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UST LUKE Chapter 12

12 Meanwhile, many thousands of people gathered around Jesus. There were so many that they were stepping on each other. The first thing he said to his disciples was, “Be careful that you do not become like the Pharisees, who act religious in public but do evil things in secret. 2 It is useless for people to try to keep their sins a secret. Someday God will let everyone know everything people are trying to hide. 3 Someday people will hear publicly everything you have said privately. Someday someone will shout for everyone to hear what you have whispered in your room.

4 My friends, listen carefully! Do not be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot do anything more to you after that! 5 I will tell you whom you should truly be afraid of. You should be afraid of God. Not only does he have the right to cause people to die, he also has the right to throw them into hell afterward! Yes, I tell you, God is the one you should truly be afraid of! 6 Think about the sparrows. They have so little value that you can buy five of them for only two small coins. And yet God never forgets any of them! 7 God even knows how many hairs there are on your head. Do not be afraid, because you are more valuable to God than many sparrows.

8 I tell you also that if people tell others that they are my disciples, then I, the Son of Man, will say to God’s angels that those people are my disciples. 9 But if they tell others that they are not my disciples, then I will say to God’s angels that those people are not my disciples. 10 I also tell you that if people say bad things about me, the Son of Man, God will forgive them for that. But if people say bad things about the Holy Spirit, God will not forgive them for that. 11 So when people bring you into the synagogues to question you before the religious leaders there and to other people who have power in the country, do not worry about how you will answer them or about what you should say, 12 because the Holy Spirit will tell you at that very time what you should say.”

13 Then one of the people in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide our father’s property with me!” 14 But Jesus replied to him, “Man, no one made me a judge to settle arguments that people have about property!” 15 Then he said to the whole crowd, “Be careful not to be greedy in any way! What matters about a person’s life is not how many things he owns.”

16 Then Jesus told the crowd this story: “The lands of a certain rich man produced abundant crops. 17 He thought to himself, ‘I do not know what to do, because I do not have any place big enough to store all my crops!’ 18 Then he thought to himself, ‘I know what I will do! I will tear down my grain bins and build larger ones! Then I can store all my grain and other things in the big new bins. 19 Then I will say to myself, “Now I have stored up enough things to last many years. So I will take life easy. I will eat and drink and be happy” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Tonight you will die! Then all the things you have saved up for yourself will belong to someone else, not to you!” ’

21 Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying, “That is what will happen to those who store up things just for themselves and do not value the things that God considers valuable.”

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Here is something you should learn from the story. Do not worry about whether you will have enough food to eat to stay alive or enough clothes to wear to stay warm. 23 After all, your life is more important than the food you eat, and your body is more important than the clothes you put on it. 24 Think about the birds. They do not plant seeds, and they do not harvest crops. They do not have rooms or buildings in which to store crops, but God provides food for them. And you are certainly much more valuable than birds. 25 None of you can add even a minute to his life by worrying about it! 26 So since you cannot even do that small thing, you certainly should not worry about anything else. 27 Think about the way that flowers grow. They do not work to earn money, and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that King Solomon, who lived long ago and wore glorious clothes, never dressed as beautifully as a single flower. 28 God makes the plants beautiful, even though they grow for only a short time. Then people cut them down and throw them into the fire. But you are very precious to God. He will care for you even more than he cares for the plants. You should trust God more than you do. 29 As for you, do not wonder about what you will eat and drink, and do not keep worrying about those things. 30 While the people who do not know God all worry about such things, you can be confident that your Father in heaven knows that you need them. 31 Instead, concentrate on what you can do for the kingdom of God. When you do, you can trust God to provide everything you need.

32 So you should not be afraid, my friends. Your Father in heaven wants you to be part of his kingdom and receive all of its benefits. 33 So sell the things you own and give the money to people who need food or clothing or a place to live. Get yourselves wallets that do not wear out. I mean store up treasure in heaven where it will always be safe. There no thief can steal anything and no moths will destroy your clothing. 34 After all, whatever it is that you treasure, that is what you will think about and spend your time on.

35 Always be ready for doing God’s work, like people who have put on their work clothes and are keeping the lights on all night. 36 Be ready for me to return, like servants who are waiting for their master to return after being at a wedding feast. They are waiting to open the door for him as soon as he arrives and knocks at the door. 37 It will be very good for those servants if they are awake when their master returns. Let me tell you this: He will reward them by dressing like a servant, telling them to sit down, and serving them a meal. 38 Even if he comes home late in the evening or in the middle of the night, if he finds that his servants are awake and ready for him, he will be very pleased with them. 39 And I want you to consider this: If the owner of a house knew that a thief was coming, and at what time, he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house. 40 So be ready, because I, the Son of Man, will come again at a time when you do not expect me.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you giving this illustration only for us, your disciples? Or is it for the crowd too?” 42 Jesus replied, “I am saying it for everyone who is like a faithful and wise servant who is a manager in his master’s house. His master puts him in charge of his other servants, to make sure they get their food at the proper time. 43 If his master comes home and sees that he is doing that work, he will reward that servant. 44 Let me tell you this: The master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But that servant who was put in charge might say to himself, ‘My master is going to be away for a long time.’ Then he might start to beat the other servants. He might also start to eat and drink a lot and get drunk. 46 If he does that, his master might return at a time when the servant does not expect him. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with those who do not serve him faithfully. 47 The servant who knew what his master wanted but did not get ready and do it will be severely punished. 48 But every servant who did not know what his master wanted him to do, and then did something wrong, will only get a mild punishment. The master will expect much from all servants to whom he has given much. And the master will expect even more from servants whom he has entrusted with many responsibilities.

49 I came to stir up spiritual passions in people. I wish that they were already acting on them! 50 Soon I must go through terrible suffering. I will continue to be distressed until I finish my suffering. 51 You should know that I did not come so that people would live together peacefully. No, you must understand that instead, people will take sides for and against me. 52 Be prepared, because this is what is going to happen. In a family of five people, some will believe in me and some will not. Three family members will join together against the other two. 53 Family members will conflict. A father will oppose his son, or a son will oppose his father. A mother will oppose her daughter, or a daughter will oppose her mother. A mother-in-law will oppose her daughter-in-law, or a daughter-in-law will oppose her mother-in-law.”

54 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a dark cloud forming in the west, you immediately say ‘It is going to rain!’ and that is what happens. 55 When the wind blows from the south, you say, ‘It is going to be a very hot day!’ and you are right. 56 You hypocrites! By observing the clouds and the wind, you are able to discern what is happening regarding the weather. You should be able to discern what God is doing at this present time!

57 Each of you ought to decide for yourselves what is right! 58 Here is one thing you should do. You should try to settle things with someone who has accused you while you are still on the way to the court. If he forces you to go to the judge, the judge could decide that you are guilty and turn you over to the court officer. Then that officer will put you in prison. 59 I tell you that if you go to prison, you will never get out of there until you are able to pay every bit of what the judge says you owe.”

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