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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 12:41 mean?

Explanation

Luke 12:41 presents an inquiry from the Apostle Peter to Jesus.

In the preceding passages, Jesus has been teaching through parables and lessons to the gathered crowd, including the disciples.

Peter, likely seeking clarity for himself and possibly for the other disciples as well, is asking Jesus whether the particular parable He has just told is meant only for them (the immediate circle of disciples) or for the larger audience ("even to all").

The question indicates a common concern of the early followers of Jesus: distinguishing between teachings meant for the inner circle of disciples and those intended for the general public.

It reflects the dynamic of Jesus' ministry, where He often spoke in parables that had both surface-level meanings and deeper spiritual significance that might not be readily apparent to all listeners.

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Historical Context

Luke 12:41 is found in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament.

The Gospel according to Luke is traditionally believed to have been written by Luke, a companion of the Apostle Paul, around 80-110 AD.

This was a time when the early Christian community was grappling with its identity and mission in a world dominated by Roman rule and Hellenistic culture.

Jesus often taught in parables that were a common didactic form in Jewish teaching, used to impart wisdom and moral lessons.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Peter's question raises issues about the scope of Jesus' teachings and the extent to which His message is universally applicable.

This verse touches on interpretive differences that can arise within Christian theology:

Exclusivity vs. Universalism: Some theologians argue that certain teachings of Jesus were specifically intended for His closest followers, who had a unique role in the founding of the Church, whereas others contend that all of Jesus' teachings are universally applicable to all believers.
Esoteric vs. Exoteric Teaching: This issue also relates to the idea that spiritual truths may have both an inner (esoteric) dimension understood best by a spiritual elite and an outer (exoteric) dimension that is accessible to all.
The Role of the Disciples: This verse underscores the special role of the disciples as intermediaries between Jesus and the general public.

Their understanding of His teachings was crucial for the initial spread of Christianity.

Practical Applications

The inquiry by Peter, as seen in Luke 12:41, can inspire individuals to:

Seek clarity in teachings and messages they encounter in their own spiritual journeys.
Understand their role in broader communities, determining which insights they may need to share and which to ponder internally.
Encourage leaders and teachers to be clear about whom their messages are directed to, to avoid confusion.

Cross-References

Mark 4:34: "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Matthew 13:10-11: "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
Luke 8:10: "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek of Luke 12:41 that are worth noting include:

"Peter" (Πέτρος, Petros): meaning "rock", which is Peter's name given by Jesus.
"Lord" (κύριος, kyrios): a term of respect, often used for teachers or masters, also used to denote divinity as in "Lord" referring to Jesus.
"Parable" (παραβολή, parabolē): a story or saying that conveys a moral or spiritual lesson using comparison or analogy.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The use of parables was not unique to Christianity.

Parables and similar teaching stories were a common feature in many ancient cultures, including Judaism, from where Christianity emerged, and were used to impart wisdom and provoke deeper thought.

In other religious traditions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, stories and analogies also played a significant role in conveying spiritual teachings.

Scientific Perspectives

While Luke 12:41 offers a question rather than a claim about the natural world, the process of inquiring and seeking clarification is in line with scientific inquiry.

The verse illuminates human curiosity and the desire for understanding, traits that are also fundamental to the scientific method.

Commentaries

Many Biblical scholars and theologians have commented on Luke 12:41, noting Peter's role as a spokesperson for the apostles.

William Barclay suggests that Peter's question reflects the concerns of early Christian leaders to understand and apply Jesus' teachings accurately for both the immediate community and the broader mission field.

Matthew Henry's Commentary interprets this as an indication of the disciples' realization that Jesus' teachings had layers of meaning, with some intended for a wider audience and others for the disciples' edification.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:41 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 12:41 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?