Luke 12:21
Luke 12:21 in Multiple Translations
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
So that is what comes to the man who gets wealth for himself, and has not wealth in the eyes of God.
This is what happens to people who hoard up wealth for themselves but are not rich as far as God is concerned.”
So is he that gathereth riches to himselfe, and is not riche in God.
so [is] he who is treasuring up to himself, and is not rich toward God.'
So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.
Then Jesus ended this illustration by saying, “That is what will happen to those who store up goods just for themselves, but who do not value the things that God considers valuable.”
That is a picture story to tell you people this. If you keep money and things just for yourself, and if you don’t use them the way God wants you to, you are stupid.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Luke 12:21
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Luke 12:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — Luke 12:21
Study Notes — Luke 12:21
- Context
- Cross References
- Luke 12:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Luke 12:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 12:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 12:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Luke 12:21
- Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 12:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 12:21
- Cambridge Bible on Luke 12:21
- Barnes' Notes on Luke 12:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Luke 12:21
- Sermons on Luke 12:21
Context — The Parable of the Rich Fool
21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
22Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 6:19–20 | Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. |
| 2 | Luke 12:33 | Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. |
| 3 | James 2:5 | Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? |
| 4 | James 5:1–3 | Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. |
| 5 | Revelation 2:9 | I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan. |
| 6 | 1 Timothy 6:18–19 | Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. |
| 7 | Habakkuk 2:9 | Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster! |
| 8 | Hosea 10:1 | Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars. |
| 9 | Luke 6:24 | But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. |
| 10 | Romans 2:5 | But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. |
Luke 12:21 Summary
This verse, Luke 12:21, is a warning from Jesus about the dangers of prioritizing wealth and material possessions over our relationship with God. When we focus on accumulating wealth without considering our spiritual well-being, we can become spiritually poor and miss out on the true riches that God has to offer, as seen in Matthew 6:19-21. To be rich toward God means to prioritize our spiritual growth and relationship with Him, and to trust in His provision and sovereignty, as seen in Matthew 6:25-34. By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we can store up treasures in heaven that will last for eternity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to store up treasure for oneself?
According to Luke 12:21, storing up treasure for oneself refers to accumulating wealth or material possessions without considering one's relationship with God, as seen in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21, where the rich man's focus was on his wealth rather than his spiritual well-being, similar to the warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money can lead to spiritual ruin.
How can I be rich toward God?
Being rich toward God means prioritizing one's spiritual wealth and relationship with Him, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21, where He instructs us to store up treasures in heaven by seeking first the kingdom of God, and in Matthew 6:33, where He says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us.
Is it wrong to have wealth or material possessions?
Having wealth or material possessions is not inherently wrong, as seen in the example of Job, who was a wealthy man but also a righteous one, as stated in Job 1:1-3, but the key is to not let wealth become an idol or a substitute for a relationship with God, as warned in Deuteronomy 8:11-14, where the Israelites were cautioned against forgetting God in their prosperity.
What is the consequence of prioritizing wealth over God?
The consequence of prioritizing wealth over God is spiritual poverty and potentially even eternal separation from God, as illustrated in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, where the rich man's focus on his wealth led to his spiritual downfall, and as warned in Revelation 3:17, where the church in Laodicea was rebuked for being rich in material possessions but poor in spirit.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I prioritize my own desires and wealth over my relationship with God, and how can I shift my focus to being rich toward Him?
- In what ways do I use my wealth and material possessions to serve others and bring glory to God, and how can I do more of this?
- What are some spiritual treasures that I can store up in heaven, and how can I prioritize seeking these treasures in my daily life?
- How can I balance my desire for financial security and provision with my desire to trust in God's provision and sovereignty, as seen in Matthew 6:25-34?
- What are some practical steps I can take to be more mindful of my priorities and make sure I am not storing up treasure for myself at the expense of my relationship with God?
Gill's Exposition on Luke 12:21
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 12:21
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Luke 12:21
Trapp's Commentary on Luke 12:21
Ellicott's Commentary on Luke 12:21
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Luke 12:21
Cambridge Bible on Luke 12:21
Barnes' Notes on Luke 12:21
Whedon's Commentary on Luke 12:21
Sermons on Luke 12:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Fire! Fire! by J.C. Ryle | Greek Word Studies for an aid_number 34356 preaches on the concept of storing up treasures, emphasizing the importance of laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, where |
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Peter's Attitude to Money and Correction by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes Peter's journey of faith and his attitude towards money and correction, illustrating how God had a greater calling for Peter that required testing and approva |
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Some Reasons for Perpetual Financial Difficulties by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen addresses the reasons behind perpetual financial difficulties, emphasizing that selfishness in holding onto God's blessings leads to spiritual death. He contrasts the cl |
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(Gaining God's Approval) 9. the Testing of Peter and Judas by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen contrasts the attitudes of Peter and Judas Iscariot towards money and correction. Peter, when called by Jesus, immediately left his fishing business to follow Him, prior |
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(God-Centered Praying) 4. the Kingdom of God by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of God-centered praying, particularly the petition 'Thy kingdom come.' He explains that true salvation leads to a desire to be free from self-c |
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Trials Not Evils by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of being rich toward God rather than solely focusing on earthly treasures, highlighting the value of daily cross-bearing, self-denial |
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Behaviors That Bind Us by Charles Stanley | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of teaching children that their sense of security comes from a relationship with God, rather than material possessions. The sp |




