Bible Study series: Luke 12:22-34. “Don’t fear, little flock, because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn, so let’s learn together.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 12:22-34
22 He said to his disciples, “Because of this, I tell you: don’t worry about what you will eat for your life and what you will wear for your body, 23 for life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 Observe the crows: they neither sow nor harvest, and not a storeroom or a barn for them! And God feeds them; how much more valuable are you than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a cubit to his height? 26 If therefore you are unable to do the least thing, why do you worry about the remaining things? 27 Observe the lilies, how they grow. Neither do they work nor spin. But I tell you not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of them. 28 If God clothes the grass in this way, which is in the field today and thrown in an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! 29 So don’t pursue what you will eat or what you will drink; don’t be suspended in midair. 30 For all the nations of the world pursue these things, but your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t fear, little flock, because your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give donations. Make money purses for yourselves that don’t become old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where a thief does not come near it, nor a moth corrupts it. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:22-34)
Comments:
Jesus told a short parable about the rich fool (vv. 13-21), so we would know what not to do. Now he is about to tell us what we are proactively to do, how to truly live life in his kingdom.
In this pericope (pronounced peh-RIH-coh-pea) or section of Scripture Jesus tells a series of quick parables that teach kingdom truths. See v. 16 for a working definition of a parable.
22-24:
“worry”: it means, depending on the context: “to be apprehensive, have anxiety, be anxious, be (unduly) concerned” In other contexts, it can mean “to attend to, care for, be concerned about” (BDAG). Here it clearly means the first definition.
This verse could be translated something like this: “don’t worry, in regards to your life, what you will eat, and in regard to your body what you will wear.” Here Jesus makes a distinction between food for sustaining your whole life—life could be translated as soul (and see v. 19 for more comments)—and the body. Whether food or clothing, they don’t matter. Life and body are more important than these exterior material objects. In other words, Jesus is about to teach us, focus on more important things. Fads comes and go every five years or so. But on what basis can he issue such a radical statement? God our Father is the basis of his statement, as the rest of pericope says.
Then he probably saw a flock of crows (or ravens) fly overhead, and he used them as object lessons. He tells his disciples to “look at,” “consider,” “contemplate,” “ponder,” or “think about,” “observe,” or “notice” them (all in a spiritual sense). I chose the translation “observe,” because I like to think of the crows cawing and disturbing his teaching, but he wasn’t upset. He just used them for a lesson. He observed their nature in a spiritual sense and related them to our lives, in a sharp contrast between them and us.
Do crows sow seeds of grain and harvest the crops? Do they own a storeroom or a barn? Obviously not. Yet God feeds them—as the Greek literally says—but usually translators say that God provides food for them because God does not literally throw out refuse or dead animals for them to feed on them. Instead, we are to understand that God allows nature to take its course, and the crows on their own can feed on the throwaway or dead things. God has set up the world of nature in this way. Allowing nature to take its course is called secondary causes, as distinct from the Primary Cause (God himself) directing everything in detail.
We are supposed to learn from these verses that we are much more valuable than birds, yet God cares for and feeds them. The argument again goes from the lesser (crows) to the greater (us humans). How much more will he feed and provide for us, his highest earthly creation (Ps. 8), made in his image (Gen. 1:26-27)!
One day, while I was needing work, God whispered to my heart to apply at such-and-such a college. By then, I had been abused by colleges many times because I’m conservative in my politics, and the authoritarian left dominates colleges and universities, so I got squeezed out. However, in this latest round I was not filled with anxiety about God’s provision. He saw the injustices committed against me. Through practice I learned he would take care of me. I delayed in applying to the college, so the Spirit urged me to apply, now! I did, and they hired me. It’s amazing to think he clearly led me to apply at that specific college that was closer to home, because he could see in advance that I would be accepted by them. My need for an income was met. He provided. I’m happy to report that my recent student evaluations were through the roof. The dean was thrilled. God is faithful.
Verse 24 alludes to Ps. 147:9:
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call. (Ps. 147:9, NIV)
Morris, quoting another scholar (Arndt): “Greed can never get enough, worry is afraid it may not have enough” (p. 231). Then Morris continues: “Wealth can represent a danger to those who do not have it as well as to those who do. Jesus emphasizes the importance of trust in God and detachment from things.”
25–26:
Jesus is deploying the obvious truths about what worrying cannot accomplish (see v. 22 for more comments on “worry”). We cannot add a cubit to our height by sitting in a rocking chair—a symbol of worrying, because we do a lot of moving, but we go nowhere! (Incidentally, a cubit is about 18 inches or .462 of a meter). Can we accomplish anything meaningful by worrying? Of course not! Jesus uses this absurd idea of adding a cubit because we can’t come anywhere near that height, despite all of our most strenuous efforts, though we might be able to add a couple of inches with platform shoes, like they used to wear in the 1970s! Or maybe we could add more than cubit if we walked on stilts, but then we cannot live life that way!
All humor aside, if we can’t do a small or minor thing like adding a cubit to our height, which is an ironical idea Jesus poses, then we mustn’t worry about the rest of the things. In other words, stop worrying about big or small things.
I should add that some scholars drop the idea of adding a cubit to one’s height and instead translate it that we cannot add one hour to our lifespan. That makes sense. Either way, we should not expend energy worrying about things that we cannot change or control.
27-28:
Solomon was a very rich man, the richest of his time (1 Kings 10:14-29). After describing his wealth in gold and ivory, but not silver because “silver was not considered anything in the days of Solomon” (v. 21, ESV), the historian writes: “Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom” (v. 23, ESV). No doubt he ordered weavers and spinners to makes clothes for him. But lilies do not work or spin. Yet Solomon in all his splendor could not match them in their natural, delicate beauty.
“spin”: the lilies don’t spin out threads to make clothing for themselves. Their Father provides for them.
He calls us “you of little faith.” Faith and worry are opposites. If we spin our minds to make threads that we don’t use—mental, useless threads, then we do not have faith. Let’s not exhaust our mind with anxiety, but instead learn who the Father is. What is he willing to do for us? Verses 31 and 32 will tell us, but here in v. 28 God provides for the lilies, so he provides for us. Again, it is the lesser to greater argument. He provides for the lilies (lesser), so he will provide for us humans, made in his image, his highest earthly creation (the greater).
29-30:
“nations of the world”: This means the pagans or non-Jews.
“pursue”: It means, depending on the context: (1) “seek, look for, search for”; “investigate, examine, consider, deliberate”; (2) “try to obtain,” “desire to possess,” “strive for,” “aim at,” “desire,” “wish,” “ask for,” “request,” “demand.” Sometimes it can be translated as “try.” I chose “pursue,” as in “aim at” or “strive for” (the second definition). The kingdom of God is serious business. Are you ready for it? Cheer up, because in v. 32 Jesus will announce that the Father has been pleased to give it to you. Your striving can come to an end. The main point is that we are to focus on the kingdom, instead of all the trivial, surfacey matters. If you take a single-minded, big step towards the kingdom, he will hand it to you.
Once again, he exhorts or strongly urges and advises us not to pursue the basics, like eating or drinking (see v. 22). Of course, he does not mean we should never go grocery shopping, for example, but we should not pursue such things with anxiety.
Don’t hang in midair, between doubt and the solid earth. People who float around cannot be settled in their walk with God. Walking with God happens on the ground.
“don’t be suspended in midair”: It is used only here in the NT. The whole idea is that things are in the air. The verb means “to raise to a height, raise” or “to life up, buoy up with false hopes.” It is related to the Latin suspensus or “suspended” in the air (Liddell and Scott). Picture a ship being hoisted up, out of the water. So I chose the idea of being suspended or floating in the air, but you could translated it as “unsettled” or “upset.”
The pagan nations of the world pursue such trivial things. Jesus is speaking to his fellow Jews, and he contrasted life in Israel under God’s watchful care against the pagans or Gentiles around the world. Who says Jesus was not a little patriotic? He did see differences between pagans and God’s chosen people. Let’s not make a big thing of it, however, because he is telling his disciples that they were copying the pagans in their anxiety, and his followers had to up their game.
But why should they raise their sights without anxiety? On what basis? He tells them—because their Father knows that they need those things. God is omniscient, a big word meaning “all-knowing” (omni– means “all,” and scient– stem is related to “knowing”). He sees and knows exactly what you need.
Do I Really Know God? He Is Omniscient
Recall my own story (see vv. 22-24). God saw and knew the injustice that was about to happen to me. He spoke to me to apply at a college, and the door opened up. He rescued me.
31:
“pursue”: see vv. 29-30 for more comments. This verse from Jeremiah is relevant: “Then you call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you” (Jer. 29:12-13, ESV).
“kingdom”:
Bible Basics about the Kingdom of God
Questions and Answers about Kingdom of God
Basic Definition of Kingdom of God
1 Introducing the Kingdom of God (begin a ten-part series)
Matt. 6:33 has some extra words: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” So we are supposed to seek his kingdom and his righteous living, and then what happens? The next verse answers the question.
32:
“don’t fear”: This fear seems to be the kind that causes us to shrink back. Jesus tells us not to have this fear.
“little flock”: this phrase speaks of intimacy and his care for his sheep. I like the phrase. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:11, 14).
“pleased”: BDAG says it means, depending on the context: (1) “to consider something as good and therefore worthy of choice, consent, determine, resolve”; (2) to take pleasure or find satisfaction in something, be well pleased, take delight … also delight in, like, approve” of something. Here the second definition is best. The Father is pleased and takes delight in you, his creation, his followers. He takes pleasure and satisfaction in you. Yes, he is in the process of cleaning you up, but even in that process he takes delight in you, like a mom who cheerfully cleans her kid up after he stomped in a mud puddle. He loves you.
“to give”: it is the standard verb for “give” or “grant.” When you take a step to pursue him and his kingdom, he gives you what you were pursuing or seeking. So you don’t need a lifelong journey to find it, as various religions teach. It’s yours instantly. You can find what you’re looking for right now.
Luke 12:32 is, for me, the best verse in the Gospel of Luke, and possibly the entire NT. It shows God’s willing and generous heart to grant us everything he has to offer. He takes delight and satisfaction and pleasure in us. He likes us. Wow. Just think about that.
Bock: “To speak of God’s pleasure is to speak of his will (Mark 1:11; Luke 2:14; 10:21)” (p. 1165). “With the call to trust, a promise is given that the Father is pleased to give his children the kingdom. The promise of the kingdom is not specified or described in detail. What seems to be in view are kingdom blessings that are the product of pursuing the kingdom. In other words, pursuit of the kingdom is a goal that can be realized. Above all, secure relationships with God is alluded to in the promise, one that can bring stability and absence of anxiety” (Bock, p. 1165).
33:
If the translation is unclear, that’s because the Greek is too. Here is an expanded translation: “Sell your possessions and give donations. Make money purses for yourselves that don’t become old, (but make money purses for yourselves that are) an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where a thief does not come near it, nor a moth corrupts it.”
This verse is a big challenge to all of us. Sell your possessions. Wow. However, he does not say sell all your possessions. “The point of Jesus’ teaching on treasures is that they are not to be hoarded for one’s selfish pleasure (cf. v. 21; Mt. 6:19. Nevertheless, the interpreter [you and me] must be careful neither to blunt Jesus’ strong teaching as expressed in Luke regarding a life of abandonment and giving (cf. 6:27-36; 14:26, 33)” (Liefeld and Pao, comments on v. 33).
The command comes in a context. He set his face like a flint or became firmly resolved to go to Jerusalem where he knew he was about to “depart” or die (Luke 9:51). He was taking the “ministry route” or his time to minister to people before reaching the holy city. During this journey on the road to Jerusalem, there is no more room for monkeying around. Tradition says the apostles were all martyred. The next-best illustration, other than martyrdom, is found in the book of Acts.
32 The believing community was in one heart and soul, and not one said what possessions belonged to him was his own, but everything was in common for them. 33 In great power the apostles were giving forth their witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was upon all of them. 34 No one among them was poor, for as many as owned land or possessed houses, sold them, brought the money from the sales, 35 and placed it at the feet of the apostles; it was distributed to each one according to his need. 36 Joseph, surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which means “son of encouragement”), was a Levite, a Cyprian by birth. 37 Owning real estate, he sold it, and brought and placed the money at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:32-37, my tentative translation)
The earliest generation saw great miracles, probably because they gave up so much. They were pioneers. Do we want to see their kinds of miracles? Yes? Then are we willing to give up as much as they did? Are we willing to be such ground-breaking, territory-penetrating pioneers as they were?
However, Bock balances things out: “The stress is not on literally selling all, but on making use of one’s resources in a way that benefits others. Zacchaeus is the positive example of how resources are to be used (19:1-10)” (p. 1167).
“give donations”: it is understood that we give alms or donations to the needy. Sometimes I wonder about gigantic church buildings costing $50-100 million+. Yes, we need a place to meet, but what about gutting and rebuilding old warehouses? Why do we give big donations for gigantic, luxurious church buildings? Maybe that is one more reason why so many westerners, particularly Americans, don’t see apostolic miracles. Just a thought, which will be quickly ignored and skimmed over!
“inexhaustible”: I like this adjective. It could also be translated as “unfailing.” It is found only here in the NT. Treasures in heaven are inexhaustible, contrasted with earthly treasures. Even all the billionaires in the world cannot match heaven’s resources. Treasure in heaven can never be stolen or worn out or eaten away by moths.
34:
Where is your treasure? On earth or in heaven? Wherever your treasure is, your heart will be attached to it. The main point is that we should always look to heaven for our resources, even when we go about our daily lives, working and driving the kids to soccer practice.
Who is in heaven? All the riches and gold and jewels that are more beautiful than any on earth? Yes, that’s true. But I asked “who,” not “what.” Jesus is in heaven. He is our redeemer. He has opened up access to the Father’s throne. Through him we can seek the kingdom and all the resources we need. Focus on him.
GrowApp for Luke 12:22-34
1. Are you anxious about the trivial things in life? Study Phil. 4:6-7. How do you overcome your anxiety?
2. Do you really believe the Father is pleased enough with you that he would give you his kingdom? How do you acquire this knowledge of the Father’s generous, giving heart?
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BIBLIOGRAPHY AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
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