New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Luke 12
1
During that time a crowd of many thousands had gathered. There were so many people that they were stepping on one another. Jesus spoke first to his disciples. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees," he said. "They just pretend to be godly.
Reference
2
Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered.
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3
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight. What you have whispered to someone behind closed doors will be shouted from the rooftops.
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4
"My friends, listen to me. Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't do any more than that.
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5
I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the One who can kill the body and also has the power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him.
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7
In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
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8
"What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say that he knows that person in front of God's angels.
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
9
But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn't know me? I, the Son of Man, will say that I don't know him in front of God's angels.
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10
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
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11
"You will be brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities. But do not worry about how to stand up for yourselves or what to say.
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13
Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "tell my brother to divide the family property with me."
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14
Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between 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
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has."
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16
Then Jesus told them a story. He said, "A certain rich man's land produced a good crop.
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18
"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my storerooms and build bigger ones. I will store all my grain and my other things in them.
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19
I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time." '
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20
"But God said to him, 'You foolish man! This very night I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
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
21
"That is how it will be for anyone who stores things away for himself but is not rich in God's eyes."
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22
Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, "I tell you, do not worry. Don't worry about your life and what you will eat. And don't worry about your body and what you will wear.
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23
There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes.
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24
"Think about the ravens. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds!
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25
"Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?
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Kingdom
Matthew 6:27
27
"Think about how the lilies grow. They don't work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers.
28
If that is how God dresses the wild grass, how much better will he dress you! After all, the grass is here only today. Tomorrow it is thrown into the fire. Your faith is so small!
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30
People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father knows that you need them.
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31
"But put God's kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given 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
"Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased 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 what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Put away riches in heaven that will not be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.
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35
"Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning.
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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
Be like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding dinner. When he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 3:20
37
"It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready when he comes. What I'm about to tell you is true. The master will then dress himself so he can serve them. He will have them take their places at the table. And he will come and wait on 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
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes very late at night.
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Parallel theme
Matthew 25:6
39
"But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into.
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40
You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don't expect him."
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41
Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?"
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Parallel theme
Mark 13:37
42
The Lord answered, "Suppose a master puts one of his servants in charge of his other servants. The servant's job is to give them the food they are to receive at the right time. The master wants a faithful and wise manager for this.
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
It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns.
44
What I'm about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns.
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45
"But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time to come back.' Suppose he begins to beat the other servants. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk.
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Parallel theme
Revelation 18:24
46
The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn't expect him. He will return at an hour the servant doesn't know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send him to the place where unbelievers go.
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
"Suppose a servant knows his master's wishes. But he doesn't get ready. And he doesn't do what his master wants. That servant will be beaten with many blows.
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48
"But suppose the servant does not know his master's wishes. And suppose he does things for which he should be punished. He will be beaten with only a few blows. "Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. Even more will be asked of the person who is supposed to take care of much.
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50
But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I will be very troubled until it is completed.
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51
"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people.
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52
From now on there will be five members in a family, each one against the other. There will be three against two and two against three.
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53
They will be separated. Father will turn against son and son against father. Mother will turn against daughter and daughter against mother. Mother?in?law will turn against daughter?in?law and daughter?in?law against mother?in?law."
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54
Jesus spoke to the crowd. He said, "You see a cloud rising in the west. Right away you say, 'It's going to rain.' And it does.
55
The south wind blows. So you say, 'It's going to be hot.' And it is.
56
You pretenders! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and the sky. Why can't you understand the meaning of what is happening right now?
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58
Suppose someone has a claim against you, and you are on your way to court. Try hard to settle the matter on the way. If you don't, that person may drag you off to the judge. The judge may turn you over to the officer. And the officer may throw 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.