The Lantern

Luke12

The Leaven of the Pharisees

In these times, when the myriads of the crowd were gathering so as to trample upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first: “Take heed to yourselves of the leaven, which is hypocrisy, of the Pharisees.

Now no thing is concealed which will not be revealed, nor hidden which will not be known.

Instead, as much as you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light; and what you have spoken into the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Fear God Alone

Now I say to you, those friends of mine, you may not fear because of those killing the body, and after these things not being able to do anything more excessive.

However, I will show you whom you may fear: fear the One who, after the killing, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear him.

Surely five sparrows are being sold for two assarion? And one of them is not forgotten before God;

but even all the hairs of your head have been numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Confessing Christ

Now I say to you, everyone who may confess in me myself before the men, the Son of Man also will confess in him before the angels of God;

now the one having denied me before the men will be denied before the angels of God.

And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven to him; however, to the one having blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

Then when they may bring you in before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, may not be anxious how or what you may present a defense, or what you may say;

for the Holy Spirit will teach you in the same hour what it behooves you to say.”

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Then one from the crowd said to him: “Teacher, say to my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

And he said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or partitioner over you?”

Then he said to them, “Watch and keep yourselves from all covetousness, for the life to him is not of the abounding to anyone of his possessions.”

Then he spoke a parable to them, saying, “Of a certain rich man the ground brought forth abundantly.

And he was reasoning within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, for I have not where I will store up my fruits?’

And he said, ‘This will I do: I will tear down my barns and will build greater, and will store up there all my grain and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; rest yourself, eat, drink, be merry.”’

Then God said to him, ‘Fool! On this night your soul is required of you; now what you did prepare — to whom will it be?’

So is the one treasuring up for himself and not being rich toward God.”

Do Not Worry

Then he said to his disciples, “Because of this I say to you: do not be anxious for the life, what you may eat, nor be anxious for the body, what you may put on.

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

Consider the ravens, that they do not sow nor do they reap; to them there is not a storehouse nor barn — and God feeds them. How much more are you yourselves valuable than the birds!

Now which of you, being anxious, is able to add an hour to his lifespan?

If then you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not labor nor do they spin. However, I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.

However, if God thus dresses the grass in the field, being here today and tomorrow being thrown into the furnace, how much more you, O you of little faith!

And you yourselves, do not seek what you may eat and what you may drink, and do not worry yourself.

For all the nations of the world seek for these things; now your Father knows that you have need of these.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Treasures in Heaven

Do not fear, O little flock, for your Father took delight to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give alms; make to yourselves purses not growing old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where thief does not draw near nor moth destroy.

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

Readiness at Any Hour

Your waist should be girded and the lamps burning,

and you yourselves like to men waiting for their own master, whenever he may return from the wedding feasts, that having come and having knocked, immediately they may open to him.

Happy are those servants whom the master, having come, will find watching. Amen I say to you that he will gird himself and he will make them recline, and having come up he will serve them.

And if in the second, and if in the third watch he may come and may find them thus, happy are those!

However, know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief is coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

You yourselves also be ready, for the Son of Man comes in the hour you do not expect.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, do you speak this parable to us, or also to all?”

And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful, the wise manager whom the master will set over his care of servants, to give them the measure of food in season?

Happy is that servant whom his master, having come, will find doing thus.

Of a truth I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.

However, if that servant shall say in his heart, ‘My master delays to come,’ and shall begin to beat the men-servants and the maid-servants, also to eat and to drink and to get drunk,

the master of that servant will come in a day in which he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and he will cut him in two, and will appoint his place with the unbelievers.

Now that very servant, the one having known the will of his master and not having prepared or having done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

However, the one not having known, however having done things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few. Now everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required from him; and to whom much has been committed, they will ask of him more excessive.

Not Peace but Division

I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it be already kindled!

However, I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until while it may be accomplished!

Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I say to you, but rather division.

For from now there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three.

They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against the daughter and daughter against the mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Present Time

Now he was saying also to the crowds, “When you may see a cloud rising up from the west, immediately you say that, ‘A shower is coming,’ and it happens so.

And when a south wind is blowing, you say that, ‘There will be heat,’ and it happens.

Hypocrites! The appearance of the earth and of the sky you know how to discern; however, this time, how do you not know to discern?

Reconciling with an Adversary

Now why even for yourselves do you not judge what is right?

For as you are going with your adversary before a magistrate, in the way give earnestness to have been set free from him, otherwise he may drag you away to the judge, and the judge will deliver you to the officer, and the officer will cast you into prison.

I say to you, you shall certainly not come out from there until you may have paid even the last lepton.”