Luke 12 23

Luke 12:23 kjv

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

Luke 12:23 nkjv

Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Luke 12:23 niv

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Luke 12:23 esv

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Luke 12:23 nlt

For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 23 Meaning

Luke 12:23 declares that life itself holds far greater value than the food needed to sustain it, and the human body is more significant than the clothing that covers it. This verse serves as a foundational premise for Jesus' teaching on casting off worry and trusting in God's providential care. It repositions humanity's understanding of worth, emphasizing that our very existence and being, gifts from God, intrinsically outweigh the transient necessities required for earthly subsistence. It challenges the human tendency to prioritize material provision over the Giver of life and existence.

Luke 12 23 Context

Luke 12:23 is nestled within a larger discourse by Jesus to His disciples concerning anxiety and true treasure. Immediately preceding this verse (Lk 12:13-21) is the Parable of the Rich Fool, a direct warning against covetousness and building security on transient material wealth, highlighting the folly of storing up for oneself while being "not rich toward God." Following the rich fool's demise, Jesus pivots to His disciples (Lk 12:22), urging them not to worry about life's provisions. Verse 23 provides the logical underpinning for this instruction: if God has given the greater gifts of life and body, He will surely provide the lesser necessities like food and clothing. This entire section (Lk 12:22-34) forms a coherent teaching on divine providence, misplaced priorities, and the true pursuit of the Kingdom of God. The historical context for the original audience, predominantly agrarian and subsistent, made anxiety over daily food and clothing a prevalent concern. Jesus directly counters this materialistic worldview and pervasive worry with a radical call to absolute trust in God's paternal care, challenging the cultural reliance on self-provision.

Luke 12 23 Word analysis

• For (Greek: γάρ, gar): This is a causal conjunction, introducing the reason or justification for the preceding exhortation not to worry. It links Jesus' instruction to a fundamental truth about creation and God's providence.
• life (Greek: ψυχὴ, psychē): While often translated "soul," here psychē refers broadly to one's very existence, vital breath, the animating principle, or simply life itself. It encompasses both the physical existence and the non-material aspect of being human, which God alone can grant and sustain.
• is more (Greek: πλεῖον, pleion): Signifies a qualitative "greater" or "of more value," not just a quantitative "more of." It establishes a hierarchy of importance. The core being of a person has intrinsic value far surpassing any external provisions.
• than food (Greek: τῆς τροφῆς, tēs trophēs): Refers to general sustenance, nourishment, or edibles. This highlights the most basic requirement for physical survival.
• and (Greek: καὶ, kai): A simple connective that continues the parallelism and strengthens the argument.
• the body (Greek: τὸ σῶμα, to sōma): Refers to the physical organism, the material frame of a human being.
• than clothing (Greek: τοῦ ἐνδύματος, tou endymatos): Refers to garments or apparel. This signifies another fundamental need for survival and societal decency, especially in ancient climates.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.": This entire phrase utilizes a common rhetorical device known as an argument from greater to lesser (A fortiori argument). Jesus asserts two premises: first, life itself is greater than the sustenance it requires; second, the body is greater than its covering. The implied conclusion, though unstated here, is clear in the broader context: If God, who created and bestowed the infinitely more valuable gifts of life and body, has already provided these, He will undoubtedly provide the lesser necessities (food and clothing) for their upkeep. This challenges human logic that often fixates on minor needs while neglecting the greater source of all existence. It reframes dependency not on one's own labor or worries, but on the unfailing provision of the Divine Giver. The parallelism ("life... food" // "body... clothing") creates a rhythmic, memorable statement that underscores the essential spiritual truth being conveyed.

Luke 12 23 Bonus section

• Intrinsic Value: The verse highlights the inherent, God-given value of human life (psychē) and the physical body (sōma). These are not commodities but sacred creations. This stands in contrast to cultures or philosophies that might devalue human existence, linking its worth solely to productivity or material possessions.
• Reversal of Priorities: Jesus deliberately reverses the common human anxiety hierarchy. Humans tend to worry about food and clothing as primary concerns. Jesus reorients this by asserting that God has already provided the foundational and more significant elements—life and the body—making the smaller provisions a given within God's care.
• God as Sustainer: Beyond merely being the Creator, this verse emphasizes God's ongoing role as Sustainer of life. It implies His continuous active involvement in providing for His creation. This goes beyond a deistic view of God as a distant clockmaker.
• Against Hedonism/Stoicism: Jesus' teaching here counters both extremes: a hedonistic pursuit of physical pleasures (food/clothing) as the sum of life, and a stoic resignation that might deny God's active involvement in daily provisions. Instead, it advocates for joyful trust.

Luke 12 23 Commentary

Luke 12:23 is a foundational truth laid down by Jesus to dismantle human anxiety rooted in materialism. It does not diminish the need for food and clothing but subordinates them to the intrinsic value of life and the body, both being divine gifts. By asking the listener to acknowledge that the Giver of life (the "greater" gift) must surely also care for the lesser provisions (food and clothing), Jesus invites a paradigm shift from self-reliant worry to God-centered trust. The verse is an implicit rebuke of the "rich fool" mentality (from the preceding parable), where accumulated wealth was erroneously perceived as security for "life," rather than God as the ultimate provider of life. The believer's focus, therefore, should not be consumed by securing earthly provisions, but by aligning with the one who sustains all life. This perspective frees believers to prioritize seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness, assured of His sustaining hand.

• Example: If a parent has already provided a child with life and a home, would they then refuse to provide food or clothes? No. Similarly, God, our ultimate Parent, who gave us life, will provide what we need to sustain it.