Self-interpreting Bible

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Luke 12

1Christ teacheth his disciples to avoid hypocrisy, and not to be fearful in publishing his doctrine: 13he refuseth to be judge in a civil cause, and warneth the people to beware of covetousness by the parable of a rich man, who boasted himself in his multiplied stores: 22he exhorteth not to be over anxious about the provisions of this life; but to seek the kingdom of God; 33to lay up treasure in heaven by giving alms; 35and to be always ready for our Lord's coming. 41By the parable of a good and a wicked steward he sheweth the duty of his ministers in particular: 49he foretelleth the divisions on account of the gospel: 54reproveth the people for not discerning the times: 57and sheweth the danger of neglecting the means of reconciliation offered them.

1 IN the mean time, awhen there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, bBeware ye of the *leaven of the Pharisees, which is chypocrisy.

2 dFor there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in *closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

  • *: closets-private rooms.

4 And I say unto you emy friends, fBe not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed ghath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

6 Are not five hsparrows sold for two farthings, and inot one of them is forgotten before God?

7 But jeven the very hairs of your head are all numbered. kFear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8 lAlso I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before mthe angels of God:

9 nBut he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

10 oAnd whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy *Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

11 pAnd when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, qtake ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

12 rFor the Holy *Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

13 ¶And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, sthat he divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, Man, twho made me a judge or a divider over you?

15 And he said unto them, uTake heed, and beware of covetousness: vfor a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man wbrought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

    18 xAnd he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

    19 And I will say to my soul, ySoul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; ztake thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

    20 aBut God said unto him, Thou fool, this night 1thy soul shall be required of thee: bthen whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

    21 cSo is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and dis not rich toward God.

    22 ¶And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, eTake no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

    23 fThe life is more than *meat, and the body is more than *raiment.

    24 gConsider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

    25 hAnd which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

    26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

      27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that iSolomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

      28 If then God so clothe the grass, jwhich is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, kO ye of little faith?

      29 And lseek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, 2neither be ye of doubtful mind.

      30 mFor all these things do the nations of the world seek after: nand your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

      31 ¶oBut rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

      32 pFear not, qlittle flock; for rit is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

      33 sSell that ye have, and give alms; tprovide yourselves bags which wax not old, ua treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

      34 vFor where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

      35 wLet your loins be *girded about, and your lights burning;

      36 xAnd ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from ythe wedding; that when zhe cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

      37 aBlessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find bwatching: *verily I say unto you, that he shall c*gird himself, and dmake them to sit down to *meat, and will come forth and serve them.

      38 And if he shall come in ethe *second watch, or come in the *third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

      • e: Ex. 14:24
      • *: second watch-9.00pm to midnight. , third watch-midnight to 3.00am.

      39 fAnd this know, that if the *goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

      40 gBe ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

      41 ¶Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable hunto us, or even to all?

      42 And the Lord said, iWho then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of *meat in due season?

      43 jBlessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

      44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he kwill make him ruler over all that he hath.

      45 But land if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin mto beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

      46 nThe lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and owill 3cut him *in sunder, and pwill appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

      47 qAnd that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

      48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. rFor unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

      49 ¶sI am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

      50 But tI have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I 4*straitened till it be accomplished!

      51 uSuppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

      52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

        53 The father shall be divided against the son, and vthe son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

        54 ¶And he said also to the people, wWhen ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

        55 And xwhen ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

        56 yYe hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern zthis time?

        57 aYea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

        58 ¶bWhen thou goest with thine *adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he *hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

        59 I tell thee, cthou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the dvery last mite.