Keraia
Luke 12

Luke 12:20

The Parable of the Rich Fool · Luke 12:13–21
Read Luke 12

Translations

Modern
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
Traditional
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?
Literal
And God said to him, ‘Fool! This night, your soul is required of you; but what you prepared—to whom will it be?’
Latin
Dixit autem illi Deus: Stulte, hac nocte animam tuam repetunt a te: quæ autem parasti, cujus erunt?

Original

Greek
English
But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

Notes

Luke 12:19–20

  • myself (Literally soul): The man was speaking to himself.

  • You fool! In Scripture, a fool is not someone with low intelligence, but someone who dishonors and disobeys God (Psalm 14:1–5).

  • your life will be required of you: The man believed his soul was secure, but God was not pleased with him.

Luke 12:16–20

On the surface, the rich man’s plan seemed wise. But he thought only about himself (compare Ecclesiastes 5:10). He did not think about giving any of his crops to people in need. He assumed that his wealth would last. He only wanted a place to store it and did not include God in his plans (see James 4:13–17). So God’s judgment against him was just.

Luke 12:13–21

This parable shows the danger of trusting in riches instead of in God.

Events

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Jesus Christ Life Luke, Gospel of Parable Poor, the Riches Sin Wealth

Topics

Commandments: Precepts of Jesus--Explicitly Stated, or Implied in Didactic Discourse Confidence: False Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning Covetousness: The Rich Fool Death of the Wicked Death: Miscellaneous Subjects: Requiring the Soul Fool: Parables of of the Rich Fool Fools: Depend Upon Their Wealth Gluttony: General Scriptures Concerning Happiness of the Wicked is Uncertain Happiness of the Wicked: Illustrated Ignoring God Jesus, the Christ: Discourses to his Disciples (In Galilee) Jesus, the Christ: Parable of The Rich Fool Man: Possessed of a Soul Natural Death is Described as God Requiring the Soul Parables: Parables of Christ: Rich Fool Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning Riches: Denunciations Against Those Who: Folly and Danger of Trusting To-Illustrated Self-Delusion: Fatal Consequences of Self-Indulgence: The Rich Fool Sensuality: General Scriptures Concerning The Death of the Wicked: Illustrated The Happiness of the Wicked is Uncertain The Happiness of the Wicked: Illustrated The Punishment of the Wicked: Future Described as Often Sudden and Unexpected The Rich: General Scriptures Concerning