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Warnings Luke 12 As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples:
 Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people.
2Everything that is hidden will be found out, and every secret will be known.
3Whatever you say in the dark will be heard when it is day. Whatever you whisper in a closed room will be shouted from the housetops.
The One To Fear
(Matthew 10.28-31)
4My friends, don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but after that, there is nothing else they can do.
5God is the one you must fear. Not only can he take your life, but he can throw you into hell. God is certainly the one you should fear!
6Five sparrows are sold for just two pennies, but God doesn't forget a one of them.
7Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.
Telling Others about Christ
(Matthew 10.32, 33; 12.32; 10.19, 20)
8If you tell others that you belong to me, the Son of Man will tell God's angels that you are my followers.
9But if you reject me, you will be rejected in front of them.
10If you speak against the Son of Man, you can be forgiven, but if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you cannot be forgiven.
11When you are brought to trial in the Jewish meeting places or before rulers or officials, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say.
12At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
A Rich Fool 13A man in a crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died."
14Jesus answered, "Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?"
15Then he said to the crowd, "Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe."
16So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man's farm produced a big crop,
17and he said to himself, "What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything."
18Later, he said, "Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods.
19Then I'll say to myself, 'You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.' "
20But God said to him, "You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?"
21"This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God."
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