Luke 12:13-15

The Parable of the Rich Landowner

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.”

[12:13]  ¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[12:13]  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.

[12:14]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:14]  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.

[12:14]  ⁵ tn The pronoun ὑμᾶς (Jumas) is plural, referring to both the man and his brother; thus the translation “you two.”

[12:15]  ⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[12:15]  ⁷ tn See L&N 13.154 for this use of the middle voice of φυλάσσω (fulassw) in this verse.

[12:15]  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.