0962310 Jesus teaches a great crowd – Luke 12:1-59, A.D. 28 Bethany
In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to say to his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. And what you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops. “And I say to you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear him. “Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? And not one of them is forgotten by God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore, do not be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
“And I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, him will the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God; but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”
And one of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, say to my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” And he spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly. And he reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I do not have room to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. And the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they do not sow, neither do they reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! And which of you by being anxious can add some time to his life? If then you are not able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow. They do not toil, neither do they spin; yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink; neither have a doubtful mind. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and neither moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning. And be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I say to you, that he will dress himself, and make them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And they will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you do not expect him.”
And Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?” And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? Blessed is that servant whom his lord will find doing so when he comes. Truly I say to you, that he will set him over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and become drunk. Then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he is not expecting him, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful. And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and did not prepare, nor did what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. And to whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
“I came to throw fire on the earth, and I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I say to you, no, but rather division. For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. And they will be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” And he said to the multitudes also, “And when you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens. And when you see a south wind blows, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to interpret this time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from him, lest perhaps he drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I say to you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny.”
