American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Luke 12
1
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they stepped one on another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Reference
2
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
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3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
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4
And I say to you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
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5
But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, Fear him.
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6
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
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7
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.
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8
Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Reference
Parallel theme
1 John 2:23
2 Timothy 2:12
Revelation 2:13
Revelation 2:10
Psalm 119:46
References God
Luke 15:10
10
And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
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11
And when they bring you to the synagogues, and to magistrates, and powers, take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say:
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13
And one of the company said to him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
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14
And he said to him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Reference
Creation
Romans 9:20
Judgment
Romans 2:3
Romans 2:1
Exodus 2:14
Parallel theme
John 6:15
John 8:11
Luke 5:20
Micah 6:8
15
And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
Reference
16
And he spoke a parable to them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
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17
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
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18
And 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.
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19
And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
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20
But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 17:11
1 Timothy 6:7
Psalm 39:6
James 4:14
Psalm 73:19
1 Thessalonians 5:3
Luke 11:40
Proverbs 11:4
Nahum 1:10
References God
Job 27:8
22
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.
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24
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are you better than the fowls?
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25
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 6:27
26
If you then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take you thought for the rest?
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27
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?
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29
And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind.
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30
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things.
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31
But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you.
Reference
Kingdom
Matthew 6:33
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 34:9
Psalm 37:3
Psalm 37:25
Isaiah 33:16
References God
1 Timothy 4:8
Psalm 84:11
John 6:27
Romans 8:31
32
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Reference
Good
Philippians 2:13
Luke 10:21
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Matthew 14:27
Jeremiah 3:19
Kingdom
Hebrews 12:28
Revelation 1:6
Matthew 25:34
2 Peter 1:11
Parallel theme
Isaiah 40:11
33
Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts.
Reference
35
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Reference
Light
Matthew 5:16
Philippians 2:15
Parallel theme
1 Peter 1:13
Ephesians 6:14
Isaiah 5:27
Matthew 25:1
Isaiah 11:5
Proverbs 31:17
1 Kings 18:46
36
And you yourselves like to men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 3:20
37
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find watching: truly I say to you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Reference
Blessing
Revelation 14:13
Parallel theme
2 Peter 3:14
1 Corinthians 2:9
Philippians 1:23
Isaiah 62:5
John 12:26
Luke 21:36
References Lord
Matthew 24:42
2 Peter 1:11
38
And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 25:6
39
And this know, that if the manager 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.
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41
Then Peter said to him, Lord, speak you this parable to us, or even to all?
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Parallel theme
Mark 13:37
42
And the Lord said, Who 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?
Reference
Faith
Hebrews 13:7
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:17
Acts 20:28
1 Timothy 5:17
1 Peter 4:10
Titus 1:7
2 Timothy 4:2
References Lord
Matthew 20:8
43
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.
45
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 18:24
46
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 12:40
Revelation 16:15
Job 20:29
Matthew 24:51
References Lord
Psalm 94:14
Psalm 11:5
Psalm 37:9
47
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
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48
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
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50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
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51
Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, No; but rather division:
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52
For from now on there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
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53
The father shall be divided against the son, and the 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.
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54
And he said also to the people, When you see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway you say, There comes a shower; and so it is.
55
And when you see the south wind blow, you say, There will be heat; and it comes to pass.
56
You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?
Reference
58
When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, as you are in the way, give diligence that you may be delivered from him; lest he hale you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 18:30
Summary of Luke 12
Luke 12 presents Jesus teaching His disciples and the surrounding crowds about hypocrisy, fear, wealth, anxiety, spiritual readiness, leadership, judgment, and the cost of discipleship, beginning with a warning against hidden hypocrisy and gradually moving toward the urgent need to recognize God's kingdom and respond faithfully.
Jesus first warns His disciples that hypocrisy is like yeast because what is hidden eventually spreads and becomes visible, reminding them that nothing concealed from people is concealed from God, and therefore they should fear God more than human beings while trusting that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures are known and cared for by Him.
Jesus then prepares His followers for opposition, promising that when they are brought before religious or political authorities, they should not be overwhelmed by anxiety about what to say because the Holy Spirit will provide guidance, a promise that would become especially important as the early Christian movement faced opposition during the decades following Jesus' death and resurrection.
The chapter then turns to the danger of possessions when someone asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, and Jesus responds with the warning that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, followed by the parable of the rich fool whose land produces an enormous harvest and who decides to build larger barns so he can enjoy years of security, only to discover that his life will end that very night.
The rich man's tragedy is not simply that he is wealthy but that he has made wealth his ultimate security and has planned extensively for his possessions while failing to prepare for his relationship with God, leading Jesus to conclude that a person must become rich toward God rather than merely accumulating treasures for himself.
Jesus then addresses anxiety about food, drink, and clothing by pointing to ravens and lilies, explaining that God cares for His creation and therefore His followers should not allow material worries to dominate their lives, while emphasizing that they should seek God's kingdom first because their heavenly Father knows what they need.
Jesus calls His disciples a little flock, assuring them that the Father is pleased to give them the kingdom, and He encourages them to use their possessions generously by giving to the poor and storing up treasure in heaven, because where their treasure is, their heart will also be.
The chapter then turns toward the theme of Christ's return and spiritual readiness, with Jesus describing servants who remain awake and prepared for their master's return from a wedding celebration, emphasizing that the exact time is unknown and therefore faithful disciples must remain ready at all times.
The surprising image of the master serving his faithful servants demonstrates the generosity of God's kingdom, while the contrasting example of the abusive servant warns that those entrusted with authority must not exploit others or assume that delayed judgment means there will be no accountability.
Jesus establishes an important principle that greater knowledge and responsibility bring greater accountability, meaning that those who have received greater spiritual understanding are expected to demonstrate greater faithfulness.
The chapter then becomes more intense as Jesus speaks about the fire He has come to bring and the baptism of suffering He must experience, referring to the suffering and death that await Him in Jerusalem around AD 30–33, while warning that loyalty to Him may create division even within families.
Jesus does not present division as a desirable goal but recognizes that His message demands a decision, and because family members may respond differently to Him, following Him can sometimes produce painful social consequences.
Finally, Jesus criticizes the crowds for being able to interpret ordinary weather patterns while failing to recognize the spiritual significance of the time in which they are living, urging them to settle matters quickly and respond to God's call before judgment arrives.
Historically, Luke 12 belongs to the 1st century AD, probably around AD 28–30, during Jesus' later ministry as He moved toward Jerusalem.
The chapter reflects the economic and social realities of first-century Palestine, including agricultural production, grain storage, inheritance disputes, household servants, Roman legal systems, poverty, wealth inequality, religious leadership, and the importance of family relationships.
The references to Solomon reach back to the 10th century BC, traditionally around 970–931 BC, while the broader biblical themes of judgment, prophetic warning, God's kingdom, and divine care connect Jesus' teaching with centuries of Israel's religious history.
Luke 12 ultimately calls people to live with honesty rather than hypocrisy, trust rather than anxiety, generosity rather than greed, readiness rather than complacency, and faithful obedience rather than fear of human opinion, because God's kingdom is more valuable than earthly possessions and the coming judgment makes every person's response to Jesus eternally significant.
Jesus first warns His disciples that hypocrisy is like yeast because what is hidden eventually spreads and becomes visible, reminding them that nothing concealed from people is concealed from God, and therefore they should fear God more than human beings while trusting that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures are known and cared for by Him.
Jesus then prepares His followers for opposition, promising that when they are brought before religious or political authorities, they should not be overwhelmed by anxiety about what to say because the Holy Spirit will provide guidance, a promise that would become especially important as the early Christian movement faced opposition during the decades following Jesus' death and resurrection.
The chapter then turns to the danger of possessions when someone asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, and Jesus responds with the warning that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, followed by the parable of the rich fool whose land produces an enormous harvest and who decides to build larger barns so he can enjoy years of security, only to discover that his life will end that very night.
The rich man's tragedy is not simply that he is wealthy but that he has made wealth his ultimate security and has planned extensively for his possessions while failing to prepare for his relationship with God, leading Jesus to conclude that a person must become rich toward God rather than merely accumulating treasures for himself.
Jesus then addresses anxiety about food, drink, and clothing by pointing to ravens and lilies, explaining that God cares for His creation and therefore His followers should not allow material worries to dominate their lives, while emphasizing that they should seek God's kingdom first because their heavenly Father knows what they need.
Jesus calls His disciples a little flock, assuring them that the Father is pleased to give them the kingdom, and He encourages them to use their possessions generously by giving to the poor and storing up treasure in heaven, because where their treasure is, their heart will also be.
The chapter then turns toward the theme of Christ's return and spiritual readiness, with Jesus describing servants who remain awake and prepared for their master's return from a wedding celebration, emphasizing that the exact time is unknown and therefore faithful disciples must remain ready at all times.
The surprising image of the master serving his faithful servants demonstrates the generosity of God's kingdom, while the contrasting example of the abusive servant warns that those entrusted with authority must not exploit others or assume that delayed judgment means there will be no accountability.
Jesus establishes an important principle that greater knowledge and responsibility bring greater accountability, meaning that those who have received greater spiritual understanding are expected to demonstrate greater faithfulness.
The chapter then becomes more intense as Jesus speaks about the fire He has come to bring and the baptism of suffering He must experience, referring to the suffering and death that await Him in Jerusalem around AD 30–33, while warning that loyalty to Him may create division even within families.
Jesus does not present division as a desirable goal but recognizes that His message demands a decision, and because family members may respond differently to Him, following Him can sometimes produce painful social consequences.
Finally, Jesus criticizes the crowds for being able to interpret ordinary weather patterns while failing to recognize the spiritual significance of the time in which they are living, urging them to settle matters quickly and respond to God's call before judgment arrives.
Historically, Luke 12 belongs to the 1st century AD, probably around AD 28–30, during Jesus' later ministry as He moved toward Jerusalem.
The chapter reflects the economic and social realities of first-century Palestine, including agricultural production, grain storage, inheritance disputes, household servants, Roman legal systems, poverty, wealth inequality, religious leadership, and the importance of family relationships.
The references to Solomon reach back to the 10th century BC, traditionally around 970–931 BC, while the broader biblical themes of judgment, prophetic warning, God's kingdom, and divine care connect Jesus' teaching with centuries of Israel's religious history.
Luke 12 ultimately calls people to live with honesty rather than hypocrisy, trust rather than anxiety, generosity rather than greed, readiness rather than complacency, and faithful obedience rather than fear of human opinion, because God's kingdom is more valuable than earthly possessions and the coming judgment makes every person's response to Jesus eternally significant.