Faithful at the Proper Time

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

42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent steward, whom the master will appoint over his household staff to give them their food allowance at the proper time?”

43Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find doing thus.

44Truly I tell you that he will appoint him over all that he has.

45But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master delays in coming,’ and begins to beat the male servants and the female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,

46the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign his place with the unfaithful.

47But that servant, who knew his master's will and did not prepare or act according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

48But the one who did not know, yet did what deserved blows, will receive few. From everyone to whom much was given, much will be required, and from the one to whom they entrusted much, they will ask even more.

49I came to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished.

51Do you think that I came to give peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

52For from now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three,

53They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

54He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and so it happens.”

55And when the south wind is blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens.

56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you do not know how to interpret this time?

57And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

58For as you are going with your accuser before a magistrate, make an effort on the way to be released from him, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

59I tell you, you will certainly not get out of there until you have paid even the last lepton.