Jesus Gives Words of Warning and Hope
1During 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. 2Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered. 3What 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.
4“My friends, listen to me. Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t do any more than that. 5I will show you whom you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell after you have been killed. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him. 6Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? But God does not forget even one of them. 7In fact, he even counts every hair on your head! So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
8“What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I tell you, the Son of Man will say in front of God’s angels that he knows that person. 9But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I, the Son of Man, will say in front of God’s angels that I don’t know him. 10Everyone 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.
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. 12The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The Story of the Rich Fool
13Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “tell my brother to divide the family property with me.”
14Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge or umpire between you?” 15Then 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.”
16Then Jesus told them a story. He said, “A certain rich man’s land produced a very large crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.’
18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store my extra grain in them. 19I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.” ’
20“But God said to him, ‘You foolish man! Tonight I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21“That is how it will be for whoever stores things away for themselves but is not rich in the sight of God.”
Do Not Worry
22Then 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. 23There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes. 24Think about the ravens. They don’t plant or gather crops. They don’t have any barns at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds! 25Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying? 26You can’t do that very little thing. So why worry about the rest?
27“Think about how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in his royal robes was dressed like one of those flowers. 28If 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! 29Don’t spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don’t worry about it. 30People who are ungodly run after all those things. Your Father knows that you need them. 31But put God’s kingdom first. Then those other things will also be given to you.
32“Little flock, do not be afraid. Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it. 34Your heart will be where your riches are.
Be Ready
35“Be dressed and ready to serve. Keep your lamps burning. 36Be 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. 37It 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. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. It will even be good if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning. 39But 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. 40You also must be ready. The Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him.”
41Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this story to us, or to everyone?”
42The 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. 43It will be good for the servant if the master finds him doing his job when the master returns. 44What I’m about to tell you is true. The master will put that servant in charge of everything he owns. 45But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time to come back.’ Suppose that servant begins to beat the other servants, both men and women. Suppose he feeds himself. And suppose he drinks until he gets drunk. 46The master of that servant will come back on a day the servant doesn’t expect him. The master will return at an hour the servant doesn’t know. Then the master will cut him to pieces. He will send the servant to the place where unbelievers go.
47“Suppose a servant knows the master’s wishes. But the servant doesn’t get ready and doesn’t do what the master wants. Then that servant will receive a heavy beating. 48But suppose the servant does not know his master’s wishes. And suppose the servant does things for which he should be punished. He will receive a lighter beating. 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.
Jesus Will Separate People From One Another
49“I have come to bring fire on the earth. How I wish the fire had already started! 50But I have a baptism of suffering to go through. And I must go through it. 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you. I have come to separate people. 52From 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. 53They 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.”
Understanding the Meaning of What Is Happening
54Jesus 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. 55The south wind blows. So you say, ‘It’s going to be hot.’ And it is. 56You 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?
57“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58Suppose 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. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny!”
Ebirabula n’Ebigumya
112:1 Mat 16:6, 11, 12; Mak 8:15Mu kiseera ekyo ekibiina ky’abantu bangi nnyo, ne bakuŋŋaana n’okulinnyaganako ne balinnyaganako. Awo Yesu n’akyukira abayigirizwa be, n’abalabula ng’agamba nti, “Mwekuume ekizimbulukusa bwe bannanfuusi bw’Abafalisaayo. 212:2 Mak 4:22; Luk 8:17Tewali ekyakisibwa ekitalimanyibwa, newaakubadde ekyakwekebwa ekitalizuulibwa. 3Noolwekyo bye mwogeredde mu kizikiza biriwulirwa mu musana, n’ebyo bye mwogedde mu kaama, nga muli mu kisenge n’enzigi nga nzigale, bigenda kulangirirwa ku busolya bw’ennyumba.
412:4 Yk 15:14, 15“Kaakano mikwano gyange, temubatyanga abo abatta omubiri, naye ne batabaako kirala kye bayinza kukola. 512:5 Beb 10:31Naye nzija kubalaga gwe musaanidde okutya. Mutyenga oyo alina obuyinza okutta ate n’okusuula mu ggeyeena. Weewaawo mbagamba nti oyo gwe musaanye okutyanga. 6Enkazaluggya ettaano tezigula sente bbiri zokka? Naye Katonda tazeerabira wadde emu bw’eti. 712:7 a Mat 10:30 b Mat 12:12Era amanyi enviiri eziri ku mutwe gwo nga bwe zenkana obungi. Temutya kubanga mmwe muli ba muwendo nnyo okusinga enkazaluggya ennyingi.
812:8 Luk 15:10“Era mbategeeza nti buli anjatula mu maaso g’abantu, n’Omwana w’Omuntu, alimwatula mu maaso ga bamalayika ba Katonda. 912:9 Mak 8:38; 2Ti 2:12Naye oyo anneegaanira mu maaso g’abantu, n’Omwana w’Omuntu alimwegaanira mu maaso ga bamalayika ba Katonda. 1012:10 a Mat 8:20 b Mat 12:31, 32; Mak 3:28-29; 1Yk 5:16Na buli muntu alyogera ekigambo ku Mwana w’Omuntu alisonyiyibwa, naye oyo alivvoola Mwoyo Mutukuvu tagenda kusonyiyibwa.
1112:11 Mat 10:17, 19; Mak 13:11; Luk 21:12, 14“Bwe banaabatwalanga mu makuŋŋaaniro, ne mu maaso g’abafuzi ne mu b’obuyinza temweraliikiriranga kye mulyogera mu kuwoza, 1212:12 Kuv 4:12; Mat 10:20; Mak 13:11; Luk 21:15kubanga Mwoyo Mutukuvu agenda kubawa eky’okwogera mu kiseera ekyo kyennyini.”
13Awo omuntu omu mu kibiina n’avaayo n’agamba Yesu nti, “Omuyigiriza, gamba muganda wange angabanyize ku by’obusika bwaffe.”
14Naye Yesu n’amuddamu nti, “Owange, ani eyanfuula omulamuzi wammwe oba ow’okubamaliranga empaka zammwe?” 1512:15 Yob 20:20; 31:24; Zab 62:10N’abagamba nti, “Mwekuume! Temululunkananga. Kubanga obulamu bw’omuntu tebugererwa ku bugagga bw’abeera nabwo.”
16Awo n’abagerera olugero luno nti, “Waaliwo omusajja omugagga eyalina ennimiro n’abaza ebibala bingi. 17N’alowooza munda mu ye ng’agamba nti, ‘Nnaakola ntya? Kubanga sirina we nnaakuŋŋaanyiza bibala byange?’
18“Kwe kugamba nti, ‘Ntegedde kye nnaakola, nzija kumenyawo amawanika gange gano, nzimbewo agasingako obunene! Omwo mwe nnaakuŋŋaanyiza ebibala byange byonna n’ebintu byange. 19Era nzija kugamba emmeeme yange nti, “Emmeeme, weeterekedde bingi mu mawanika go okukuyisa mu myaka mingi egijja. Wummula, olye, onywe era weesanyuse!” ’
2012:20 a Yer 17:11; Luk 11:40 b Yob 27:8 c Zab 39:6; 49:10“Naye Katonda n’amugamba nti, ‘Musirusiru ggwe! Ekiro kino emmeeme yo eneekuggibwako. Kale ebyo bye weetegekedde binaaba by’ani?’
2112:21 nny 33“Bwe kityo bwe kiriba eri buli muntu eyeeterekera, so nga mwavu eri Katonda.”
Temweraliikiriranga
22Awo Yesu n’agamba abayigirizwa be nti, “Noolwekyo mbagamba nti, Temweraliikiriranga bya bulamu bwammwe oba mmere gye munaalya oba engoye ez’okwambala. 23Kubanga omwoyo gusinga wala emmere n’omubiri gusinga ebyambalo. 2412:24 Yob 38:41; Zab 147:9Mulowooze ku namuŋŋoona, tezisiga so tezikungula, era tezirina na mawanika mwe zitereka mmere yaazo, naye Katonda aziriisa. Naye mmwe muli ba muwendo nnyo okukira ennyonyi ezo! 25Ani ku mmwe bwe yeeraliikirira, ayinza okwongerayo obulamu bwe akatundu n’akamu? 26Obanga temusobola kukola kantu katono ng’ako, kale kikugasa ki okweraliikirira ebintu ebirala?
2712:27 1Bk 10:4-7“Mutunuulire amalanga bwe gakula! Tegategana wadde okulanga ewuzi z’engoye, naye mbategeeza nti ne Sulemaani mu kitiibwa kye kyonna teyagenkana mu kwambala. 2812:28 Mat 6:30Kale, obanga Katonda ayambaza bw’atyo omuddo ogw’omu nsiko, ogw’ekiseera obuseera ogubaawo leero ate enkeera ne gwokebwa mu kyoto, naye ate talisingawo nnyo okwambaza mmwe ab’okukkiriza okutono! 29Temunoonyanga kye munaalya oba kye munaanywa, era temweraliikiriranga n’akatono. 3012:30 a Luk 6:36 b Mat 6:8Kubanga ebintu ebyo byonna amawanga ge biyaayaanira, naye Kitammwe amanyi nga mubyetaaga. 3112:31 a Mat 3:2 b Mat 19:29Naye munoonye obwakabaka bwe, n’ebintu ebyo mulibyongerwako.
3212:32 a Mat 14:27 b Mat 25:34“Temutya, mmwe ekisibo ekitono, kubanga Kitammwe asiimye okubawa obwakabaka. 3312:33 a Mat 19:21; Bik 2:45 b Mat 6:20 c Yak 5:2Mutunde ebintu byammwe, ensimbi ze muggyamu muzigabire abo abeetaaga, mwetungire ensawo ezitakaddiwa era mweterekere mu ggulu mu tterekero eritaggwaamu bintu, omubbi gy’atasembera wadde ennyenje gye zitayonoonera. 3412:34 Mat 6:21Kubanga obugagga bwo gye buli, n’omutima gwo gye gunaabeeranga.
35“Mube beetegefu olw’obuweereza, era mukuume ettabaaza zammwe nga zaaka. 36Mube ng’abasajja abalindirira mukama waabwe; bw’akomawo okuva mu mbaga y’obugole, n’akonkona banguwa okumuggulirawo oluggi. 3712:37 a Mat 24:42, 46; 25:13 b Mat 20:28Balina omukisa abaddu abo, mukama waabwe baalisanga nga batunula. Ddala ddala mbagamba nti, agenda kwambala atuuze abaddu abo ku mmeeza abagabule. 38Balina omukisa abo, bw’alijja mu kisisimuka ekyokusatu, baalisanga nga batunula.
3912:39 Mat 6:19; 1Bs 5:2; 2Pe 3:10; Kub 3:3; 16:15“Naye mutegeere kino: singa ssemaka amanya essaawa omubbi w’anaayingirira okumenya ennyumba ye, teyandiganyizza mubbi kumuyingirira. 4012:40 Mak 13:33; Luk 21:36Noolwekyo mubeere beetegefu. Kubanga Omwana w’Omuntu, ajjira mu kiseera kye mutamulowoolezaamu.”
41Awo Peetero n’amubuuza nti, “Mukama waffe, olugero luno olugeredde ffe, oba bonna?”
4212:42 Luk 7:13Mukama waffe n’addamu nti, “Omuweereza oyo omwesigwa era ow’amagezi ye aluwa mukama we gw’alikwasa obuvunaanyizibwa obw’okulabirira abaweereza be n’okugaba emmere mu kiseera ekituufu? 43Alina omukisa mukama we bw’alikomawo gw’alisanga ng’atuukiriza bulungi emirimu gye. 44Ddala ddala mbagamba nti mukama we alimukwasa okulabirira ebintu bye byonna. 45Naye singa omuddu oyo alowooza mu mutima gwe nti, ‘Mukama wange ajja kulwawo okudda,’ n’adda ku baweereza banne, n’abakuba, n’ebiseera bye n’abimala mu kulya ne mu kunywa ne mu kutamiira, 4612:46 nny 40mukama we agenda kudda mu kiseera ky’atamusuubira, amubonereze, era amusuule eyo abatakkiriza gye bali.
4712:47 Ma 25:2“Omuweereza oyo eyamanya mukama we by’ayagala akole, kyokka ye n’atabikola agenda kuweebwa ekibonerezo kinene. 4812:48 Lv 5:17; Kbl 15:27-30Naye ataamanya n’akola ebisaanidde okumukubya alikubwa kitono. Oyo aweebwa ebingi alisuubirwamu bingi, n’oyo gwe basigira ebingi, alivunaanyizibwa bingi okusingawo.
49“Najja kuleeta muliro ku nsi, era kyandibadde kirungi singa gukoledde! 5012:50 a Mak 10:38 b Yk 19:30Nninayo okubatizibwa kwe ndibatizibwa, naye nzija kuba mu nnaku nnyingi nga tekunnaba kutuukirizibwa! 51Mulowooza nti najja kuleeta mirembe ku nsi? Mbategeeza nti sajja kuleeta mirembe wabula okwawukana. 52Okuva kaakano amaka gajjanga kwawukanamu, ag’abantu abataano, abasatu ku bo nga bawakanya ababiri, n’ababiri nga bawakanya abasatu. 5312:53 Mi 7:6; Mat 10:21Kitaawe w’omwana alyawukana ne mutabani we, n’omwana n’ayawukana ne kitaawe, ne nnyina w’omwana alyawukana ne muwala we n’omuwala n’ayawukana ne nnyina, ne nnyazaala balyawukana ne muka mwana we ne muka mwana n’ayawukana ne nnyazaala we.”
Okunnyonnyola Ebiriwo
5412:54 Mat 16:2Awo Yesu n’akyukira ekibiina n’abagamba nti, “Bwe mulaba ebire nga byekuluumulula ebugwanjuba, amangwago mugamba nti, ‘Enkuba egenda kutonnya,’ era n’etonnya. 55Ate empewo bw’ekunta ng’eva ku bukiikaddyo, mugamba nti, ‘Leero akasana kajja kwaka nnyo,’ era bwe kiba. 5612:56 Mat 16:3Bannanfuusi mmwe! Musobola bulungi okunnyonnyola obubonero obuli ku nsi ne mu bbanga, muyinza mutya obutamanya obubonero obw’omu kiseera kino?
57“Lwaki temwesalirawo ekyo kye mulaba nga kituufu? 5812:58 Mat 5:25Bw’obanga ogenda n’akuwawaabira mu mbuga z’amateeka, gezaako okumusaba ensonga zammwe muzimalire mu kkubo nga tezinnatuuka wa mulamuzi, talwa kukutwala wa mulamuzi, n’omulamuzi n’akuwaayo eri omuserikale, n’omuserikale n’akusibira mu kkomera. 5912:59 Mat 5:26; Mak 12:42Kubanga nkutegeeza nti togenda kuvaayo okutuusa nga ne sente esembayo omaze okugisasula.”
