Luke 12
12
Warnings and Encouragements
1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be#12:1 Or speak to his disciples, saying: “First of all, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life#12:25 Or single cubit to your height? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his 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. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Watchfulness
35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
42The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for 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 suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Not Peace but Division
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They 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
54He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Luke 12
12
Beware of Hypocrisy
1In #Matt. 16:6; Mark 8:15the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, #Matt. 16:12; Luke 11:39“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2#Matt. 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 8:17; (1 Cor. 4:5)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Jesus Teaches the Fear of God
4#Is. 51:7, 8, 12, 13; Jer. 1:8; Matt. 10:28“And I say to you, #(John 15:13–15)My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, #Ps. 119:120fear Him!
6“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And #Matt. 6:26not one of them is forgotten before God. 7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Confess Christ Before Men
8#1 Sam. 2:30; Matt. 10:32; (Mark 8:38; Rom. 10:9; 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 John 2:23)“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me #Ps. 119:46before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9But he who #Matt. 10:33; (Mark 8:38; 2 Tim. 2:12)denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10“And #(Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28; 1 John 5:16)anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11#Matt. 6:25; 10:19; Mark 13:11“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12For the Holy Spirit will #(John 14:26)teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14But He said to him, #(John 18:36)“Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15And He said to them, #(1 Tim. 6:6–10)“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, #Eccl. 11:9; 1 Cor. 15:32; James 5:5“Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; #(Eccl. 2:24; 3:13; 5:18; 8:15)eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night #Job 27:8; Ps. 52:7; (James 4:14)your soul will be required of you; #Ps. 39:6; Jer. 17:11then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, #(Matt. 6:20; Luke 12:33; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19; James 2:5; 5:1–5)and is not rich toward God.”
Do Not Worry
22Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, #Matt. 6:25–33do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and #Job 38:41; Ps. 147:9God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even #1 Kin. 10:4–7; 2 Chr. 9:3–6Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of #Matt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8little faith?
29“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father #Matt. 6:31, 32knows that you need these things. 31#Matt. 6:33But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32“Do not fear, little flock, for #(Dan. 7:18, 27); Zech. 13:7; (Matt. 11:25, 26; Luke 22:29, 30)it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33#Matt. 19:21; Acts 2:45; 4:34Sell what you have and give #Luke 11:41alms; #Matt. 6:20; Luke 16:9; (1 Tim. 6:19)provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
35#(Eph. 6:14; 1 Pet. 1:13)“Let your waist be girded and #(Matt. 25:1–13)your lamps burning; 36and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37#Matt. 24:46Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39#Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:2; (2 Pet. 3:10); Rev. 3:3; 16:15But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40#Matt. 24:44; 25:13; Mark 13:33; (Luke 21:34, 36); 1 Thess. 5:6; (2 Pet. 3:12)Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”
42And the Lord said, #Matt. 24:45, 46; 25:21; (1 Cor. 4:2)“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44#Matt. 24:47; 25:21; (Rev. 3:21)Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45#Matt. 24:48; 2 Pet. 3:3, 4But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46the master of that servant will come on a #1 Thess. 5:3day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47And #Num. 15:30; Deut. 25:2; (John 9:41; 15:22; Acts 17:30)that servant who #(James 4:17)knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48#(Lev. 5:17); Num. 15:29; (1 Tim. 1:13)But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Christ Brings Division
49#Luke 12:51“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But #Matt. 20:18, 22, 23; Mark 10:38I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is #John 12:27; 19:30accomplished! 51#Matt. 10:34–36Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, #Mic. 7:6; John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19; Acts 14:4but rather division. 52#Matt. 10:35; Mark 13:12For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53#Matt. 10:21, 36Father will be divided 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 her mother-in-law.”
Discern the Time
54Then He also said to the multitudes, #Matt. 16:2, 3“Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. 55And when you see the #Job 37:17south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern #Luke 19:41–44this time?
Make Peace with Your Adversary
57“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? 58#Prov. 25:8; Matt. 5:25, 26When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort #(Ps. 32:6; Is. 55:6)along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.