45. “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time to come,’ and he begins to beat the young slave boys and girls 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 he does not know. And he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
47. “That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped.
48. But the one who did not know and did things worthy of a beating will be whipped lightly. From everyone given much, much will be required; and from the one for whom more is provided, all the more they will ask of him.
49. “I came to pour out fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze!
50. But I have an immersion to endure, and how distressed I am until it is finished!
51. “Do you suppose that I have come to bring shalom on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
52. From now on there will be five in one house in opposition, 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 daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
54. Then He also was saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, instantly you say, ‘A rainstorm is coming’—and so it is.
55. And when a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a scorcher’—and so it is.
56. Hypocrites! The surface of the earth and sky you know how to interpret yet you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57. Why can’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
58. For while you are going with your accuser to the authorities, make an effort to come to a settlement with him—so he doesn’t drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer of the court, and the officer of the court throw you into prison.
59. I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back the last little bit.”