Luke 12:22-34
“Notice what you notice.” Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys (v. 33). My Study Bible had a comment on this verse: “The danger of riches and the need for giving are characteristic themes in Luke.”
Luke has always been my favorite Gospel. Some might think it’s the economist in me. But more realistically I became an economist because of my background (raised in poverty) and my appreciation for perspectives that Luke provides, so much more than the other Gospel writers. In this particular quote, Sell your possessions and give to the poor, the Jesus in Luke is much more radical than the parallel section in Matthew. Later in the story of the “rich young ruler/man”, all three Synoptic Gospels have Jesus saying something like “Sell what you have and give to the poor”. That similar phrase stands out here in today’s reading because Luke included it and Matthew did not.
One other item is different between the two accounts. Matthew has Jesus saying …your heavenly Father knows that you need them all (food, drink, clothing) (Mt. 6:32) whereas Luke has the same words, but he also adds Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom (v. 32). The NKJV is even more pointed: It is the Father’s good pleasure… I do not spend enough time thinking about our Father’s love for us or His “good pleasure” in providing for us and our families in our earthly life, let alone His kingdom! It’s one thing to be thankful for what we have; it’s quite another to see joy in our Father’s face as He looks down upon us. That’s a bit harder to process – but glorious in doing so!
Slava Bohu!
Well said, brother!