Luke Reading (#34)

Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 12:13-34

[12:13] Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” [14] But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” [15] And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” [16] And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ [18] And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
[22] And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. [24] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [26] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? [27] Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [28] But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. [30] For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
[32] “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Observation

• What does “someone in the crowd” ask Jesus to do for him (v. 13)?
  • How does Jesus respond (v. 14)?
  • What warning does he give (v. 15)? To whom does he give it?
  • What reason does he give (v. 15)?
• Look at the parable Jesus tells (v. 16-21):
  • What did the rich man plan to do (v. 18)?
  • What did he say to his soul (v. 19)?
  • What did God say to him about his soul (v. 20)?
  • What question did God ask him (v. 20)?
  • What does this parable illustrate (v. 21)?
• What command does Jesus give in v. 22?
  • To whom does he give it?
  • What reason does he give (v. 23)?
  • How do ravens get their food (v. 24)? What does Jesus say about the relative value of humans and ravens (v. 24)?
  • How do lilies become beautiful (v. 27)? What does Jesus say about the relative value of humans and grass (v. 28)?
• What question does Jesus ask in v. 25? What application does he make in v. 26?
• What should we not seek (v. 29)?
  • Why not (v. 30)?
  • What should we seek instead (v. 31)? What will happen if we seek that thing?
• What should we not do (v. 32)? Why not?
  • What should we do instead (v. 33)? What kind of money/treasure should we provide ourselves?
  • What reason does Jesus give (v. 34)?

Interpretation

• Why do you think Jesus responds to the man’s request (v. 14) like he does?
• What are the two kinds of wealth that this passage discusses (v. 21, 33)?
  • What is good about each kind of wealth?
  • Which is better? Why?
  • Why is the other kind so inordinately attractive to us?
• Jesus says that we shouldn’t be anxious (v. 22) or fear (v.32). Why not?
• What does it mean to seek his kingdom (v. 31)? What are “these things” that will be added to you?
• What does v. 34 tell us about the relationship between our treasure and our hearts? Which follows the other? Is that what you would expect Jesus to say?

Application

• If a neutral observer looked at your life, what would they conclude about the location of your treasure? How can you store up more treasure in heaven today?
• What things make you anxious or afraid? How do Jesus’ words here speak to that fear or anxiety?

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