Luke 12:32–48

³²Don’t be afraid, ⁿlittle flock, ^obecause your Father delights ^pto give you the kingdom. ^q33Sell ^ryour possessions and give to the poor. ^sMake money-bags ^tfor yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure ^uin heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ^v

Ready for the Master’s Return

³⁵“Be ready for service ^wand have your lamps lit. ^x36You must be like people waiting for their master ^yto return ^zfrom the wedding banquet ^aso that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. ^b37Those ^•slaves the master will find alert ^cwhen he comes will be blessed. ^•I assure you: He will get ready, ^dhave them recline at the table, then come and serve them. ^e38If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, ^fand finds them alert, those slaves are blessed. ³⁹But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, ^ghe would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰You also be ready, ^hbecause the Son of Man ⁱis coming at an hour that you do not expect.” ^j

Rewards and Punishment

⁴¹“Lord,” Peter asked, “are You telling this parable to us or to everyone?”

⁴²The Lord said: “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager ^khis master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food ^lat the proper time? ⁴³That slave whose master finds him working when he comes will be rewarded. ⁴⁴I tell you the truth: He will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁵But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ ^mand starts to beat the male and female slaves, and to eat and drink and get drunk, ⁴⁶that slave’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces ⁿand assign him a place with the unbelievers. ^o47And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it ^pwill be severely beaten. ^q48But the one who did not know and did things deserving ^rof blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more. ^st