Nothing Is Hidden From Our Father
12 1 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another, Jesus began to say first to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. 3 So whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. a a v5 Gehenna: the valley south of Jerusalem used as a burning rubbish dump, a picture of final judgment.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten before our Father. b b v6 An assarion was a small copper coin of little value—two of them bought five sparrows. 7 Indeed, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
8 "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before our Father's angels. 9 But whoever denies me before others will be denied before our Father's angels. 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 they bring you before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you must say."
The Fool Who Forgot Our Father
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14 But Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for life is not about the things you own."
16 And he told them a parable: "The land of a certain rich man produced a good harvest. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 Then he said, 'This is what I will do: 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 my soul, "Soul, you have plenty of good things stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and be merry."'
20 But our Father said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is being demanded back from you. Then who will get what you have prepared?' 21 This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward our Father."
Our Father Knows What You Need
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 clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet our Father feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 Which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 Consider how the lilies grow: they neither labor nor spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 28 If this is how our Father clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
29 So do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the nations of the world chase after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek our Father's kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in the heavens that never runs out, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be Ready When the Master Returns
35 "Be dressed and ready for service, and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, 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 watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself for service, have them recline at the table, and come and wait on them. 38 Whether he comes in the middle of the night or in the early hours before dawn, blessed are those servants if he finds them ready. 39 But understand this: if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us, or for everyone?"
42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds 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 is taking a long time to come,' and begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47 That servant who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act according to it will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
The Son Brings Fire, Not Peace
49 "I came to bring 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 I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one household 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 her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
54 He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'A storm is coming,' and so it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It will be hot,' and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret this present time?
57 "And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny."