THE BOOK OF LUKE

 

Luke Chapter 12

1 ¶ In the mean time, when such a large crowd had gathered, that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began by speaking first to his disciples, saying, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing concealed, that will not be revealed; nor hidden, that will not be known.

3 Therefore anything you have said in the dark will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered in the ear behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

4 Moreover I am telling you my friends, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that can do no more.

5 But I will warn you as to who you should fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has the power to cast into hell; yea, I am telling you, Fear him.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies, yet not one of them is forgotten by God?

7 Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid: you are of more value than many sparrows.

8 Moreover I tell you, Whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of man will also acknowledge before the angels of God:

9 But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man, will be forgiven: but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven.

11 When they bring you before synagogues, and magistrates, and authorities, do not worry about how you will answer, or what you will say:

12 For the Holy Ghost will teach you at that time what you should say.

13 ¶ Then someone in the crowd said, Master, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.

14 And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or arbiter over you?

15 Then he said to them, Watch out, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.

16 And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought to himself, What shall I do, since I have no room to store my harvest?

18 Then he said, This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones; and I will store all my grain and my goods there.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said to him, You fool, your soul will be required from you tonight: then who will own the things you have prepared?

21 So it will be with anyone who lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God.

22 ¶ Then Jesus said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, Take no thought for your life, what you will eat; nor for the body, what you will put on.

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

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them: how much more valuable are you than the birds?

25 And which of you can add one cubit to his stature by worrying?

26 Since you are not able to do even such little things, why do you worry about the rest?

27 Consider how the lilies grow: they do not labor, they do not spin; and yet I tell you, that Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

28 If that is how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 So do not strive for what you will eat, or what you will drink, nor be anxious.

30 For all the nations of the world are pursuing these things: and your Father knows that you have need of them.

31 Instead seek the kingdom of God; and all these things will be given to you as well.

32 Do not be afraid, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell what you have, and give to the poor; provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure unfailing in the heavens, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys.

34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35 Let your body be clothed, and your lights burning;

36 Like men waiting for their Master, to return from the wedding; so that when he comes and knocks, they may open the door for him immediately.

37 Blessed are the servants, that the lord finds watching when he comes: I tell you truly, that he will prepare himself, and have them to sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

38 And if he comes in the second watch, or in the third watch, and finds them ready, blessed are those servants.

39 And know this, that if the owner of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not let his house be broken into.

40 Therefore you be ready also: for the Son of man will come in an hour when you do not expect it.

41 ¶ Then Peter asked, Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?

42 And the Lord answered, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master putts in charge of his servants, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?

43 Blessed is the servant, whom the lord finds so doing when he comes.

44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge over everything that he has.

45 But if that servant says in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and begins to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour he is not aware of, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and did not get ready, and did not do what his master wanted, will be beaten with many lashes.

48 But the one who does not know, and committed deeds worthy of flogging, will be beaten with few lashes. For to whom much is given, much will be required: and from one who has been entrusted with much, more will be asked.

49 I have come to send fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I distressed until it is accomplished!

51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace on earth? I tell you, No; but instead division:

52 For from now on there will be five in one family, divided three against two, and two against three.

53 The father will be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

54 ¶ Then he said to the crowd, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, you immediately say, A shower is coming; and so it is.

55 And when the south wind blows, you say, It will be hot; and it happens.

56 You hypocrites, you can understand the appearance of the sky and the earth; why do you not recognize the time?

57 Moreover, why don’t you yourselves recognize what is right?

58 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to settle with him on the way; lest he haul you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59 I tell you, you will not get out, until you have paid the very last cent.