12:1 In the meantime, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered · so that they were trampling one another, Jesus began to say (to · his disciples first), “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
12:2 Nothing · is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
12:3 All that you said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what · you said in · private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
12:4 “I tell · you, · my friends, do not fear those who can kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.
12:5 I will show · you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after · he kills, has authority to throw you into · hell. Yes, I tell you, fear this one!
12:6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before · God.
12:7 In fact, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are worth more than many sparrows.
12:8 “I say · to you, everyone who acknowledges me before · men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God;
12:9 but the one who denies me before · men will be denied before the angels of God.
12:10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
12:11 When · they bring you before the synagogues, · the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry: How or what words should you use in your defense? or, What should you say?
12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what it is necessary to say.”
12:13 Someone from the crowd said · to him, “Teacher, tell · my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
12:14 But he said to him, “Friend, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator between you two?”
12:15 And he said to them, “Watch out and be on guard against all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance · of · his possessions.”
12:16 Then he told a parable to them, saying: “The land of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
12:17 And he thought to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, for I have no place to store · my crops?’
12:18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my · barns and I will build bigger ones; and I will store there all · my grain and · my goods.
12:19 Then I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your rest, eat, drink, be merry.”’
12:20 But God said to him, · ‘You fool! This very night · your soul will be demanded of you. And what you have prepared for yourself, whose will it be?’
12:21 So it is with the one who stores up treasures for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
12:22 He said · to · his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will wear.
12:23 · For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
12:24 Consider the ravens: for they do not sow, neither do they reap; for them there is neither storehouse nor granary, yet · God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
12:25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to · his span of life?
12:26 If then, you are unable to accomplish such an insignificant thing, why do you worry about · other things?
12:27 Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all · his glory clothed himself like one of these.
12:28 If · God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, · how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith!
12:29 And you, do not have as an overriding concern what to eat and what to drink; · do not let such things bother you.
12:30 For all the nations of the world have these things as their overriding concern, and your · Father knows full well that you need them.
12:31 Instead, have · his kingdom as your overriding concern, and these things will be given to you in addition.
12:32 Do not be afraid, · little flock, because your Father has determined in his pleasure · to give you the kingdom.
12:33 Sell · your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves moneybags that do not wear out, a treasure unfailing in · heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
12:34 For where your treasure is, · there will your heart be as well. ·
12:35 “Let your waists be · girded and your lamps burning;
12:36 and be like men waiting for · their master to come home from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him immediately.
12:37 Fortunate are · those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service, · have them recline at table, and will come and serve them.
12:38 If he comes in the second or in the third watch and finds it so, those ones are fortunate.
12:39 “Know this: · that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would not have allowed his house be broken into. ·
12:40 So you too must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.”
12:41 Then Peter said, · “Lord, are you telling this parable to us · or · to everyone?”
12:42 And the Lord said, “Who, then, is the faithful and wise steward, · whom the master will put in charge of · his servants, to give the food ration at the proper time?
12:43 Fortunate is · that servant whom his master, when he comes, · will find doing so.
12:44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all · his possessions.
12:45 But if that servant says · in · his heart, ‘My master is delayed · in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and · female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk;
12:46 then the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know about, and he will cut him in pieces and will assign him · his place with the unfaithful.
12:47 “And that · servant who knew · his master’s will · but did not get ready or act in accord with · his will, will be beaten with many blows.
12:48 But the one who did not know, and did things worthy of blows, will be beaten with few blows. Everyone · to whom much was given, much will be required from him, and to whom much was handed over, they will ask more of him.
12:49 “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
12:50 I have a baptism · to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is completed!
12:51 Do you think that I came to give peace in the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!
12:52 For from now on there will be · five in one household divided, three against two and two against three;
12:53 father 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 · mother-in-law.”
12:54 He also said · to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens.
12:55 And when there is a south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be hot weather,’ and it happens.
12:56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you do not know how to interpret · this present time? ·
12:57 “Why, · indeed, do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
12:58 So when you go with · your opponent before the magistrate, make an effort to receive a settlement from him on the way; otherwise he will drag you off to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the bailiff, and the bailiff will throw you into prison.
12:59 I say to you, you will certainly not get out of there until · you have paid the last penny.”
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