Luke 12
Luke 12 is part of “Journey to Jerusalem” (9:51–19:27) in the outline of Luke.
Luke 12 summary
In this chapter we have divers excellent discourses of our Saviour's upon various occasions, many of which are to the same purport with what we had in Matthew upon other the like occasions; for we may suppose that our Lord Jesus preached the same doctrines, and pressed the same duties, at several times, in several companies, and that one of the evangelists took them as he delivered them at one time and another at another time; and we need thus to have precept upon precept, line upon line. Here, I. Christ warns his disciples to take heed of hypocrisy, and of cowardice in professing Christianity and preaching the gospel (Luk 12:1-12). II.
Read the full introduction
In this chapter we have divers excellent discourses of our Saviour's upon various occasions, many of which are to the same purport with what we had in Matthew upon other the like occasions; for we may suppose that our Lord Jesus preached the same doctrines, and pressed the same duties, at several times, in several companies, and that one of the evangelists took them as he delivered them at one time and another at another time; and we need thus to have precept upon precept, line upon line. Here, I. Christ warns his disciples to take heed of hypocrisy, and of cowardice in professing Christianity and preaching the gospel (Luk 12:1-12). II. He gives a caution against covetousness, upon occasion of a covetous motion made to him, and illustrates that caution by a parable of a rich man suddenly cut off by death in the midst of his worldly projects and hopes (Luk 12:13-21). III. He encourages his disciples to cast all their care upon God, and to live easy in a dependence upon his providence, and exhorts them to make religion their main business (Luk 12:22-34). IV. He stirs them up to watchfulness for their Master's coming, from the consideration of the reward of those who are then found faithful, and the punishment of those who are found unfaithful (Luk 12:35-48). V. He bids them expect trouble and persecution (Luk 12:49-53). VI. He warns the people to observe and improve the day of their opportunities and to make their peace with God in time (Luk 12:54-59).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Luke 12
Luke 12 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees
1In the meane time, there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they trode one another: and he began to say vnto his disciples first, Take heede to your selues of the leauen of the Pharises, which is hypocrisie. 2For there is nothing couered, that shall not bee reueiled: neither hidde, that shall not be knowen. 3Wherefore whatsoeuer yee haue spoken in darkenesse, it shall be heard in the light: and that which ye haue spoken in the eare, in secret places, shall be preached on the houses.
Have No Fear
4And I say vnto you, my friendes, be not afraide of them that kill the bodie, and after that are not able to doe any more. 5But I wil forewarne you, who ye shall feare: feare him which after hee hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say vnto you, him feare. 6Are not fiue sparowes bought for two farthings, and yet not one of them is forgotten before God? 7Yea, and all the heares of your head are nombred: feare not therefore: yee are more of value then many sparowes. 8Also I say vnto you, Whosoeuer shall confesse mee before men, him shall the Sonne of man confesse also before the Angels of God. 9But hee that shall denie mee before men, shall be denied before the Angels of God. 10And whosoeuer shall speake a woorde against the Sonne of man, it shall be forgiuen him: but vnto him, that shall blaspheme ye holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiuen. 11And when they shall bring you vnto the Synagogues, and vnto the rulers and Princes, take no thought howe, or what thing ye shall answere, or what yee shall speake. 12For the holy Ghost shall teache you in the same houre, what yee ought to say.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13And one of the companie said vnto him, Master, bidde my brother deuide the inheritance with me. 14And he said vnto him, Man, who made me a iudge, or a deuider ouer you? 15Wherefore he said vnto them, Take heede, and beware of couetousnesse: for though a man haue abundance, yet his life standeth not in his riches. 16And he put foorth a parable vnto them, saying, The grounde of a certaine riche man brought foorth fruites plenteously. 17Therefore he thought with himselfe, saying, What shall I doe, because I haue no roume, where I may lay vp my fruites? 18And he said, This wil I do, I wil pul downe my barnes, and builde greater, and therein will I gather all my fruites, and my goods. 19And I wil say to my soule, Soule, thou hast much goods laide vp for many yeeres: liue at ease, eate, drinke and take thy pastime. 20But God said vnto him, O foole, this night wil they fetch away thy soule from thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast prouided? 21So is he that gathereth riches to himselfe, and is not riche in God.
Do Not Be Anxious
22And he spake vnto his disciples, Therefore I say vnto you, Take no thought for your life, what yee shall eate: neither for your body, what yee shall put on. 23The life is more then meate: and the body more then the raiment. 24Consider the rauens: for they neither sowe nor reape: which neither haue storehouse nor barne, and yet God feedeth them: how much more are yee better then foules? 25And which of you with taking thought, can adde to his stature one cubite? 26If yee then bee not able to doe the least thing, why take yee thought for the remnant? 27Consider the lilies howe they growe: they labour not, neither spin they: yet I say vnto you, that Salomon himselfe in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grasse which is to day in the field, and to morowe is cast into the ouen, howe much more will he clothe you, O yee of litle faith? 29Therefore aske not what yee shall eate, or what ye shall drinke, neither hag you in suspense. 30For all such things the people of the world seeke for: and your Father knoweth that ye haue neede of these things. 31But rather seeke ye after the kingdome of God, and all these things shalbe cast vpon you. 32Feare not, litle flocke: for it is your Fathers pleasure, to giue you the kingdome. 33Sell that ye haue, and giue almes: make you bagges, which waxe not old, a treasure that can neuer faile in heauen, where no theefe commeth, neither mothe corrupteth. 34For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also.
You Must Be Ready
35Let your loynes be gird about and your lights burning, 36And ye your selues like vnto men that waite for their master, when he will returne from the wedding, that when he commeth and knocketh, they may open vnto him immediatly. 37Blessed are those seruants, whom the Lord when he commeth shall finde waking: verely I say vnto you, he will girde himselfe about, and make them to sit downe at table, and will come forth, and serue them. 38And if he come in the seconde watch, or come in the third watch, and shall finde them so, blessed are those seruants. 39Nowe vnderstand this, that if the good man of the house had knowen at what houre the theefe would haue come, he would haue watched, and would not haue suffered his house to be digged through. 40Be ye also prepared therefore: for the Sonne of man will come at an houre when ye thinke not.
The Parable of the Faithful Steward
41Then Peter saide vnto him, Master, tellest thou this parable vnto vs, or euen to all? 42And the Lord saide, Who is a faithfull steward and wise, whom the master shall make ruler ouer his householde, to giue them their portion of meate in season? 43Blessed is that seruant, whom his master when he commeth, shall finde so doing. 44Of a trueth I say vnto you, that he wil make him ruler ouer all that he hath. 45But if that seruant say in his heart, My master doeth deferre his comming, and ginne to smite the seruants, and maydens, and to eate, and drinke, and to be drunken, 46The master of that seruant will come in a day when he thinketh not, and at an houre when he is not ware of, and will cut him off, and giue him his portion with the vnbeleeuers. 47And that seruant that knewe his masters will, and prepared not himselfe, neither did according to his will, shalbe beaten with many stripes. 48But he that knewe it not, and yet did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with fewe stripes: for vnto whomsoeuer much is giuen, of him shalbe much required, and to whom men much commit, the more of him will they aske.
Not Peace, but Division
49I am come to put fire on the earth, and what is my desire, if it be already kindled? 50Notwithstanding I must be baptized with a baptisme, and how am I grieued, till it be ended? 51Thinke ye that I am come to giue peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather debate. 52For from hencefoorth there shall be fiue in one house deuided, three against two, and two against three. 53The father shalbe deuided against ye sonne, and the sonne against the father: the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother: the mother in lawe against her daughter in lawe, and the daughter in lawe against her mother in lawe.
Interpreting the Time
54Then said he to the people, When ye see a cloude rise out of the West, straightway ye say, A shower commeth: and so it is. 55And when ye see the South winde blowe, ye say, that it wilbe hoate: and it commeth to passe. 56Hypocrites, ye can discerne the face of the earth, and of the skie: but why discerne ye not this time?
Settle with Your Accuser
57Yea, and why iudge ye not of your selues what is right? 58While thou goest with thine aduersarie to the ruler, as thou art in the way, giue diligence in the way, that thou mayest be deliuered from him, least he drawe thee to the iudge, and the iudge deliuer thee to the iayler, and the iayler cast thee into prison. 59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast payed the vtmost mite.