The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

(Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)

In the meantime, when many thousands of the people were gathered together, so much 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 concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be known.

So whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Fear God Alone

(Matthew 10:26–31)

I say to you my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that they have no more that they can do.

But I will warn you about whom to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear. You are more valuable than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

(Matthew 10:32–33)

I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God,

but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you will speak in your defense, or what you will say,

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you should say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Then someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or a mediator over you?”

And he said to them, “Watch that you keep yourselves from all greedy desires, because a person’s life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.”

Then Jesus told them a parable, saying, “The field of a rich man yielded abundantly,

and he reasoned with himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I do not have a place to store my crops?’

He said, ’This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all of my grain and other goods.

I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Rest easy, eat, drink, be merry.”’

But God said to him, ‘Foolish man, tonight your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

That is what someone is like who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

(Matthew 6:25–34)

Jesus said to his disciples, “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life-what you will eat, or about your body-what you will wear.

For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

Consider the ravens, that they do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn, but God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his lifespan?

If then you are not able to do even that smallest thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider the lilies-how they grow. They do not labor, neither do they spin. Yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

If God so clothes the grass in the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Do not look for what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious.

For all the nations of the world look for these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6:19–21)

Do not fear, little flock, because your Father is very pleased to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make for yourselves purses which will not wear out-treasure in the heavens that does not run out, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)

Let your long clothing be tucked in at your belt, and let your lamps be kept burning,

and be like people looking for their master when he returns from the marriage feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open the door for him.

Blessed are those servants, whom the master will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will tuck in his long clothing at his belt, and have them sit down at the table, and he will come and serve them.

If the master comes in the second watch of the night, or if even in the third watch, and finds them ready, blessed are those servants.

Moreover know this, that if the master of the house had known the hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Be ready also, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man comes.”

Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable only to us, or also to everyone?”

The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his lord will set over his other servants to give them their portion of food at the right time?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord finds doing that when he comes.

Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his property.

But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My lord delays his return,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink, and to become drunk,

the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and appoint a place for him with the unfaithful.

That servant, having known his lord’s will, and not having prepared or done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating, he will be beaten with a few blows. But everyone who has been given much, from them much will be required, and the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

Not Peace but Division

(Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)

I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled.

But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is completed!

Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

For from now on there will be five in one house divided-three people against two, and two people against three.

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.”

Interpreting the Present Time

(Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)

Jesus was saying to the crowds also, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.

And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat,’ and it happens.

Hypocrites, you know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the heavens, but how is it that you do not know how to interpret the present time?

Reconciling with an Adversary

(Matthew 5:21–26)

Why do you not judge what is right for yourselves?

For when you go with your adversary before the magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the matter with him so that he does not drag you to the judge, and so that the judge does not deliver you to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison.

I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid the very last bit of money.”

(Matthew 16:5–12; Mark 8:14–21)

Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell 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. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Fear God Alone

(Matthew 10:26–31)

“I tell you, my friends, don’t 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 Gehenna. (a) Yes, I tell you, fear him.

“Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins (b) ? Not one of them is forgotten by God.

But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

(Matthew 10:32–33)

“I tell you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God;

but he who denies me in the presence of men will be denied in the presence of God’s angels.

Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t 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.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.

He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’

He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. 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.”

Do Not Worry

(Matthew 6:25–34)

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!

Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit (c) to his height?

If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?

Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell 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?

“Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.

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.

Treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6:19–21)

“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

Sell what you have and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Readiness at Any Hour

(Matthew 24:36–51; Mark 13:32–37)

“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.

Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding 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 tell you that he will dress himself, make them recline, and will come and serve them.

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 don’t expect him.”

Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”

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 tell 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 to be drunken,

then the lord of that servant will come in a day when he isn’t expecting him and in an hour that he doesn’t know, and will cut him in two, and place his portion with the unfaithful.

That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,

but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.

Not Peace but Division

(Micah 7:1–6; Matthew 10:34–39)

“I came to throw fire on the earth. 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 tell you, no, but rather division.

For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

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.” (d)

Interpreting the Present Time

(Matthew 16:1–4; Mark 8:11–13)

He said to the multitudes also, “When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it happens.

When 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 don’t interpret this time?

Reconciling with an Adversary

(Matthew 5:21–26)

“Why don’t you 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 tell you, you will by no means get out of there until you have paid the very last penny. (e) ”

Footnotes

(a)12:5 or, Hell

(b)12:6 An assarion was a small copper coin worth about an hour’s wages for an agricultural laborer.

(c)12:25 A cubit is the length from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow on a man’s arm, or about 18 inches or 46 centimeters.

(d)12:53 ℘ Micah 7:6

(e)12:59 literally, lepton. A lepton is a very small brass Jewish coin worth half a Roman quadrans each, which is worth a quarter of the copper assarion. Lepta are worth less than 1% of an agricultural worker’s daily wages.