Luke 12:6-52

6Are not 1five sparrows sold for two 2cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 73Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

8“And I say to you, everyone who 4confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; 9but 5he who denies Me before men will be denied 6before the angels of God. 107And everyone who 8speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. 11When they bring you before 9the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not 10worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12for 11the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

13Someone 12in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14But He said to him, “13Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15Then He said to them, “14Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, 15you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20But God said to him, ‘16You fool! This very night 1718your soul is required of you; and 19now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21So is the man who 20stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

22And He said to His disciples, “21For this reason I say to you, 22do not worry about your 23life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the 24ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor 25barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25And which of you by worrying can add a single 2627hour to his 28life’s span? 26If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even 29Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? 30You men of little faith! 29And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not 31keep worrying. 30For 32all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31But seek His kingdom, and 33these things will be added to you. 3234Do not be afraid, 35little flock, for 36your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

33“37Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, 38an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34For 39where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

35“4041Be dressed in 42readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find 43on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that 44he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 3845Whether he comes in the 46second watch, or even in the 47third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

39“48But 49be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be 5051broken into. 4052You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not 53expect.”

41Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or 54to everyone else as well?” 42And 55the Lord said, “56Who then is the faithful and sensible 57steward, whom his master will put in charge of his 58servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43Blessed is that 59slave whom his 60master finds so doing when he comes. 44Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master 61will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will 62receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not 63know it, and committed deeds worthy of 64a flogging, will receive but few. 65From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

49“I 66have come to cast fire upon the earth; and 67how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a 68baptism to 69undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 5170Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.