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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 12:23 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 12:23 reads: "The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment." This verse conveys a message about the fundamental priorities of life. The "meat" refers to food, which is necessary for survival, while "raiment" means clothing, another basic human need.

However, Jesus suggests that there's more to life than just fulfilling these material needs.

The statement encourages readers to look beyond the physical necessities and consider spiritual and emotional wellbeing as essential aspects of life.

The deeper meaning implores individuals to not get overly consumed with materialistic concerns and to remember that the essence of life includes relationships, love, purpose, and spirituality.

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Historical Context

Luke 12:23 is part of a broader message that Jesus delivers about anxiety and worry, particularly over material needs. The historical context indicates that Jesus was addressing a crowd in a society where daily survival often depended on manual labor and securing basic needs.

Many people of the time were subsistence farmers or laborers for whom a failed crop or lost employment could lead to dire consequences.

Therefore, Jesus' words aimed to provide comfort and perspective, encouraging trust in God's provision rather than being consumed by worries about physical necessities.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological viewpoint, Luke 12:23 offers a perspective of reliance on divine providence and the call to value spiritual over material wealth. It reflects Jesus' teachings about the Kingdom of God, where the material needs are met according to God's plan.

The verse is often interpreted as a reminder of the impermanence of life and the futility of prioritizing the physical over the spiritual.

From another angle, the verse can be seen as promoting a simple lifestyle and discouraging the pursuit of excess or luxury.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Luke 12:23 can be applied in daily life by practicing contentment and gratitude, avoiding materialism, and not allowing worry about fundamental needs to overshadow one’s faith or spiritual growth.

It can also be a call to generosity, as those who trust that life is more than material sustenance may be more willing to share their resources with others.

Additionally, this message can encourage a balanced approach to work and rest, ensuring that life is not consumed entirely by the pursuit of survival needs to the detriment of relationships and personal well-being.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:25 - "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?"

Matthew 6:31-33 - "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ...

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

1 Timothy 6:7-8 - "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text are "bios" for life, "brōma" for meat, and "endyma" for raiment.

"Bios" refers to the manner of life or living, going beyond mere biological existence.

"Brōma" denotes food necessary for life, while "endyma" refers to clothing or garments. The use of these words emphasizes not just physical existence, but a full and meaningful life that exceeds the material components that sustain it.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of life being more than material needs is echoed in various religious traditions.

For instance, in Buddhism, the focus is often on spiritual enlightenment rather than worldly possessions.

Hindu philosophy, too, advocates for a life of simplicity and prioritizes spiritual growth.

In many ancient myths, the idea of a fulfilling life often involves heroism, honor, or wisdom, rather than the accumulation of wealth or meeting basic needs.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse might be associated with the concept of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, where physiological needs are at the base, but self-actualization is at the top.

This hierarchy suggests that while basic needs such as food and clothing are essential for survival, true fulfillment comes from higher-order needs, such as belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

This reflects the biblical notion that life's purpose goes beyond mere survival.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have given various interpretations of Luke 12:23.

Many agree on its anti-anxiety message, with John Calvin emphasizing trusting providence rather than being overly concerned with earthly matters.

Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that the body and life are works of God's wonder and, hence, God will care for them.

William Barclay notes the stark choice between anxiety and faith that Jesus presents, and how this verse encourages believers to choose faith.

Generally, commentaries interpret this verse as a call to prioritize spiritual growth and trust in God above material concerns.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:23 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 12:23 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?