Luke 12:29–31

Context

In chapter 12 of the Gospel of Luke, a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus warns against covetousness and tells the parable of the "rich fool" (Luke 12:16–21). Then, beginning in verse 22, he teaches his disciples not to be anxious about their life or their body. After the examples of the ravens and the lilies, verses 29–31 form the conclusion of this teaching. Immediately afterward, in verses 32–34, Jesus tells the "little flock" that it is the Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom, and he goes on to urge them to sell their possessions and give alms.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the same teaching appears within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:24–34).

Interpretation

• A reading centered on providence and trust: Many commentators place the emphasis on verse 30: "your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." They read the passage to mean that trusting in the providence of God, who knows our needs, is the way to overcome anxiety.
• A reading centered on the priority of the kingdom: This reading takes verse 31 as a command about priorities in daily life. It does not mean that matters of livelihood are trivial; rather, the kingdom of God is what is to be sought first, and the necessities of life are "added" in addition to it.
• A reading within Luke's view of wealth: The passage stands between the preceding parable of the rich fool and the following command to give alms. For this reason, some interpreters see it as calling for the life of a steward who is not bound by possessions and who shares with others.

Debates and Issues

• Differences from Matthew: Matthew 6:33 reads, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," whereas Luke omits the word "righteousness" and says only, "rather seek ye the kingdom." Some scholars attribute the difference in wording to the distinct emphases of each Gospel.
• Manuscript question: In verse 31, some manuscripts read "the kingdom of God" in place of "his kingdom." The meaning is not substantially different.
• The scope of "shall be added": Some preaching influenced by prosperity theology interprets this phrase as a promise that material abundance will follow for those who put the kingdom of God first. A number of evangelical theologians criticize this interpretation. They argue that the context speaks of basic needs such as food and clothing, and that, because an exhortation to sell one's possessions and share with others follows immediately, the passage can hardly be read as a promise of wealth.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the parallel passage, Matthew 6:33, is cited more often. A praise song based on that verse, "Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness," is also widely sung. The Lukan text is often read alongside the Matthean passage in sermons on anxiety, livelihood, and wealth.

Related Passages

• Matthew 6:33
• Luke 12:32–34
• Philippians 4:6
• 1 Peter 5:7
• 1 Timothy 6:6–8