LUK 12
12
Warning Against the Leaven of
the Pharisees
1 During this time, an enormous crowd of many thousands assembled, so packed together that people were trampling one another. Jesus began speaking first to His disciples: "Be vigilant and guard yourselves against the corrupting influence of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy—pretending to be something on the outside while being different on the inside.
2 There is nothing covered up that will not eventually be uncovered, nothing hidden that will not ultimately be brought into the open.
3 Therefore, whatever you have whispered in the darkness will be proclaimed in broad daylight, and what you have spoken privately behind closed doors will be announced publicly from the housetops.
Fear Only God
Matt. 10:28-31
4 I say to you who are My friends: Do not be afraid of those who can kill the physical body but afterwards possess no further power to harm you.
5 Let Me show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after taking your life, has the authority to cast your soul into hell. Yes, I tell you emphatically, fear Him alone!
6 Are not five small sparrows sold for merely two pennies in the marketplace? Yet not a single one of them is forgotten or overlooked in God's sight.
7 In fact, even the individual hairs on your head are all numbered and known by God. Stop being afraid—you are worth far more than many sparrows.
Acknowledging Christ Before Men
Matt. 10:32-33; 12:32; 10:19-20
8 I tell you this truth: Everyone who openly acknowledges and confesses Me before other people, the Son of Man will likewise acknowledge him before the angels of God.
9 But whoever denies Me before people will be denied and disowned before the angels of God.
10 Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man may receive forgiveness. But the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not receive forgiveness.
11 When they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities for trial, do not become anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say in your defence.
12 The Holy Spirit will teach and instruct you in that very hour what you must say."
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone in the crowd spoke up and said to Jesus, "Teacher, command my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."
14 But Jesus replied to him, "Man, who appointed or authorised Me to be a judge or arbitrator to settle disputes between you?"
15 Then Jesus warned the people, “Keep watch against every form of greed and covetousness, because a person's life does not consist in or depend on the abundance of material possessions he owns."
16 Jesus told them this parable: "The land belonging to a certain wealthy man produced an exceptionally abundant harvest.
17 He began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What should I do? I do not have sufficient space to store all my crops.'
18 Then he said, 'Here is what I will do: I will tear down my existing barns and build much larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have plenty of goods laid up for many years to come. Take your ease, relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."'
20 But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared and accumulated—whose will they be after you die?'
21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich towards God—who accumulates earthly wealth but has no spiritual riches."
Do Not Be Anxious
Matt. 6:25-34; 19:21
22 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "For this reason I tell you: Stop worrying about your life—what you will eat, or about your body—what you will wear.
23 Life is far more important than food, and the body is far more important than clothing.
24 Consider and observe the ravens: they do not sow seed or reap harvest; they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable and precious you are than birds!
25 Which of you by worrying and being anxious can add a single hour to your lifespan or a single inch to your height?
26 If you cannot accomplish even this smallest thing, why do you worry about all the other matters?
27 Consider how the lilies grow: they do not toil or spin thread to make clothing, yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendour was dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.
28 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field—which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the oven as fuel—how much more will He clothe you, O you people of little faith!
29 As for you, do not keep seeking what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not have a worried, anxious mind.
30 For all the pagan nations of the world eagerly seek after all these things, but your Father knows that you need these things.
31 Instead, seek His kingdom first and foremost, and these material necessities will be provided to you.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen in His good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out or become old, an unfailing treasure in heaven where no thief can come near and no moth can destroy.
34 For wherever your treasure is located, there your heart will be focused also."
Be Prepared for Action
Matt. 24:45-51
35 Keep your waists girded and ready for action, and keep your lamps burning brightly.
36 Be like servants who are waiting expectantly for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him.
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master will find alert and watching when he arrives. Truly, I tell you that he will dress himself for service, have them recline at the table, and will personally come and serve them.
38 Even if he comes back in the second watch of the night (about 9.00 p.m. to midnight) or the third watch (about midnight to 3.00 a.m.) and finds them watching faithfully, blessed are those servants.
39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.
40 You also must be ready and prepared, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."
41 Peter asked, "Lord, are You telling this parable for us apostles specifically, or for everyone in general?"
42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom the master will put in charge over his household servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing so when he returns.
44 Truly, I tell you that the master will put him in charge of all his possessions.
45 But suppose that servant says in his heart, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
47 That servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will shall be beaten with many blows.
48 But the one who did not know his master's will and did things worthy of punishment will be beaten with a few blows. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required. To whom much was entrusted, they will ask even more from him."
Jesus' Mission to Cast Fire on the Earth
Matt. 10:34-36
49 Jesus declared, "I came to cast fire upon the earth—to bring judgment and division—and how I wish it were already kindled and burning!
50 But I have a baptism of suffering to undergo, and how greatly distressed I am until it is accomplished!
51 Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division and separation!
52 For from now on, five people in one household will be divided against each other: 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."
Interpreting the Time
Matt. 16:2-3
54 Jesus also said to the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and so it happens.
55 And when the south wind is blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and it comes to pass.
56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret and analyse the appearance of the earth and sky, but how is it that you do not know how to interpret this present time and recognise the signs of the Messiah's presence?
Settling with Your Opponent
Matt. 5:25-26
57 Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right and just?
58 As you are going with your adversary to appear before the magistrate, make every effort to settle the matter with him along the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back every last penny."
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
