Luke 12 22

Luke 12:22 kjv

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Luke 12:22 nkjv

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

Luke 12:22 niv

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:22 esv

And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Luke 12:22 nlt

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life ? whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 22 Meaning

Luke 12:22 instructs Jesus' disciples to cease from anxious worrying about their physical lives—specifically regarding food and clothing—because such worries divert focus from trust in God's providence. The verse emphasizes a radical trust in God as the ultimate provider for their basic necessities, directly following Jesus' parable cautioning against greed and the illusion of security in material wealth.

Luke 12 22 Context

Luke 12:22 flows directly from Jesus' teaching about materialism and the Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:13-21). A man in the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute (Lk 12:13), prompting Jesus to warn against covetousness (Lk 12:15) and illustrate it with the rich fool who accumulated wealth but was called to judgment (Lk 12:20). The rich fool's life was centered on storing up for himself, failing to be "rich toward God." "Therefore" (Lk 12:22) signifies that, in light of this parable where life's value is not found in possessions and an excessive concern for material wealth leads to foolishness and spiritual bankruptcy, Jesus extends His teaching on financial anxieties to His disciples. The chapter then broadens this instruction, comparing human needs to God's care for ravens and lilies, culminating in the call to "seek the kingdom of God" (Lk 12:31) and not to fear the future (Lk 12:32).

Luke 12 22 Word analysis

• Then He said: Indicates a shift from addressing the crowd at large, as in the preceding verses, to a more focused teaching specifically for "His disciples," those who had committed to following Him. This highlights the personal and binding nature of the instruction for His followers.

• to His disciples: Specifies the immediate audience. This command is directed at those committed to Jesus' way of life, implying a higher standard of trust and detachment from worldly anxieties for those who proclaim allegiance to Him. It suggests that Christian discipleship calls for a radical reorientation of values.

• "Therefore" (διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto): This crucial Greek conjunction signals a direct consequence or conclusion drawn from the preceding teaching. It connects the command not to worry directly to the Parable of the Rich Fool, emphasizing that because life does not consist of material possessions and riches are fleeting, worry about them is senseless and contrary to God's wisdom.

• "I say to you": An emphatic declaration by Jesus, asserting His authority and the solemnity of His instruction. It’s a personal directive from the Lord to His followers.

• "do not worry" (μὴ μεριμνᾶτε, mē merimnate): A present imperative with a negative particle, indicating "stop worrying" or "do not get into the habit of worrying." The Greek verb merimnaō means "to be anxious, troubled with cares," "to be concerned about," or literally "to be divided or distracted" in mind. It signifies an absorbing, often debilitating, anxiety that distracts one from higher spiritual pursuits and demonstrates a lack of trust in God. It does not forbid diligent work or prudent planning, but anxious concern that becomes consuming.

• "about your life" (τῇ ψυχῇ ὑμῶν, tē psychē hymōn): The Greek word psychē often means "soul," but here it refers to "life" in its sense of physical existence and the sustenance of it. It’s about the vitality and well-being that require physical nourishment, implicitly connecting to the concern for basic survival.

• "what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on": These phrases represent the most fundamental human necessities for physical existence. "What you will eat" covers sustenance, and "what you will put on" refers to clothing, protection, and dignity. By specifying these basic needs, Jesus addresses the most primal fears about survival, implying that if God cares for these, He cares for everything else.

• "do not worry... what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on": This entire phrase encapsulates a strong call for radical trust in God's providence concerning daily necessities. It shifts the disciple's focus from anxious preoccupation with physical survival—a common human concern—to a deeper reliance on divine care. This isn't a call to idleness but a command to abandon the anxious mindset that betrays a lack of faith in a provident Father. The very items mentioned—food and clothing—are foundational to human existence, underscoring that if God cares for these most basic needs, He will certainly provide for His children in other aspects.

Luke 12 22 Bonus section

This injunction against worry is not a passive embrace of fate but an active choice of faith. It's a re-direction of mental energy. Worry, at its root, can be a subtle form of idolatry, where the focus and trust shift from God to one's own perceived ability (or inability) to control outcomes. Jesus here invites His followers into a liberating relationship of total reliance, promising a peace that earthly security can never offer. The emphasis on "your life" (τῇ ψυχῇ) suggests that genuine living, in its fullest sense, is stifled by worry. Disciples are called to live unburdened by worldly anxieties, allowing them to truly "seek the kingdom" (Luke 12:31) and fulfill their divine purpose, knowing their physical needs are already in the hands of a faithful God.

Luke 12 22 Commentary

Luke 12:22 delivers a fundamental command central to Jesus' ethics: cease anxious worry about life's basic needs. This isn't merely advice but a divine injunction against a specific spiritual posture—one of agitated distraction (merimnao) that demonstrates a lack of faith. It directly counters the wisdom of the rich fool who thought security lay in abundance, revealing that true security is found in radical dependence on God. While responsible planning and labor are implicitly necessary (as seen elsewhere in Scripture, like 2 Thessalonians 3:10), debilitating anxiety paralyzes and demeans the spiritual life, reflecting a practical atheism. Jesus challenges His disciples to transcend humanistic anxieties by placing their trust completely in the benevolent Father, freeing their minds and energies to pursue His Kingdom above all else. This verse reminds believers that if God grants life itself, He will surely provide for its maintenance, rendering excessive worry both irrational and offensive to divine love.

• Examples: A student constantly fretting about future career prospects, rather than diligently studying and trusting God with the outcome. A family budgeting carefully for essentials but refusing to trust God in difficult financial times, leading to sleepless nights and bitterness, rather than praying and seeking divine wisdom.