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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 12:30 mean?

Explanation

Luke 12:30 is a verse from the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the priorities of life and the nature of God's care for them.

The "nations of the world" refers to the non-believers or those outside of His followers who are consumed with worry about their basic needs such as food, drink, and clothing.

The deeper meaning of this verse is a reassurance that God is aware of their needs and will provide for them.

Jesus encourages His followers to focus on seeking the Kingdom of God rather than being preoccupied with material concerns, as those who do not know God are.

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Historical Context

This verse is a part of a longer discourse in Luke 12, where Jesus is teaching about reliance on God and the proper attitude towards material possessions.

This chapter includes parables and instructions that highlight the transient nature of life and the futility of worrying about earthly needs.

The historical context of this verse is within the Roman Empire, where daily life often involved stress over basic needs and where conspicuous wealth disparities existed.

Jesus' teachings were radical in that they suggested a divine providence that differed from the predominant pagan worldviews of the time.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Luke 12:30 teaches on the doctrine of providence, the belief that God is actively involved in and concerned about the daily lives of His creation. It contrasts the way of life of those in the Kingdom of God with that of the world.

This verse also reinforces the theme of seeking first the Kingdom of God, a concept central to Christian discipleship that suggests a radical trust and dependence on God over worldly systems.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can be interpreted to mean that individuals should not be overly consumed by worry about their material needs.

It encourages a life of faith and trust in which one's priorities are aligned with spiritual growth and reliance on God rather than anxiety over economic stability.

It's an invitation to live with an assurance that God knows and cares for His people and to therefore focus on living according to His will.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:31-33: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

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

Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 12:30 are:

"ἐθνη" (ethnē): Often translated as "nations," it refers to non-Jews or Gentiles, implying those who do not know the true God.
"ἐπιζητοῦσιν" (epizētousin): Meaning "seek after" or "pursue," suggesting an active and anxious pursuit of needs.
"πατήρ" (patēr): Meaning "father," depicting the intimate relationship between God and His followers, contrasting with the distant gods of the pagan nations.
"γινώσκει" (ginōskei): Meaning "knoweth," showing an awareness and consideration, signifying that God is not ignorant of human needs.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural and religious context of the time, the Greco-Roman and pagan religions presented gods that were often distant and unconcerned with the mundane needs of people.

In contrast, the God whom Jesus presents is one who is intimately aware of human needs and cares for His followers, a concept that was relatively unique to Judaism and the emerging Christian faith.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, this verse does not directly engage with scientific concepts but with human psychology and sociology, particularly with regard to stress and anxiety over the acquisition of resources.

Studies in psychology affirm that worry about material needs can be detrimental to mental and physical health.

From this perspective, the teaching to trust in a higher power alleviates anxiety, which could be seen as beneficial for overall wellbeing.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Luke 12:30.

Some commentators emphasize the contrast between people of faith and those without, underscoring the idea of God's paternal care over the former.

Others focus on the implied exhortation to prioritize the spiritual over the material.

There’s consensus that the teaching of Jesus in this verse is meant to redirect the listeners from anxiety and worry towards a life characterized by trust in God's provision and the pursuit of His Kingdom.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:30 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 12:30 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?