12:13 Then 1 someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell 2 my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 12:14 But Jesus 3 said to him, “Man, 4 who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?” 5 12:15 Then 6 he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourself from 7 all types of greed, 8 because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
1 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 sn Tell my brother. In 1st century Jewish culture, a figure like a rabbi was often asked to mediate disputes, except that here mediation was not requested, but representation.
3 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn This term of address can be harsh or gentle depending on the context (BDAG 82 s.v. ἄνθρωπος 8). Here it is a rebuke.
5 tn The pronoun ὑμᾶς (Jumas) is plural, referring to both the man and his brother; thus the translation “you two.”
6 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
7 tn See L&N 13.154 for this use of the middle voice of φυλάσσω (fulassw) in this verse.
8 tn Or “avarice,” “covetousness.” Note the warning covers more than money and gets at the root attitude – the strong desire to acquire more and more possessions and experiences.