is the faithful, wise manager the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their ration at the right time? ⁴³Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵But if that servant tells himself, 'My master delays his coming,' and starts beating the servants, men and women, and eats, drinks, and gets drunk. ⁴⁶That servant's master will come on a day he doesn't expect, at an hour he doesn't know, cut him in two, and give him a place among the unfaithful. ⁴⁷The servant who knew his master's will but didn't prepare or act on it will get many blows. ⁴⁸But the one who didn't know, yet did what deserved punishment, will get few blows. Everyone given much will be asked for much; the one entrusted with much will be asked for even more.

The Son Brings Fire, Not Peace

⁴⁹"I came to throw fire on the earth—how I wish it were already lit! ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! ⁵¹Do you think I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but division. ⁵²From now on there will be five in one household divided—three against two and two against three. ⁵³They'll split—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."

⁵⁴He also told the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'Rain is coming,' and so it does.

⁵⁵And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It will be hot,' and it is. ⁵⁶Hypocrites! You know how to read the face of earth and sky. Why don't you know how to read this present time?

⁵⁷"And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸While going with your accuser to the magistrate, work to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. ⁵⁹I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."