Luke 12

Warning Against Hypocrisy

1 Meanwhile, a crowd gathered so big people were stepping over each other. Jesus started speaking first to His disciples: “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees, that hypocrisy.

2 There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nothing hidden that will not be made known.

3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.

Fear God, Not People

4 I am telling you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who can kill the body and after that cannot do anything else.

5 I will show you who to fear, fear the One who, after killing the body, has authority to throw into hell. Yes, fear Him.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for almost anything, Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7 Even the hairs on your head are all counted. Do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 I am telling you, whoever acknowledges Me before people, the Son of Man will acknowledge them before the angels of God.

9 But whoever denies Me before people will be denied before the angels of God.

10 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not stress about how you will defend yourself or what you will say.

12 The Holy Spirit will teach you in that moment what needs to be said.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said, “Teacher, tell my brother to split the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus said, “Man, who made Me a judge or divider over you?”

15 Then He told them, “Watch out, guard yourself against every kind of greed. Life is not about how much stuff you have.”

16 Then He told them a parable: “A rich man had land that produced a big harvest.

17 He started thinking, ‘What am I am going to do, I do not have room to store all this.’

18 Then he said, ‘I got it, I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and goods there.

19 Then I will say to myself, you have got plenty stored up for years, relax, eat, drink, and enjoy life.’

20 But God said to him, ‘You fool, this very night your life is required of you. Then who will get what you stored up,’

21 That is how it is with anyone who stores up treasure for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “That is why I am telling you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or your body, what you will wear.

23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24 Look at the ravens, they do not plant or harvest, they do not have storage or barns, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds,

25 Who of you can add even a single hour to your life by worrying,

26 If you cannot do something that small, why worry about the rest,

27 Look at the flowers, how they grow. They do not work or spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

28 If that is how God clothes the grass, here today and gone tomorrow, how much more will He take care of you, You of little faith.

29 Do not keep stressing over what you will eat or drink, do not stay anxious about it.

30 That is what the world chases after, but your Father knows you need these things.

31 Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make money bags that does not wear out, a treasure in heaven that never runs out, where no thief comes close and no moth destroys.

34 Because where your treasure is, your heart will be there too.”

Be Ready

35 “Stay ready, dressed and prepared, your lamps burning.

36 Be like people waiting for their master to come back from a wedding, so when he comes and knocks, they can open the door right away.

37 Blessed are those servants the master finds watching when he returns. I am telling you, he will dress himself to serve, have them sit down, and serve them.

38 Even if he comes in the middle of the night or just before dawn and finds them ready, they are blessed.

39 But understand this, if the homeowner knew when the thief was coming, he would not let his house be broken into.

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

41 Peter said, “Lord, are You telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food at the right time,

43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he returns.

44 I am telling you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time,’ and starts beating the other servants and partying,

46 the master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him severely.

47 That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act on it will be beaten with many blows.

48 But the one who did not know and did things deserving punishment will be beaten with fewer blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required. From the one entrusted with much, even more will be expected.”

Not Peace but Division

49 “I came to bring fire on the earth, and I wish it were already lit.

50 But I have a baptism to go through, and I am under pressure until it is finished.

51 You think I came to bring peace on earth, No, I tell you, division.

52 From now on, five in one household will be 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Times

54 Then He said to the crowd, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say right away, ‘Rain is coming,’ and it does.

55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It is going to be hot,’ and it happens.

56 Hypocrites, you know how to read the weather, but you do not know how to read what is happening right now.

57 Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right,

58 As you are going with your opponent before a judge, try to settle things on the way, or they will drag you before the judge, the judge will hand you over to the officer, and the officer will throw you in jail.

59 I am telling you, you will not get out until you have paid every last bit.”