12 1Many thousands of people came together. There were so many people that they were stepping on each other. Before Jesus spoke to the people, he said to his followers, "Be careful of the yeasta of the Phariseesb. I mean that they are hypocritesc. 2Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. 3What you say in the dark will be told in the light. And what you whisper in a private room will be shouted from the top of the house."6"When birds are sold, five small birds cost only two pennies. But God does not forget any of them. 7Yes, God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many birds. 10"Whoever says something against the Son of Mane can be forgiven. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spiritf will not be forgiven. 11"When men bring you into the synagoguesg before the leaders and other important men, don't worry about what you will say. 12The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." 14But Jesus said to him, "Who said I should be your judge or decide how to divide your father's things between you two?" 15Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. People do not get life from the many things they own." 16Then Jesus used this story: "There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. 17He thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. 19Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!' 20"But God said to that man, 'Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?' 21"This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich." 27"Think about how the wildflowers grow. They don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 28If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That's just grass - one day it's alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small! 29"So don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink. Don't worry about it. 30That's what all those people who don't know God are always thinking about. But your Father knows that you need these things. 31What you should be thinking about is God's kingdomh. Then he will give you all these other things you need. 39"What would a homeowner do if he knew when a thief was coming? You know he would not let the thief break in. 40So you also must be ready, because the Son of Mane will come at a time when you don't expect him!" 42The Lord said, "Who is the wise and trusted servant? The master trusts one servant to give the other servants their food at the right time. Who is the servant that the master trusts to do that work? 43When the master comes and finds him doing the work he gave him, it will be a day of blessing for that servant! 44I can tell you without a doubt, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns. 45"But what will happen if that servant is evil and thinks his master will not come back soon? He will begin to beat the other servants, men and women. He will eat and drink until he has had too much. 46Then the master will come when the servant is not ready, at a time when the servant is not expecting him. Then the master will punish that servant and send him away to be with the other people who don't obey. 47"That servant knew what his master wanted him to do. But he did not make himself ready or try to do what his master wanted. So that servant will be punished very much! 48But what about the servant who does not know what his master wants? He also does things that deserve punishment. But he will get less punishment than the servant who knew what he should do. Whoever has been given much will be responsible for much. Much more will be expected from the one who has been given more."
ayeast The part of bread dough that makes it rise. Sometimes it is used as a symbol of bad influence. bPharisee A person who belonged to a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. chypocrite A person with wrong motives who pretends to be good. d12:8 I Literally, “the Son of Man” (Jesus). eSon of Man The name that Jesus most often used for himself. The phrase in Hebrew or Aramaic means “human being” or “mankind,” but in Dan. 7:13-14 it is used of a future savior and king, and this was later understood to be the Messiah, the one God would send to save his people. fHoly Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. In union with God and Christ, he does God’s work among people in the world. gsynagogue A place in many cities where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. hGod’s kingdom The “reign” or “rule” of God over all people who submit to him by accepting Jesus as the Messiah (the appointed king), who represents God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus was the perfect example of submission to the will of God. When people give control of their lives to Jesus, they become part of God’s kingdom and begin to enjoy the blessings he has promised his people from the beginning. (Note that in Matthew this term also translates the Greek word “kingdom” by itself or the phrase, “the kingdom of the heavens,” which was used by Jews as a way to avoid saying the divine name.) i12:50 baptism This word, which usually means to be immersed in water, has a special meaning here - being covered or “buried” in troubles. |