38
They will be blessed if he comes in the middle of the night or toward morning and finds them awake.
39
"Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house.
40
Be ready, because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him."
41
Peter asked, "Lord, did you use this illustration just for us or for everyone?"
42
The Lord asked, "Who, then, is the faithful, skilled manager that the master will put in charge of giving the other servants their share of food at the right time?
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That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes.
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I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.
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On the other hand, that servant may think that his master is taking a long time to come home. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk.
46
His master will return at an unexpected time. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.
47
"The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't get ready to do it will receive a hard beating.
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But the servant who didn't know [what his master wanted] and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
49
"I have come to throw fire on the earth. I wish that it had already started!
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I have a baptism to go through, and I will suffer until it is over.
51
"Do you think I came to bring peace to earth? No! I can guarantee that I came to bring nothing but division.
52
From now on a family of five will be divided. Three will be divided against two and two against three.
53
A father will be against his son and a son against his father. A mother will be against her daughter and a daughter against her mother. A mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
54
Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud coming up in the west, you immediately say, 'There's going to be a rainstorm,' and it happens.
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When you see a south wind blowing, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and that's what happens.
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You hypocrites! You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of earth and sky. But for some reason you don't know how to judge the time in which you're living.
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So why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?
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For instance, when an opponent brings you to court in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him before you get there. Otherwise, he will drag you in front of a judge. The judge will hand you over to an officer who will throw you into prison.