PrevLuke 12:5Next

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 12:5 mean?

Explanation

Luke 12:5 warns about the ultimate authority of God over life and death, and the judgment that follows. Jesus speaks to His disciples, explaining that while men may kill the body, they have no power over the soul. Instead, one should fear God, who has the power to cast into hell after death.

This verse highlights the importance of recognizing God's sovereignty and the eternal consequences of His judgment. It serves as a stark reminder that human judgments or threats are insignificant compared to the ultimate judgment of God.

The verse implies a deeper meaning: that the soul and its eternal destiny are of far greater importance than physical life and mortal threats.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

This passage is from the Gospel of Luke, which was composed around 80-110 AD, and is believed to be written by Luke, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul.

It is part of a larger discourse in which Jesus instructs His disciples on hypocrisy, covetousness, and readiness for His return.

At the time, both Jesus and His followers were facing persecution from religious and state authorities.

This context underscores the meaning of the verse, as it provided comfort and perspective amid persecution.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse reflects on the concept of fear.

The "fear" mentioned is not merely about being scared but carries the traditional biblical connotation of awe, reverence, and deep respect for God's power and authority.

It implies trust in God's justice and providence over worldly fears.

Different theological viewpoints might emphasize the judgment aspect and the existence and nature of hell, while others may focus on the call to trust in God.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can be a reminder for individuals to discern what fears they allow to control their lives.

It encourages prioritizing spiritual well-being and principles above concerns for physical harm or societal pressures.

This can manifest in standing firm in one's faith despite persecution or choosing moral integrity over compromising situations.

The fear of God, understood as reverence, can be a powerful guiding principle for making choices that align with one's spiritual beliefs.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Hebrews 10:31: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Revelation 20:15: "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Psalm 111:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

Language Study

The key words in this verse in the original Greek language are:

"Fear" (φοβηθῆτε / phobēthēte): This word can mean to fear, to be afraid, or to have reverence.
"Kill" (ἀποκτείναντα / apokteinanta): This term refers to the act of killing or causing death.
"Power" (ἐξουσίαν / exousian): This word denotes authority or dominion.
"Hell" (γέενναν / geennan): This refers to Gehenna, a symbol of eternal damnation or the place of future punishment.

The use of these words in their original language enriches the understanding of the verse, emphasizing the gravity of God's authority over life and afterlife.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions and myths, there are gods who have the power over life, death, and the afterlife. For example, Hades in Greek mythology governed the underworld where souls would go after death.

However, the concept of judgment and a place of punishment akin to the Christian understanding of hell is distinct in ancient Hebrew tradition.

Gehenna itself refers to the Valley of Hinnom, a physical place outside of Jerusalem associated with the punishment of the wicked, which in this context becomes a symbol for the final place of punishment.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not typically encompass concepts of the soul, afterlife, or hell, as these are spiritual beliefs rather than empirical observations.

Science deals with the material world and does not address or confirm theological concepts.

Concepts like fear, however, are studied within the disciplines of psychology and neuroscience, examining their effects on human behavior and mental health.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators present various perspectives on this verse:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the comfort this teaching provides to the persecuted, that they should not fear those who can only kill the body.
The Expositor's Greek Testament comments on the distinctive nature of Jesus' call to fear God, not as a doctrine of terror, but as a serious reminder of God's ultimate authority.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the idea that this verse should incite not only an awe of God’s power but an adherence to His mercy and grace.
Charles Spurgeon, a renowned preacher, suggested that the fear of God is a cleansing and protective component of faith that guards believers from sin and despair.

Luke 12

Luke 12

What does Luke 12:5 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 12:5 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?