Luke 12:1-28 ▼

1 WHEN a large number of people had gathered together, so as to tread on one another, Jesus began to say to his disciples, First of all, Beware you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing that is covered, that will not be uncovered; and what is hidden that will not be known.

3 For whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered in the ears in the inner chambers will be preached on the housetops.

4 I say to you, my friends, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.

5 But I will show you of whom to be afraid; of him who after he has killed has the power to throw into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And yet not one of them is lost before God.

7 But so far as you are concerned, even the hairs of your head are all numbered; therefore fear not, because you are much more important than many sparrows.

8 I say to you, Whoever will acknowledge me before men, the Son of man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

9 But he who denies me before men, I will deny him before the angels of God.

10 And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

11 When they bring you to the synagogues before the leaders and authorities, do not worry how you will answer, or what you will say;

12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.

13 And one of the men from the crowd said to him, Teacher, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

14 Jesus said to him, Man, who appointed me a judge or a property divider over you?

15 And he said to his disciples, Beware of all covetousness, because life does not depend on abundance of wealth.

16 Then he told them a parable. The land of a rich man brought him a great many crops.

17 And he reasoned within himself and said, What shall I do, for I have no place to gather my crops?

18 So he said, I will do this; I will tear down my barns, and build them and enlarge them; and gather there all my wheat and my good things.

19 And I will say to myself, Myself, you have many good things stored up for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be happy.

20 But God said to him, O you shortsighted, this very night your life will be demanded of you; and these things which you have prepared, to whom will they he left?

21 Such is he who lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich in the things in God.

22 And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Do not worry for your life, what you will eat; nor for your body, what you will wear.

23 For the life is much more important than food, and the body than clothing.

24 Observe the ravens; for they do not sow nor reap, and they have no storerooms and barns; and yet God feeds them; how much more important are you than the fowls?

25 Who is among you, who by worrying, can add to his stature one cubit?

26 So if you are not able to do the smaller thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 Observe the flowers, how they grow; for they do not toil nor do they spin; but I say to you, that not even Solomon with all his glory was covered like one of these.

28 And if God clothes in such fashion the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow falls into the fireplace; how much more is he to you, O you of little faith?