39. But of this be assured: if the householder had known at what time the burglar was coming, he would have been awake and alert and watching and would not have permitted his house to be dug through and broken into.
40. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it.
41. Peter said, Lord, are You telling this parable for us, or for all alike?
42. And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his master will set over those in his household service to supply them their allowance of food at the appointed time?
43. Blessed (happy and to be envied) is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he arrives.
44. Truly I tell you, he will set him in charge over all his possessions.
45. But if that servant says in his heart, My master is late in coming, and begins to strike the menservants and the maids and to eat and drink and get drunk,
46. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he does not know, and will punish him and cut him off and assign his lot with the unfaithful.
47. And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act as he would wish him to act shall be beaten with many [lashes].
48. But he who did not know and did things worthy of a beating shall be beaten with few [lashes]. For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more. [Num. 15:29, 30; Deut. 25:2, 3.]
49. I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!
50. I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and how greatly and sorely I am urged on (impelled, constrained) until it is accomplished!
51. Do you suppose that I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division;
52. For from now on in one house there will be five divided [among themselves], three against two and two against three.
53. They 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. [Mic. 7:6.]
54. He also said to the crowds of people, When you see a cloud rising in the west, at once you say, It is going to rain! And so it does.
55. And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, There will be severe heat! And it occurs.
56. You playactors (hypocrites)! You know how [intelligently] to discern and interpret and prove the looks of the earth and sky; but how is it that you do not know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time?
57. And why do you not judge what is just and personally decide what is right?