35“Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning; 36be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. 37Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them! 38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves! 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
41Then Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42The Lord replied, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave should say to himself, ‘My master is delayed in returning,’ and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 46then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful. 47That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. 48But the one who did not know his master’s will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.
49“I have come to bring fire on the earth—and how I wish it were already kindled! 50I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! 51Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52For from now on there will be five in one household 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 mother-in-law.”
54Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?