Luke 12

Fear God, Not People

1 Meanwhile,t when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesust began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard againstt the yeast of the Pharisees,s which is hypocrisy.s2 Nothing is hiddent that will not be revealed,s and nothing is secret that will not be made known.

3 So thent whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whisperedt in private roomss will be proclaimed from the housetops.t
4 “It tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body,s and after that have nothing more they can do.5 But I will warnt you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing,s has authority to throw yout into hell.s Yes, I tell you, fear him!6 Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?s Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

7 In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid;s you are more valuable than many sparrows.
8 “It tell you, whoever acknowledgest me before men,t the Son of Man will also acknowledges before God’s angels.9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirits will not be forgiven.t11 But when they bring you before the synagogues,ss thet rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defenset or what you should say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that momentt what you must say.”t

The Parable of the Rich Landowner

13 Thent someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tells my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 But Jesust said to him, “Man,t who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?”t15 Thent he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself fromt all types of greed,t because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”16 He thent told them a parable:t “The land of a certain rich man producedt an abundant crop,17 sot he thought to himself,t ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’s18 Thent he said, ‘Is will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to myself,t “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your lifet will be demanded back fromt you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’t

21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself,s but is not rich toward God.”

Exhortation Not to Worry

22 Thent Jesust said to hiss disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worryt about yours life, what you will eat, or about yourss body, what you will wear.23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing.24 Consider the ravens:t They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feedst them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!25 And which of you by worryingt can add an hour to his life?t26 So ift you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry aboutt the rest?27 Consider how the flowerst grow; they do not workt or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!28 And ift this is how God clothes the wild grass,t which is heret today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,ts how much mores will he clothe you, you people of little faith!29 Sot do not be overly concerned aboutt what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.t30 For all the nations of the world pursuet these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31 Instead, pursuet hiss kingdom,s and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleasedt to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessionss and give to the poor.t Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heavent that never decreases,t where no thief approaches and no motht destroys.

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

Call to Faithful Stewardship

35 “Get dressed for servicet and keep your lamps burning;s36 be like peoplet waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,s so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.37 Blessed are those slavest whom their master finds alertt when he returns! I tell you the truth,t he will dress himself to serve,t have them take their place at the table,t and will comet and wait on them!s38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the nights and finds them alert,t blessed are those slaves!t39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thiefs was coming, he would not have lets his house be broken into.

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”s
41 Thent Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?”s42 The Lord replied,t “Who then is the faithful and wise manager,t whom the master puts in charge of his household servants,t to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?43 Blessed is that slavet whom his master finds at workt when he returns.44 I tell you the truth,t the mastert will put him in charge of all his possessions.45 But ift thatt slave should say to himself,t ‘My master is delayedt in returning,’ and he begins to beats the othert slaves, both men and women,t and to eat, drink, and get drunk,46 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two,t and assign him a place with the unfaithful.t47 Thatt servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master askedt will receive a severe beating.

48 But the one who did not know his master’s willt and did things worthy of punishmentt will receive a light beating.t From everyone who has been given much, much will be required,t and from the one who has been entrusted with much,s even more will be asked.t

Not Peace, but Division

49 “I have comes to bringt fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled!50 I have a baptisms to undergo,t and how distressed I am until it is finished!51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!t52 For from now ons there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three.

53 They will be divided,t father 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.”

Reading the Signs

54 Jesust also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west,s you say at once, ‘A rainstormt is coming,’ and it does.55 And when you see the south winds blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is.

56 You hypocrites!s You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know hows to interpret the present time?

Clear the Debts

57 “Andt why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate,s make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer,s and the officer throw you into prison.

59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!”ts

Luke 13

A Call to Repent

1 Nowt there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.s2 Het answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinnerss than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things?3 No, I tell you! But unless you repent,s you will all perish as well!t4 Or those eighteen who were killedt when the tower in Siloam fell on them,s do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?s

5 No, I tell you! But unless you repents you will all perish as well!”t

Warning to Israel to Bear Fruit

6 Thent Jesust told this parable: “A man had a fig trees planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.7 Sot he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, ‘Fort three yearss now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect itt I find none. Cuts it down! Whyt should it continue to depletes the soil?’8 But the workert answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizert on it.

9 Then ift it bears fruit next year,t very well,t but ift not, you can cut it down.’”

Healing on the Sabbath

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagoguess on the Sabbath,11 and a woman was theret who had been disabled by a spiritt for eighteen years. Shet was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely.t12 Whent Jesus saw her, he called her to himt and said, “Woman,s you are freedt from your infirmity.”t13 Thent he placed his hands on her, and immediatelys she straightened up and praised God.14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which works should be done!t So comet and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.”15 Then the Lord answered him,t “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall,t and lead it to water?s16 Thent shouldn’tt this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satans bound for eighteen longt years, be released from this imprisonmentt on the Sabbath day?”

17 Whent he said this all his adversaries were humiliated,t butt the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful thingss he was doing.t

On the Kingdom of God

18 Thus Jesust asked,t “What is the kingdom of Gods like?s Tot what should I compare it?

19 It is like a mustard seeds that a man took and sowedt in his garden. Itt grew and became a tree,s and the wild birdst nested in its branches.”s
20 Againt he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God?s

21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed witht three measuress of flour until all the dough had risen.”ts

The Narrow Door

22 Thent Jesust traveled throughoutt townst and villages, teaching and making his way towardt Jerusalem.s23 Someonet askedt him, “Lord, will only a fews be saved?” Sot he said to them,24 “Exert every effortt to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.25 Oncet the head of the houset gets upt and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord,t let us in!’t But he will answer you,t ‘I don’t know where you come from.’s26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’s27 Butt he will reply,st ‘I don’t know where you come from!s Go away from me, all you evildoers!’t28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeths when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,t and all the prophets in the kingdom of Gods but you yourselves thrown out.t29 Thent peoplet will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet tablet in the kingdom of God.s

30 Butt indeed,t some are lasts who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Going to Jerusalem

31 At that time,t some Phariseess came up and said to Jesus,t “Get away from here,t because Herods wants to kill you.”32 Butt he said to them, “Got and tell that fox,s ‘Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third days I will complete my work.t33 Nevertheless I mustt go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossiblet that a prophet should be killedt outside Jerusalem.’ss34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,s you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you!t How often I have longeds to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, butt you would have none of it!t

35 Look, your house is forsaken!s And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”s

Luke 14

Healing Again on the Sabbath

1 Nowt one Sabbath when Jesus went to dinet at the house of a leadert of the Pharisees,s they were watchings him closely.2 Theret rightt in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.s3 Sot Jesus askedt the experts in religious lawt and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths or not?”4 But they remained silent. Sot Jesust took hold of the man,t healed him, and sent him away.t5 Thent he said to them, “Which of you, if you have a sons or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?”

6 Butt they could not replys to this.

On Seeking Seats of Honor

7 Thent when Jesust noticed how the guestst chose the places of honor,t he told them a parable. He said to them,8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast,t do not taket the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host.t9 Sot the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then, ashamed,t you will begin to move to the least importantt place.10 But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your hostt approaches he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up here to a better place.’t Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, butt the one who humbless himself will be exalted.”
12 Het said also to the mans who had invited him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet,t don’t invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid.13 But when you host an elaborate meal,t invite the poor, the crippled,s the lame, andt the blind.s

14 Thent you will be blessed,s because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaids at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The Parable of the Great Banquet

15 Whent one of those at the meal with Jesust heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyonet who will feastt in the kingdom of God!”s16 But Jesust said to him, “A man once gave a great banquett and inviteds many guests.t17 Att the time for the banquett he sent his slavet to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’18 But one after another they allt began to make excuses.s The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field,s and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.’s19 Anothert said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen,s and I am going outt to examine them. Please excuse me.’20 Anothert said, ‘I just got married, and I cannot come.’s21 Sot the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furioust and said to his slave, ‘Go out quicklys to the streets and alleys of the city,t and bring in the poor,s the crippled,t the blind, and the lame.’22 Thent the slave said, ‘Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.’s23 Sot the master said to hist slave, ‘Go out to the highwayss and country roadst and urget peoplet to come in, so that my house will be filled.s

24 For I tell you, not one of those individualst who were inviteds will taste my banquet!’”t

Counting the Cost

25 Now large crowdss were accompanying Jesus,t and turning to them he said,26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hatet his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life,t he cannot be my disciple.27 Whoever does not carry his own crosss and followt me cannot be my disciple.28 For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit downt first and compute the costt to see if he has enough money to complete it?29 Otherwise,t when he has laidt a foundation and is not able to finish the tower,t all who see itt will begin to make fun oft him.30 They will say,t ‘This mans began to build and was not able to finish!’s31 Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit downt first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to opposet the one coming against him with twenty thousand?32 If he cannot succeed,t he will send a representativet while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.s

33 In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.ts
34 “Saltts is good, but if salt loses its flavor,s how can its flavor be restored?

35 It is of no valuet for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out.t The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”t