Luk 12 | BSB | STEP | In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. [Jesus] began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Luke 12

The Leaven of the Pharisees

1 In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. [Jesus] began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 [There] is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and [nothing] hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

Fear God Alone

4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the [One who] , after [you] have been killed, has power to throw [you] into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 {Are} not five sparrows sold for two pennies? ^{▼▼Greek two assaria; an assarion was a Roman copper coin worth about 1/16 of a denarius} Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 [And even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [So] do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

8 I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. 9 But whoever 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 whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, {do} not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. 12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But [Jesus] replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” 15 And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every [form of] greed, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. 17 So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This [is what] I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger [ones] , and there I will store up all my grain and [my] goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, [and] be merry!”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘ [You] fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ 21 This is how [it will be for] anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

22 Then [Jesus] said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, {do} not worry about your life, what you will eat, [or] about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow [or] reap; they have no storehouse [or] barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ^{▼▼Or a single cubit to his height; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters.} 26 So if you cannot [do] such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor [or] spin. ^{▼▼NE and Tischendorf Consider the lilies: they do not spin or weave} Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of [the] field, which is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much [more will He clothe] you, O [you] of little faith! 29 And {do} not be concerned about what you will eat [or] drink. {Do} not worry about [it] . 30 For the nations of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek His ^{▼▼BYZ and TR God's} kingdom, and these things will be added unto you. 32 {Do} not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves [with] purses [that will] not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches [and] no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be Ready for Service

35 Be dressed for service and {keep} [your] lamps burning. 36 Then you [ will be ] like [servants] waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open [the door] for him at once. 37 Blessed [are] those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he [himself] will come [and] wait on them. 38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds [them] alert, those [servants] will be blessed! 39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include he would have stayed awake and} he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” 41 “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” 42 And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful [and] wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his [servants] to give [them] [their] portion at the proper time? 43 Blessed [is] that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be 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 he does not anticipate and at an hour he does not expect. Then He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 That servant who knows his master’s will [but] does not get ready [or] follow his instructions will be beaten with many [blows] . 48 But the [one who] unknowingly does [things] worthy of punishment will be beaten with few [blows] . [From] everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

"Not Peace, But Division"

49 I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” ^{▼▼See Micah 7:6}

Interpreting the Present Time

54 Then [Jesus] said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in [the] west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens. 55 And when [the] south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is. 56 [You] hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret [the] present time?

Reconcile with an Adversary

57 And why don’t you judge for yourselves what [is] right? 58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to [the] magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.” ^{▼▼Greek lepton, a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius}