Luke 12:25-36

12:25 And which of you by worrying¹ can add an hour to his life?² 12:26 So if³ you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about⁴ the rest? 12:27 Consider how the flowers⁵ grow; they do not work⁶ or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 12:28 And if⁷ this is how God clothes the wild grass,⁸ which is here⁹ today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,¹⁰ how much more¹¹ will he clothe you, you people of little faith! 12:29 So¹² do not be overly concerned about¹³ what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.¹⁴ 12:30 For all the nations of the world pursue¹⁵ these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 12:31 Instead, pursue¹⁶ his¹⁷ kingdom,¹⁸ and these things will be given to you as well.

12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased¹⁹ to give you the kingdom. 12:33 Sell your possessions²⁰ and give to the poor.²¹ Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven²² that never decreases,²³ where no thief approaches and no moth²⁴ destroys. 12:34 For where your treasure²⁵ is, there your heart will be also.

Call to Faithful Stewardship

12:35 “Get dressed for service²⁶ and keep your lamps burning;²⁷ 12:36 be like people²⁸ waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration,²⁹ so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

¹tn Or “by being anxious.”

²tn Or “a cubit to his height.” A cubit (πῆχυς, phcu") can measure length (normally about 45 cm or 18 inches) or time (a small unit, “hour” is usually used [BDAG 812 s.v.] although “day” has been suggested [L&N 67.151]). The term ἡλικία (Jhlikia) is ambiguous in the same way as πῆχυς. Most scholars take the term to describe age or length of life here, although a few refer it to bodily stature (see BDAG 435-36 s.v. 1.a for discussion). Worry about length of life seems a more natural figure than worry about height. However, the point either way is clear: Worrying adds nothing to life span or height.

³tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.

⁴tn Or “why are you anxious for.”

⁵tn Traditionally, “lilies.” According to L&N 3.32, “Though traditionally κρίνον has been regarded as a type of lily, scholars have suggested several other possible types of flowers, including an anemone, a poppy, a gladiolus, and a rather inconspicuous type of daisy.” In view of the uncertainty, the more generic “flowers” has been used in the translation.

⁶tn Traditionally, “toil.” Although it might be argued that “work hard” would be a more precise translation of κοπιάω (kopiaw) here, the line in English scans better in terms of cadence with a single syllable.

⁷tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.

⁸tn Grk “grass in the field.”

⁹tn Grk “which is in the field today.”

¹⁰tn Grk “into the oven.” The expanded translation “into the fire to heat the oven” has been used to avoid misunderstanding; most items put into modern ovens are put there to be baked, not burned.

¹¹sn The phrase how much more is a typical form of rabbinic argumentation, from the lesser to the greater. If God cares for the little things, surely he will care for the more important things.

⁹tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate a conclusion drawn from the previous illustrations.

¹⁰tn Grk “do not seek,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that people should make no attempt to obtain their food. The translation “do not be overly concerned” attempts to reflect the force of the original.

¹¹tn The words “about such things” have been supplied to qualify the meaning; the phrase relates to obtaining food and drink mentioned in the previous clause.

¹¹tn Grk “seek.”

¹³tn Grk “seek,” but in the sense of the previous verses.

¹⁴tc Most mss (Ì⁴⁵ A D¹ Q W Θ 070 Ë^1,13 33 Ï lat sy) read τοῦ θεοῦ (tou qeou, “of God”) instead of αὐτοῦ (autou, “his”; found in א B D* L Ψ 579 892 pc co). But such a clarifying reading is suspect. αὐτοῦ is superior on both internal and external grounds. Ì⁷⁵ includes neither and as such would support the translation above since the article alone can often be translated as a possessive pronoun.

¹⁵sn His (that is, God’s) kingdom is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

¹⁵tn Or perhaps, “your Father chooses.”

¹⁷sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.

¹⁸tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.

¹⁹tn Grk “in the heavens.”

²⁰tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”

²¹tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.

¹⁹sn Seeking heavenly treasure means serving others and honoring God by doing so; see Luke 6:35-36.

²¹tn Grk “Let your loins be girded,” an idiom referring to the practice of tucking the ends of the long cloak (outer garment) into the belt to shorten it in preparation for activities like running, etc.

²²sn Keep your lamps burning means to be ready at all times.

²³tn That is, like slaves (who are mentioned later, vv. 37-38), although the term ἀνθρώποις (anqrwpoi") is used here. Since in this context it appears generic rather than gender-specific, the translation “people” is employed.

²⁴sn An ancient wedding celebration could last for days (Tob 11:18).