12:22 Then 8 Jesus 9 said to his 10 disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry 11 about your 12 life, what you will eat, or about your 13 body, what you will wear. 12:23 For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing. 12:24 Consider the ravens: 14 They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds 15 them. How much more valuable are you than the birds! 12:25 And which of you by worrying 16 can add an hour to his life? 17 12:26 So if 18 you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about 19 the rest? 12:27 Consider how the flowers 20 grow; they do not work 21 or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 12:28 And if 22 this is how God clothes the wild grass, 23 which is here 24 today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, 25 how much more 26 will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 12:29 So 27 do not be overly concerned about 28 what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things. 29 12:30 For all the nations of the world pursue 30 these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 12:31 Instead, pursue 31 his 32 kingdom, 33 and these things will be given to you as well.
12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased 34 to give you the kingdom. 12:33 Sell your possessions 35 and give to the poor. 36 Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven 37 that never decreases, 38 where no thief approaches and no moth 39 destroys. 12:34 For where your treasure 40 is, there your heart will be also.
12:35 “Get dressed for service 41 and keep your lamps burning; 42 12:36 be like people 43 waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, 44 so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 12:37 Blessed are those slaves 45 whom their master finds alert 46 when he returns! I tell you the truth, 47 he will dress himself to serve, 48 have them take their place at the table, 49 and will come 50 and wait on them! 51 12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night 52 and finds them alert, 53 blessed are those slaves! 54 12:39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief 55 was coming, he would not have let 56 his house be broken into. 12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 57
12:41 Then 58 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 59 12:42 The Lord replied, 60 “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, 61 whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, 62 to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 12:43 Blessed is that slave 63 whom his master finds at work 64 when he returns. 12:44 I tell you the truth, 65 the master 66 will put him in charge of all his possessions. 12:45 But if 67 that 68 slave should say to himself, 69 ‘My master is delayed 70 in returning,’ and he begins to beat 71 the other 72 slaves, both men and women, 73 and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 12:46 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, 74 and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 75 12:47 That 76 servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked 77 will receive a severe beating. 12:48 But the one who did not know his master’s will 78 and did things worthy of punishment 79 will receive a light beating. 80 From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, 81 and from the one who has been entrusted with much, 82 even more will be asked. 83
12:49 “I have come 84 to bring 85 fire on the earth – and how I wish it were already kindled! 12:50 I have a baptism 86 to undergo, 87 and how distressed I am until it is finished! 12:51 Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 88 12:52 For from now on 89 there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. 12:53 They will be divided, 90 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.”
12:54 Jesus 91 also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, 92 you say at once, ‘A rainstorm 93 is coming,’ and it does. 12:55 And when you see the south wind 94 blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 12:56 You hypocrites! 95 You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how 96 to interpret the present time?
12:57 “And 97 why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 12:58 As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, 98 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, 99 and the officer throw you into prison. 12:59 I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!” 100