Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:22-31
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25-33. read more
Luke 12:13-34
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:32
Little flock - Our Saviour often represents himself as a shepherd, and his followers as a flock or as sheep. The figure was beautiful. In Judea it was a common employment to attend flocks. The shepherd was with them, defended them, provided for them, led them to green pastures and beside still waters. In all these things Jesus was and is eminently the Good Shepherd. His flock was small. Few “really” followed him, compared with the multitude who professed to love him. But, though small in... read more
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have - Sell your property. Exchange it for that which you can use in distributing charity. This was the condition of their being disciples. Their property they gave up; they forsook it, or they put it into common stock, for the sake of giving alms to the poor, Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; John 12:6; Acts 5:2.Bags which wax not old - The word “bags,” here, means “purses,” or the bags attached to their girdles, in which they carried their money. See the notes at Matthew 5:38. By bags which... 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
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:22-31
Luke 12:22-31. And he said unto his disciples Having delivered the preceding instructive and awakening parable, whereby he intended to caution the contending brothers and the multitude against covetousness, sensuality, and the love of pleasure, he now proceeds to address his disciples, and caution them against those anxious cares and earthly affections which are also very inimical to religious dispositions, and obstructive to all progress in the divine life. This part of his discourse he... read more
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 12:32-34
Luke 12:32-34. Fear not, little flock You, my dear property and charge, however feeble you may seem; fear not, I say, that you shall be left destitute of those common blessings of providence, for it is your Father’s good pleasure, &c. Ευδοκησεν , he takes delight, or joyfully acquiesces, in giving you the kingdom, even the kingdom of eternal glory; and can you possibly imagine, that while he intends to bestow that upon you, and even takes pleasure in the thought of making you so... 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
Subscribe
Verse of the Day
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Daily Devotional
Subscribe to receive daily devotionals to help you grow in faith and walk closer with God.
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2026 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
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