Luke 12:12-21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:17

He thought within himself - He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect - to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth.No room - Everything was full.To bestow - To place, to hoard, to collect.My fruits - Our word “fruits” is not applied to “grain;” but the Greek word is applied to all the produce of the earth - not only “fruit,” but also... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:18

I will pull down my barns - The word “barns” here, properly means, “granaries,” or places exclusively designed to put wheat, barley, etc. They were commonly made, by the ancients, “underground,” where grain could be kept a long time more safe from thieves and from vermin. If it be asked why he did not let the old ones remain and build new ones, it may be answered that it would be easier to “enlarge” those already excavated in the earth than to dig new ones. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:19

Much goods - Much property. Enough to last a long while, so that there is no need of anxiety or labor.Take thine ease - Be free from care about the future. Have no anxiety about coming to want.Eat, drink, and be merry - This was just the doctrine of the ancient Epicureans and atheists, and it is, alas! too often the doctrine of those who are rich. They think that all that is valuable in life is to eat, and drink, and be cheerful or merry. Hence, their chief anxiety is to obtain the “delicacies... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:20

Thou fool - If there is any supreme folly, it is this. As though riches could prolong life, or avert for a moment the approach of pain and death.This night ... - What an awful sentence to a man who, as he thought, had got just ready to live and enjoy himself! In a single moment all his hopes were blasted, and his soul summoned to the bar of his long-forgotten God. So, many are surprised as suddenly and as unprepared. They are snatched from their pleasures, and hurried to a world where there is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:21

So is he - This is the portion or the doom.Layeth up treasure for himself - Acquires riches for his own use - for “himself.” This is the characteristic of the covetous man. It is all for “himself.” His plans terminate there. He lives only for himself, and acts only with regard to his own interest.Rich toward God - Has no inheritance in the kingdom of God - no riches laid up in heaven. His affections are all fixed on this world, and he has none for God.From this instructive parable we learn:1.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:11-12

Luke 12:11-12. When they bring you unto the synagogues Let me add, however others may be affected by this testimony of the Spirit, one happy effect of its operation shall be to furnish you, my apostles, for a proper and honourable discharge of your office in its most difficult parts: and therefore when, in the opposition you shall meet with from your persecutors, they shall bring you into the synagogues, to be tried in the judicial courts assembled there; And unto magistrates and powers ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:13-15

Luke 12:13-15 . One said, Master, speak to my brother, &c. While Jesus was discoursing, as above related, to his disciple, one of the crowd, that was then collected about Jesus, requested that he would speak to his brother, and persuade him to divide their paternal inheritance, and give him his share. But, because judging in civil matters was the province of the magistrates, and foreign to the end of our Lord’s coming, he refused to meddle in their quarrel. It is not said which of these... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:16-20

Luke 12:16-20. To illustrate his admonition, and give it the greater weight, our Lord here delivers an important parable. The ground of a rich man brought forth plentifully This man, it appears, became rich, not by unjust gains, but by the produce of his own land, the most innocent method possible of making or increasing an estate. Nor did his covetousness consist in heaping up wealth without end, even by a method so innocent as that of agriculture: no; the extraordinary fruitfulness of one... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:21

Luke 12:21. So Such a fool, is he, in the divine account; that layeth up treasure for himself Here on earth: and is not rich toward God In acts of piety and charity, which would secure a fund of celestial treasures, lodged in his almighty hand, and therefore inviolably safe from such calamitous accidents as these. In other words, the covetous sensualist, who, in pursuing riches, has nothing but the gratification of his senses and appetites in view, no regard to the glory of God, who... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 12:4-21

63. Concern about safety and security (Luke 12:4-21)Some teaching that Jesus gave to the twelve apostles is repeated in other parts of the Gospels. This may have been given to the followers of Jesus in general, particularly those instructions and warnings that concerned putting loyalty to Jesus before the desire for personal safety (Luke 12:4-12; see notes on Matthew 10:28-33 above).On one occasion when a crowd was listening to such teaching from Jesus, there was one person who showed no... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:11-12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:13-15

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:16-20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 12:4-21

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