Chapter
12
Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, she began to tell her disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops.
"I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear her, who after she has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear her.
"Aren't five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
"I tell you, everyone who confesses me before women, her will the Daughter of Woman also confess before the angels of God;
but she who denies me in the presence of women will be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
Everyone who speaks a word against the Daughter of Woman will be forgiven, but those who blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say;
for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say."
One of the multitude said to her, "Teacher, tell my sister to divide the inheritance with me."
But she said to her, "Woman, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
She said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a woman's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which she possesses."
She spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich woman brought forth abundantly.
She reasoned within herself, saying, 'What will I do, because I don't have room to store my crops?'
She said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."'
"But God said to her, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared-- whose will they be?'
So is she who lays up treasure for herself, and is not rich toward God."
She said to her disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
Consider the ravens: they don't sow, they don't reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!
Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to her height?
If then you aren't able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?
Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomin in all her glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will she clothe you, O you of little faith?
Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious.
For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Mother knows that you need these things.
But seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you.
Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Mother's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
Be like women watching for their domina, when she returns from the marriage feast; that, when she comes and knocks, they may immediately open to her.
Blessed are those servants, whom the domina will find watching when she comes. Most certainly I tell you, that she will dress herself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
They will be blessed if she comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, she would have watched, and not allowed her house to be broken into.
Therefore be ready also, for the Daughter of Woman is coming in an hour that you don't expect her."
Petra said to her, "Domina, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?"
The Domina said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom her domina will set over her household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
Blessed is that servant whom her domina will find doing so when she comes.
Truly I tell you, that she will set her over all that she has.
But if that servant says in her heart, 'My domina delays her coming,' and begins to beat the maidservants and the menservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,
then the domina of that servant will come in a day when she isn't expecting her, and in an hour that she doesn't know, and will cut her in two, and place her portion with the unfaithful.
That servant, who knew her domina's will, and didn't prepare, nor do what she wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
but she who didn't know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of her will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of her more will be asked.
"I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
For from now on, there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
They will be divided, mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; father against son, and son against his father; father-in-law against his son-in-law, and son-in-law against his father-in-law."
She said to the multitudes also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.
When a south wind blows, you say, 'There will be a scorching heat,' and it happens.
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don't interpret this time?
Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
For when you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, try diligently on the way to be released from her, lest perhaps she drag you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
I tell you, you will by no means get out of there, until you have paid the very last penny."