The Grace Commentary – Your free verse-by-verse Bible commentary Luke 12

Luke 12:1

Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

(uma) Many thousands. The original word (murios) means innumerable or countless (e.g., 1 Cor. 4:15) and was typically used to describe immeasurably large numbers.

(b) Stepping on one another. The crowds were like an army besieging Jesus;see entrada for Matt. 11:12.

(c) Leaven symbolizes influence. In context, Jesus is referring to the corrupting influence of manmade religion. The Pharisees preached a law-based religion of self-improvement that led to pride and hypocrisy. He also warned the disciples to beware of the leaven of Herod, the corrupting influence of political power (Mark 8:15).

(d) Pharisees; see entrada for Matt. 3:7

Luke 12:5

“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!

(uma) Fear Him! See entrada for Matt. 10:28.

(b) Hell. The Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:14), a.k.a. the eternal fire (Matt. 18:8, 25:41, Jude 1:7) or the unquenchable fire (Matt. 3:12, Mark 9:43–44, 46, 48, Luke 3:17). Hell/Gehenna should not be confused with Hades/Sheol, the Old Testament abode of the dead. See entrada for Matt. 5:22.

Luke 12:9

but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Whoever denies Me. Jesus is talking about unbelievers, not Christians going through a bad patch. Peter denied or disowned Jesus three times but Jesus didn’t disown him. Instead he prayed for him. See entrada for 2 Tim. 2:12.

Luke 12:10

“And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.

(uma) It will be forgiven. Prior to the cross, Jesus preached conditional forgiveness to people living under the old covenant. “If you forgive, God will forgive” (Matt. 6:14, Mark 11:25). However, as the messenger of the new covenant, he also demonstrated and proclaimed unconditional forgiveness (Matt. 9:2, 18:27, Luke 7:42, 47, 23:34). On the night he rose from the dead, he told the disciples to preach the good news of unconditional forgiveness (see entrada for Luke 24:47).

(b) Forgiven; see entrada for Forgiveness.

(d) Blasphemes. The original verb blasphēmeō means “to malign” (e.g., Tit. 3:2), “to abuse” (e.g., Mark 15:29), “to speak evil of” (e.g., Rom. 14:16), or “to slander” (e.g., Rom. 3:8). It is speaking falsely of someone in a way that injures their good name.

Luke 12:11

“When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say;

Worry is the misuse of imagination. It is framing the future in fear instead of faith; see entrada for Matt. 6:31.

Luke 12:13

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

In Biblical times, the bulk of an estate went to the firstborn son (Deut. 21:17), so it would appear that this man is a younger brother who felt he was being denied his inheritance by his older brother. Perhaps the older brother was holding out or maybe the younger brother felt he deserved more than he got. Either way, there had been a dispute and a falling out between them. Significantly, the younger brother is not seeking a reconciliation but a judgment. “Jesus, tell my brother he’s wrong and he should give me my rights.”

Luke 12:14

But he said to him, “Man, who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

(uma) Man. Jesus does not call him “friend” but “man,” distancing himself from the situation.

(b) Judge. Jesus is not a probate lawyer or executor. He is not an Old Testament judge settling legal disputes. Jesus came to bring life not law.

Luke 12:15

Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

(uma) Beware. “Watch out!”

(b) Greed or covetousness is destructive (Gal. 6:8). Like all sin, it will kill you dead (Rom. 8:6).

(c) Possessions. To run after material things that rust and fade away is to pursue an inferior goal and to settle for much less than the life God offers (see entrada for John 10:10).

Luke 12:19

‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’

Soul. Your soul is you. It is that part of you that contains your personality, memories, and intentions. Metaphorically, it is your heart and mind. The Greek word for soul, psuche, is related to the word psychology, which has to do with the mind. We might say the soul resides in your mind – or perhaps your mind resides in your soul – and it is that part of you that thinks, feels, and remembers. Your soul can be contrasted with your body (see entrada for Matt. 10:28) and your spirit (see entrada for Luke 1:46–47).

Luke 12:22

And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

(uma) For this reason. Because worldly wealth doesn’t last and cannot save you, put your faith in God. “For this reason” is one of Jesus’s favorite sayings; see entrada for Matt. 6:25.

(b) Worry. The original verb merimnaō is sometimes translated as “take no thought.” The rich fool took no thought about eternity; the wise believer takes no thought about the cares of life because he has given his cares to the Lord. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Php. 4:6). It is not God’s will for you to be worried or anxious about anything (Matt. 6:31, 34, John 14:1). Give him your cares and concerns and he will give you his peace (Php. 4:7, 1 Pet. 5:7). See also the entrada for Matt. 6:31.

Luke 12:23

“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

There is more to life than passing food through your body or wrapping yourself in fabric.

Luke 12:26

“If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Worry is the misuse of imagination. It is framing the future in fear instead of faith see entrada for Matt. 6:31.

Luke 12:28

“But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!

You men of little faith! Alternatively, “you who have little trust or confidence in the Lord!”

Luke 12:30

“For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

(uma) The nations or Gentiles, i.e., unbelievers.

(b) World. In context, the world (kosmos) refers to fallen humanity or the self-serving civilization which is under the influence of Satan and the powers of darkness (1 John 5:19).

(d) Your Father knows that you need. The God Jesus revealed is a caring Father (Matt. 6:8, 30, 32).

Luke 12:31

“But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

(uma) Seek. Don’t be weighed down by worldly worries (Luke 12:29), but seek his kingdom. Matthew has, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”; see entrada for Matt. 6:33.

(b) All these things. When we put God at the center of our lives, he takes care of everything (Luke 12:31). He promises to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Php 4:19).

Luke 12:32

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

(uma) Your Father; see entrada for Luke 2:49.

(b) Give you. The God Jesus revealed is a giving Father (Matt. 7:11, Luke 11:13).

Luke 12:33

“Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.

(uma) Give to charity. Don’t invest in worldly wealth that fades away but store up heavenly treasure.

The Jews understood that giving to the poor was a pathway to blessing and a way to store up heavenly treasure (Deu. 15:10). “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his good deed” (Pro. 19:17).

(b) Unfailing treasure in heaven refers to people.

People are the treasure that moth and rust can’t touch and thieves can’t steal. When the Bible talks about spiritual offspring or eternal friends, it is referring to the only treasure you can take with you. Why did Jesus give up everything he have? To win you. You are his treasure.

See entrada for Heavenly Treasure.

Luke 12:34

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

(uma) Treasure. The original noun (thesauros) means deposit, storehouse, or treasury. It’s the place where your valuables are kept.

(b) Heart. The thoughts of our heart are focused on the place where our treasure is.

Our hearts and treasures are connected. If you want to know where your heart is, you only need to look for where your treasure is. A heart inclined towards God, will find its treasure within his heavenly kingdom. It will view people as precious, because Jesus died for them, and use worldly wealth to make eternal friends (see entrada for Luke 16:9).

Luke 12:36

“Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.

In his eschatological parables Jesus told stories of masters, noblemen, and bridegrooms being gone “a long time” (Matt. 24:48, 25:5, 25:19). Since Jesus has been gone a long time, he exhorts us to “be like servants waiting for their master” (Luke 12:36).

The need to wait is echoed by the epistle writers. “Wait eagerly for our adoption as sons” (Rom 8:23); “We hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Rom 8:25); “We eagerly await a Savior” (Php 3:20); “Be patient brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits…” (Jas. 5:7); “Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (Jude 1:21).

We are to be watchful and ready for the Lord’s return, but we are not to put life on hold. Plant trees and raise families, and do whatever God put you on this earth to do. Invest, build, dig deep and go long. Let your light shine so others may praise your Father in heaven.

Luke 12:49

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!

(uma) Fire. Jesus is looking ahead to Judgment Day when the fire of God’s wrath will bring an end to the ungodly and all stumbling blocks (Matt. 13:41–42, 2 Pet. 3:7)

Some imagine that Jesus speaking about the fire of God’s love or the fire of persecution. But the context is his glorious return to earth (Luke 12:40). In the Old Testament, the imagery of fire is often associated with divine judgment (Is. 66:15–16, Oba. 1:18, Zeph. 3:8, Mal. 4:1). Jesus also spoke of fire in connection with Judgment Day (Matt. 5:22, 13:42, 50, 18:9, 25:41, Mark 9:43, Luke 17:29–30, John 15:6). He did not dread this fire but he looked forward to it knowing that it would spell the end of sin and usher in eternity. After the fires of judgment have purged the earth, the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:43).

(b) I wish it were already kindled! Why would the Lord look forward to fiery destruction? Because he is longing for the new heaven and the new earth that will replace the present heaven and earth (see entrada for 2 Pet. 3:13).

Christ is about to go to the cross, and this is distressing (see next verse). His ordeal will be brutal. Understandably, he is looking past this trial to a glorious and wonderful end.

Luke 12:51

“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;

Division. These words seem hard to reconcile with the image of Jesus the Prince of Peace. But the sword he wields is not a Roman sword; it’s a sword of truth, and truth is divisive.

People divide themselves by their response to Jesus. A Christian is not necessarily more moral than their unbelieving neighbor; a Christian is someone who does what Jesus says. Conversely, an unbeliever is not necessarily immoral; an unbeliever is someone who rejects what Jesus says. Like the hard-hearted leaders of Jerusalem, they “refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). Jesus is the Life, and those who come to him shall live.

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Luke 12