Luke 12:20-21

12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life ¹  will be demanded back from ²  you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ³  12:21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, ⁴  but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:33

12:33 Sell your possessions ⁵  and give to the poor. ⁶  Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven ⁷  that never decreases, ⁸  where no thief approaches and no moth ⁹  destroys.

---

¹ tn Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (yuch) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.

² tn Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaitew), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment (BDAG 96 s.v. 1).

³ tn Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

⁴ sn It is selfishness that is rebuked here, in the accumulation of riches for himself. Recall the emphasis on the first person pronouns throughout the parable.

⁵ sn The call to sell your possessions is a call to a lack of attachment to the earth and a generosity as a result.

⁶ tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today.

⁷ tn Grk “in the heavens.”

⁸ tn Or “an unfailing treasure in heaven,” or “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.”

⁹ tn The term σής (shs) refers to moths in general. It is specifically the larvae of moths that destroy clothing by eating holes in it (L&N 4.49; BDAG 922 s.v.). See Jas 5:2, which mentions “moth-eaten” clothing.