(41)Then said Peter unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable to us, or also for all? (42)And the Lord said, Who indeed is a faithful steward, and prudent, whom the lord will place over his household, to give them their proportion of provision at the proper season? (43)Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so employed. (44)Verily I say unto you, that he will place him over all his property. (45)But if that servant say in his heart, My master will be a long while ere he comes; and shall begin to beat the men and maid-servants, and to eat and to drink, and to get drunk; (46)the master of that servant will come in a day when he doth not expect him, and at an hour which he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and give him his portion with the unfaithful. (47)And that servant, who knew his master's will, and made no preparation for him, nor did according to his pleasure, shall be beaten with many stripes. (48)But he that knew it not, yet did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For of every one to whom much is given, much shall be required from him: and to whom men commit much, they will of him demand abundantly more. (49)I am come to cast fire on the earth, and what is my wish? that it may be now kindled. (50)But I have a baptism to be baptised with; and how am I distressed in spirit till it is finished! (51)Think ye that I came to bring peace upon earth? No, I tell you; but rather division: (52)for henceforth five shall be in one house, divided, three against two, and two against three. (53)The father shall take part against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the step-mother against her daughter-in-law, and the son's wife against her mother-in-law. (54)Then said he to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, ye say immediately, There cometh a shower; and it is so. (55)And when the south wind gently blows, ye say, It will be sultry hot; and so it is. (56)Ye hypocrites! ye know how to discern by experience from the appearance of the earth and of the sky; but how is it that ye do not discern this particular time? (57)And why even of yourselves do ye not decide what is just? (58)For as thou art going with thy prosecutor to the magistrate, on the way endeavour to make up the matter with him; lest he drag thee before the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. (59)I tell thee, thou mayest in no wise come out from thence, until thou hast paid the very last mite. CHAP. XIII.