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Luke 12

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled?

But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

What does Luke 12:32 mean?

Explanation

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32, KJV) This verse is a direct and comforting message from Jesus to his disciples, assuring them of God's favor and the promise of the kingdom of Heaven.

Literally, Jesus is addressing a "little flock," a term of endearment for a small group of followers or believers.

It is an expression that evokes a shepherd's protective care for his sheep, illustrating the close relationship between Jesus (the Good Shepherd) and his disciples.

The deeper meaning of the verse lies in its reassurance to believers that they need not fear life's challenges or uncertainties because God is not only protective but also generous.

He delights ("good pleasure") in giving them "the kingdom," which signifies salvation, a place in God’s eternal realm, and the spiritual riches that come with being part of God's family.

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Historical Context

At the time of writing, Jesus was engaging with his disciples in a broader conversation about reliance on God, stewardship, and preparedness for the coming kingdom.

The cultural and historical context is the Jewish society of the 1st century where being a shepherd was a common occupation, and metaphors involving shepherding resonated well with the audience.

Jesus often used parables and figures of speech that his listeners could relate to, making his teachings accessible.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, several insights arise from this verse.

First, it presents the notion of divine providence, where God actively looks after the welfare of believers.

Second, it evokes the idea of the Kingdom of God, a central theme in Jesus' teachings, which speaks of both a present reality and a future hope.

Different theological traditions have viewed this "giving of the kingdom" as either a reference to the internal spiritual reign of God in the hearts of believers or to the future establishment of God’s rule on Earth.

Practical Applications

The teachings of Luke 12:32 can be applied in daily life in several ways.

It serves as an encouragement to trust in God’s goodness and care, especially during times of fear, anxiety, or scarcity.

This passage reminds believers that their value to God is great and that they can rely on Him for their needs.

It can foster a spirit of optimism and an attitude that prioritizes spiritual treasures over material ones.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:31-33: "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?...

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Matthew 19:14: "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek from this verse and their meanings include:

"Fear not" (μὴ φοβοῦ): An imperative statement often used by Jesus to reassure and command courage.
"Little flock" (μικρὸν ποίμνιον): The term "little" (μικρὸν) conveys both the size and the endearment of the group, whereas "flock" (ποίμνιον) reflects a cohesive group of followers, like sheep with a shepherd.
"Good pleasure" (εὐδοκία): This word indicates a favorable disposition, delight, or pleasure.

It signifies that it is God's joyful choice to give.

"Kingdom" (βασιλεία): Refers to a realm or sovereignty and in the context of the New Testament often pertains to the spiritual reign of God or the eschatological salvation to come.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse with other ancient myths and religious interpretations, the imagery of a protective deity is not unique to Christianity.

Many ancient cultures had gods who were seen as shepherds of their people. For instance, in Mesopotamian mythology, the god Marduk is sometimes portrayed as a shepherd leading and protecting his people.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly relate to any specific scientific concept, the lack of fear and the provision of needs may be linked to psychological well-being.

Modern psychological studies often focus on the impact of faith and belief in a higher power as a source of comfort and security for individuals, which could minimize anxiety and stress.

Commentaries

Various biblical experts and theologians have provided insight into this verse. For example, the renowned Bible commentator Matthew Henry saw this verse as an encouragement to believers to not fear the want of any thing that is good for them.

Additionally, William Barclay notes the pastoral connection, emphasizing the tenderness of God's care in the term "little flock." It is widely agreed among different commentaries that the message of this verse is to inspire confidence in the divine care and providential love that God has for His followers.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:32 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 12:32 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?