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Luke 12

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

What does Luke 12:21 mean?

Explanation

Luke 12:21 delivers a potent message about the folly of accumulating material wealth to the detriment of spiritual growth and generosity.

In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the importance of being "rich toward God," which means valuing the things that matter to God, charity, piety, and the welfare of others, over amassing personal treasures that have no eternal value.

This verse tells a story contrasting two types of richness: one temporary and earthly, the other eternal and spiritual.

Accumulating treasures for oneself could be interpreted as focusing on wealth, comfort, and security in this life without consideration for spiritual well-being or the needs of others.

Meanwhile, being "rich toward God" suggests living a life in alignment with divine values, such as compassion, selflessness, and devotion.

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Historical Context

Luke 12:21 is part of a larger teaching by Jesus that includes a parable known as the Parable of the Rich Fool.

This account is set within the ministry of Jesus, who frequently taught in parables, stories with moral or spiritual lessons.

The audience of Jesus' day was primarily Jewish, living under Roman occupation.

Greco-Roman culture and Jewish religious thought both had strong perspectives on wealth, charity, and piety, which Jesus challenged and redefined through His teachings.

Wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor in the ancient world, but Jesus introduced a radical view that placed higher value on spiritual wealth than material possessions.

This teaching would have been counter-cultural at the time, pushing the audience to think beyond their cultural norms of success and security.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations and theologians may have varying interpretations of Luke 12:21. For instance:

Traditional Protestant view might stress the importance of faith manifesting in good works, and that true riches are found in a relationship with God rather than material wealth.
A Catholic perspective could focus on this verse to reinforce the value of charity and the danger of greed, as reflected in the teachings of the Church and the lives of saints.
Liberation theology might interpret this verse as a call to social justice and a condemnation of socio-economic systems that create inequality.

Across denominations, the idea of being "rich toward God" reflects a heart attitude that prioritizes God's kingdom over earthly gain, an essential component of Christian discipleship.

Practical Applications

Luke 12:21 encourages individuals to reconsider their priorities.

Some practical applications might include:

Reevaluating one's relationship with money and material possessions.
Increasing acts of charity and service to the community.
Investing time in spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and study of scriptures.
Fostering a generous spirit rather than hoarding wealth.

This verse calls for a balanced lifestyle that avoids materialistic impulses and espouses a life rich in good deeds and spiritual pursuits.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:19-21 - “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Commanding the rich to trust in God and be ready to give, thus laying up "a good foundation against the time to come..."
James 5:1-3 - A warning to rich men who have hoarded treasure "for the last days."

These verses support the theme present in Luke 12:21, focusing on the importance of spiritual wealth over material riches.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, two key words stand out:

"Thesaurizō" (θησαυρίζω), often translated as "layeth up" or "stores up," conveys the notion of accumulating and guarding wealth.
"Plouteō" (πλουτέω), translated as "rich," can signify being wealthy or abounding in material resources.

The choice of these words emphasizes the contrast between storing earthly treasures and being rich in God's sight.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions and myths, wealth was often associated with favor from the gods. For example, in Greek mythology, figures like Midas are blessed with riches.

However, the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament challenge this view by showing that spiritual integrity and virtue are of higher value than material wealth.

This perspective was countercultural in the Greco-Roman world and stands distinctly apart from many ancient religious practices where accumulating wealth was sometimes seen as a sign of divine blessing.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological research supports the Biblical insight found in Luke 12:21.

Studies on happiness and well-being consistently show that after a certain point, increases in wealth have diminishing returns on personal satisfaction and emotional well-being.

Social science research also stresses the importance of community ties, altruism, and purpose, all elements of being "rich toward God", in contributing to a meaningful life.

Commentaries

Leading Bible commentators offer various perspectives on Luke 12:21:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the foolishness of focusing only on material wealth instead of one's soul.
The Expositor's Greek Testament points out the moral and religious failure in the character of the "Rich Fool” and stresses the importance of valuing God's kingdom over personal wealth.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament discusses the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching on wealth and possessions and suggests that this wealth should not be the believer’s primary concern.

These commentaries converge on the importance of prioritizing spiritual riches over material wealth, which harmonizes with the general teaching of Scripture.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 12:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?