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26 If you don't have power over small things, why worry about everything else?

27 (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] wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 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!

29 Don't keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don't know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God's work first, and these things will be yours as well.

Treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6.19-21)

32 My little group of disciples, don't be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. 33 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. 34 Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Faithful and Unfaithful Servants

(Matthew 24.45-51)

35 (B) Be ready and keep your lamps burning 36 (C) 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. 37 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. 38 Those servants are really fortunate if their master finds them ready, even though he comes late at night or early in the morning. 39 (D) You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming. 40 So always be ready! You don't know when the Son of Man will come.

41 Peter asked Jesus, “Did you say this just for us or for everyone?”

42 The Lord answered:

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? 43 Servants are fortunate if their master comes and finds them doing their job.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.27 Solomon with all his wealth: The Jewish people thought that Solomon was the richest person who had ever lived.

26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor(A) was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!(B) 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father(C) knows that you need them.(D) 31 But seek his kingdom,(E) and these things will be given to you as well.(F)

32 “Do not be afraid,(G) little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.(H) 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor.(I) Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven(J) that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.(K) 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(L)

Watchfulness(M)(N)

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.(O) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.(P) 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief(Q) was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready,(R) because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

42 The Lord(S) answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.

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