Warnings and Encouragements

12:2–9pp—Mt 10:26–33

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Bea on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.y 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.z 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

4 “I tell you, my friends,a do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.b 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.c Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.d

8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.e 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disownedf before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Mang will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.h

11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,i

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

Watchfulness

12:35,36pp—Mt 25:1–13; Mk 13:33–37
12:39,40; 42–46pp—Mt 24:43–51

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.c Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.d 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thiefe was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,f because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

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

42 The Lordg answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.h He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.i 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.j From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.