Luke 12:33
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Sell, &c.--This is but a more vivid expression of Mat 6:19-21 (see on Mat 6:19-21).
Open source ↗In this chapter we have divers excellent discourses of our Saviour's upon various occasions, many of which are to the same purport with what we had in Matthew upon other the like occasions; for we may suppose that our Lord Jesus preached the same doctrines, and pressed the same duties, at several times, in several companies, and that one of the evangelists took them as he delivered them at one time and another at another time; and we need thus to have precept upon precept, line upon line. Here, I. Christ warns his disciples to take heed of hypocrisy, and of cowardice in professing Christianity and preaching the gospel (Luk 12:1-12). II. He gives a caution against covetousness, upon occasion of a covetous motion made to him, and illustrates that caution by a parable of a rich man suddenly cut off by death in the midst of his worldly projects and hopes (Luk 12:13-21). III. He encourages his disciples to cast all their care upon God, and to live easy in a dependence upon his providence, and exhorts them to make religion their main business (Luk 12:22-34). IV. He stirs them up to watchfulness for their Master's coming, from the consideration of the reward of those who are then found faithful, and the punishment of those who are found unfaithful (Luk 12:35-48). V. He bids them expect trouble and persecution (Luk 12:49-53). VI. He warns the people to observe and improve the day of their opportunities and to make their peace with God in time (Luk 12:54-59).
Open source ↗12:33 Sell your possessions and give to those in need: This is not a command to liquidate all personal possessions, since elsewhere in the Bible it is assumed that believers will own property. It means recognizing that everything we have is God’s and should be used to serve him and his people (see Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-34). Believers are responsible for meeting the needs of the poor, especially in the church (Gal 6:10). • treasure for you in heaven: See Luke 16:1-13; Matt 6:19-21. When God gives wealth, he also gives a ministry to help the unfortunate.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough. You drink but never have your fill. You put on clothes but never get warm. You earn wages to put into a bag pierced through.”
In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
Judas did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money bag, he used to take from what was put into it.
But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.