44. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.
45. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?
46. The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.
47. “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.
48. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.
49. “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!
50. I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished.
51. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!
52. From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.
53. ‘Father will be divided against sonand son against father;mother against daughterand daughter against mother;and mother-in-law against daughter-in-lawand daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”
54. Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right.
55. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is.
56. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.
57. “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?
58. When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.