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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Luke 12 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/luke/12.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/luke/12-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Luke 12</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../luke/11.htm" title="Luke 11">◄</a> Luke 12 <a href="../luke/13.htm" title="Luke 13">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">Warnings</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_1"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.1" class="v42_12_1">1</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.1!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_1">Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.1!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people. </span><span class="v42_12_2"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.2" class="v42_12_2">2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known. </span><span class="v42_12_3"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.3" class="v42_12_3">3</span>Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The One To Fear</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 10:28-31">Matthew 10.28-31</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_4"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.4" class="v42_12_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do. </span><span class="v42_12_5"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.5" class="v42_12_5">5</span>God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_6"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.6" class="v42_12_6">6</span>Five sparrows are sold for only a few cents, but God doesn't forget a single one of them. </span><span class="v42_12_7"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.7" class="v42_12_7">7</span>Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Telling Others about Christ</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 10:32">Matthew 10.32</ref>,<ref loc="MAT 10:33">33</ref>; <ref loc="MAT 12:32">12.32</ref>; <ref loc="MAT 10:19">10.19</ref>,<ref loc="MAT 10:20">20</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_8"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.8" class="v42_12_8">8</span>If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers. </span><span class="v42_12_9"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.9" class="v42_12_9">9</span>But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them. </span><span class="v42_12_10"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.10" class="v42_12_10">10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_11"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.11" class="v42_12_11">11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> When you are brought to trial in the synagogues or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say. </span><span class="v42_12_12"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.12" class="v42_12_12">12</span>At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.</span></p><h3 class="s1">A Rich Fool</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_13"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.13" class="v42_12_13">13</span>A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_14"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.14" class="v42_12_14">14</span>Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_15"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.15" class="v42_12_15">15</span>Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_16"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.16" class="v42_12_16">16</span>So Jesus told them this story:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_16">A rich man's farm produced a big crop, </span><span class="v42_12_17"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.17" class="v42_12_17">17</span>and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_18"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.18" class="v42_12_18">18</span>Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. </span><span class="v42_12_19"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.19" class="v42_12_19">19</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.19!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_20"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.20" class="v42_12_20">20</span>But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_21"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.21" class="v42_12_21">21</span>“This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Worry</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 6:25-34">Matthew 6.25-34</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_22"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.22" class="v42_12_22">22</span>Jesus said to his disciples:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_22">I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. </span><span class="v42_12_23"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.23" class="v42_12_23">23</span>Life is more than food or clothing. </span><span class="v42_12_24"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.24" class="v42_12_24">24</span>Look at the crows! They don't plant or harvest, and they don't have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. </span><span class="v42_12_25"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.25" class="v42_12_25">25</span>Can worry make you live longer?<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.25!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_12_26"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.26" class="v42_12_26">26</span>If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_27"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.27" class="v42_12_27">27</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.27!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Look how the wild flowers grow! They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you Solomon with all his wealth<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.27!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. </span><span class="v42_12_28"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.28" class="v42_12_28">28</span>God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won't he do even more for you? You have such little faith!</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_29"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.29" class="v42_12_29">29</span>Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. </span><span class="v42_12_30"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.30" class="v42_12_30">30</span>Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. </span><span class="v42_12_31"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.31" class="v42_12_31">31</span>But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Treasures in Heaven</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 6:19-21">Matthew 6.19-21</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_32"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.32" class="v42_12_32">32</span>My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. </span><span class="v42_12_33"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.33" class="v42_12_33">33</span>Sell what you have and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves moneybags that never wear out. Make sure your treasure is safe in heaven, where thieves cannot steal it and moths cannot destroy it. </span><span class="v42_12_34"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.34" class="v42_12_34">34</span>Your heart will always be where your treasure is.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Faithful and Unfaithful Servants</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 24:45-51">Matthew 24.45-51</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_35"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.35" class="v42_12_35">35</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.35!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Be ready and keep your lamps burning </span><span class="v42_12_36"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.36" class="v42_12_36">36</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.36!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. </span><span class="v42_12_37"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.37" class="v42_12_37">37</span>Servants are fortunate if their master finds them awake and ready when he comes! I promise you he will get ready and let his servants sit down so he can serve them. </span><span class="v42_12_38"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.38" class="v42_12_38">38</span>Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. </span><span class="v42_12_39"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.39" class="v42_12_39">39</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.39!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. </span><span class="v42_12_40"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.40" class="v42_12_40">40</span>So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_41"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.41" class="v42_12_41">41</span>Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_42"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.42" class="v42_12_42">42</span>The Lord answered:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_42">Who are faithful and wise servants? Who are the ones the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their food supplies at the proper time? </span><span class="v42_12_43"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.43" class="v42_12_43">43</span>Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job. </span><span class="v42_12_44"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.44" class="v42_12_44">44</span>A servant who is always faithful will surely be put in charge of everything the master owns.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_45"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.45" class="v42_12_45">45</span>But suppose one of the servants thinks that the master won't return until late. Suppose that servant starts beating all the other servants and eats and drinks and gets drunk. </span><span class="v42_12_46"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.46" class="v42_12_46">46</span>If that happens, the master will come on a day and at a time when the servant least expects him. That servant will then be punished and thrown out with the servants who cannot be trusted.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_47"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.47" class="v42_12_47">47</span>If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard. </span><span class="v42_12_48"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.48" class="v42_12_48">48</span>But servants who don't know what their master wants them to do will not be beaten so hard for doing wrong. If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Not Peace, but Trouble</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 10:34-36">Matthew 10.34-36</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_49"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.49" class="v42_12_49">49</span>I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! </span><span class="v42_12_50"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.50" class="v42_12_50">50</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.50!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. </span><span class="v42_12_51"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.51" class="v42_12_51">51</span>Do you think that I came to bring peace to earth? No indeed! I came to make people choose sides. </span><span class="v42_12_52"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.52" class="v42_12_52">52</span>A family of five will be divided, with two of them against the other three. </span><span class="v42_12_53"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.53" class="v42_12_53">53</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.12.53!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Fathers and sons will turn against one another, and mothers and daughters will do the same. Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law will also turn against each other.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Knowing What To Do</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 16:2">Matthew 16.2</ref>,<ref loc="MAT 16:3">3</ref>; <ref loc="MAT 5:25">5.25</ref>,<ref loc="MAT 5:26">26</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_12_54"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.54" class="v42_12_54">54</span>Jesus said to all the people:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v42_12_54">As soon as you see a cloud coming up in the west, you say, “It's going to rain,” and it does. </span><span class="v42_12_55"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.55" class="v42_12_55">55</span>When the south wind blows, you say, “It's going to get hot,” and it does. </span><span class="v42_12_56"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.56" class="v42_12_56">56</span>Are you trying to fool someone? You can predict the weather by looking at the earth and sky, but you don't really know what's going on right now. </span><span class="v42_12_57"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.57" class="v42_12_57">57</span>Why don't you understand the right thing to do? </span><span class="v42_12_58"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.58" class="v42_12_58">58</span>When someone accuses you of something, try to settle things before you are taken to court. If you don't, you will be dragged before the judge. Then the judge will hand you over to the jailer, and you will be locked up. </span><span class="v42_12_59"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.12.59" class="v42_12_59">59</span>You won't get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">dishonest teaching: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Greek text has “yeast,” which is used here of a teaching that is not true (see Matthew 16.6,12).</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.25 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">live longer: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “grow taller.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">12.27 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Solomon with all his wealth: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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