📖 Luke — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they Rtrode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Luke 12:3 Therefore Rwhatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luke 12:5 But I will Rforewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Luke 12:6 Are not Rfive sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
Luke 12:7 But Reven the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, RWhosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Luke 12:9 But he that denieth me before men Rshall be denied before the angels of God.
Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
Luke 12:13 And one of the company said unto him, RMaster, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
Luke 12:14 And he said unto him, RMan, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, RTake heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, RThe ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, RWhat shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up Rfor many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luke 12:20 But RGod said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not Rrich toward God.
Luke 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, RTake no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luke 12:23 RThe life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luke 12:24 Consider Rthe ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Luke 12:25 RAnd which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Luke 12:26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, Rwhy take ye thought for the rest?
Luke 12:27 Consider Rthe lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luke 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, Rwhich is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luke 12:29 And Rseek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luke 12:30 For Rall these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, Rlittle flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:33 RSell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luke 12:34 For Rwhere your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:35 Let Ryour loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luke 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto Rmen that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
Luke 12:37 RBlessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
Luke 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:41 Then Peter said unto him, RLord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, RWho then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luke 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luke 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, Rthat he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luke 12:45 But Rand if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luke 12:46 The Rlord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which Rknew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luke 12:48 But he that Rknew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:49 I am Rcome to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Luke 12:50 But RI have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Luke 12:51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; Rbut rather division:
Luke 12:52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
Luke 12:53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Luke 12:54 And he said also to the people, RWhen ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
Luke 12:55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, Rye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Luke 12:57 RYea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Luke 12:58 When Rthou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
Luke 12:59 I tell thee, Rthou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Luke 12:1–12 — Hypocrisy and fear must yield to truth before God
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jesus warns against hypocrisy, recalls coming disclosure, and directs fear toward God rather than killers of the body. The Father’s attention, confessing the Son of man, and the Holy Ghost’s help encourage witness.
Key Truth: Let reverence for God govern truthful speech.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “In the ____ time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of …” (Luke 12:1)
Find it in Luke 12:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ____ not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)
Find it in Luke 12:7 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For the ____ Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye …” (Luke 12:12)
Find it in Luke 12:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Luke 12:13–34 — Covetousness and anxiety are answered through kingdom priorities
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
A dispute over inheritance leads to the rich fool, whose stored goods cannot secure his life. Jesus directs disciples away from anxious grasping and toward the Father’s care, the kingdom, generosity, and lasting treasure.
Key Truth: Do not mistake abundance for security before God.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And one of the ____ said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he …” (Luke 12:13)
Find it in Luke 12:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “____ the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin …” (Luke 12:27)
Find it in Luke 12:27 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For where your treasure is, there will your ____ be also.” (Luke 12:34)
Find it in Luke 12:34 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Luke 12:35–59 — Readiness means faithful service and present reconciliation
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Waiting servants and an accountable steward illustrate readiness for the returning Lord. Jesus describes division, exposes failure to discern the time, and urges settlement with an adversary before judgment.
Key Truth: Use the present time for faithful responsibility and peace-making.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Let your ____ be girded about, and your lights burning;” (Luke 12:35)
Find it in Luke 12:35 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Blessed is that ____ , whom his lord when he cometh shall find so …” (Luke 12:43)
Find it in Luke 12:43 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “I ____ thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid …” (Luke 12:59)
Find it in Luke 12:59 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 49:17 — The psalm likewise warns that wealth is not carried beyond death.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where does a pursuit of security need to become trust, generosity, or reconciliation?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes Luke 12:1–12 (Hypocrisy and fear must yield to truth before God) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes Luke 12:13–34 (Covetousness and anxiety are answered through kingdom priorities) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes Luke 12:35–59 (Readiness means faithful service and present reconciliation) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What false measure of life does Jesus challenge?
5. What relationship makes the location of treasure significant?
Notes
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