Luke 12:8–34

Acknowledgement of Christ and Persecution of Disciples

⁸“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man also will acknowledge him before the angels of God, ⁹but the one who denies me before people will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven. ¹¹But when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you should speak in your own defense or what you should say, ¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what it is necessary to say.”

The Parable of the Rich Landowner Who Was a Fool

¹³Now someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me!” ¹⁴But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves from all greediness, because not even when someone has an abundance does^c his life consist of his possessions.” ¹⁶And he told a parable to them, saying, “The land of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷And he reasoned to himself, saying, ‘What should I do? For I do not have anywhere I can gather in my crops.’ ¹⁸And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will gather in there all my grain and possessions. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many possessions stored up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, celebrate!” ’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your life^d is demanded from you, and the things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ ²¹So is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and who is not rich toward God!”

Anxiety

²²And he said to his disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not be anxious for your^* life, what you will eat, or for your^* body, what you will wear. ²³For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap; to them there is neither storeroom nor barn, and God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds? ²⁵And which of you by^* being anxious is able to add an hour^e to his life span? ²⁶If then you are not even able to do a very little thing, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸But if God clothes the grass in the field in this way, although it^* is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he do so for^* you, you of little faith? ²⁹And you, do not consider what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. ³⁰For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹But seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.

³²“Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give charitable gifts. Make for yourselves money bags that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven^f where thief does not approach or moth destroy. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.