Luke 12 33

Luke 12:33 kjv

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Luke 12:33 nkjv

Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

Luke 12:33 niv

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.

Luke 12:33 esv

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Luke 12:33 nlt

"Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 33 Meaning

Luke 12:33 is a command from Jesus that calls for radical detachment from material wealth and a proactive investment in eternal realities. It instructs disciples to release their grip on perishable earthly possessions by selling them and giving the proceeds to the poor. This act is framed as a strategic and wise investment: instead of storing up transient earthly riches, believers should secure an enduring and unfailing treasure in heaven. This heavenly treasure is safe from decay, loss, and theft, providing true and lasting security unlike any earthly possession. It fundamentally shifts the believer's focus from temporary comfort and security to eternal reward and dependence on God.

Luke 12 33 Context

This verse is situated within a broader discourse by Jesus on authentic discipleship, fear, and true wealth. Immediately preceding it is the Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:16-21), where a man builds bigger barns for his abundant harvest, only to die unexpectedly and lose it all, highlighting the folly of hoarding earthly treasure and being "not rich toward God." Following this, Jesus warns against anxiety about daily needs (Lk 12:22-31), urging His disciples not to worry about what they will eat or wear, but instead to "seek His kingdom," because God knows their needs and desires to provide. Luke 12:33 serves as a direct, practical application of these teachings: if God provides, and earthly wealth is uncertain, then release its hold, prioritize heavenly treasure, and express your trust in God through sacrificial giving. It challenges a worldview centered on self-sufficiency and material accumulation, presenting a counter-cultural pathway to true security found in God and eternity.

Luke 12 33 Word analysis

• Sell (πωλήσατε, pōlēsate): This strong aorist imperative verb conveys a direct command for a decisive action. It signifies a voluntary and intentional act of parting with material possessions, implying a radical detachment from worldly attachments for the sake of the Kingdom.
• your possessions (ὑπάρξοντα, hypárxonta): This term broadly refers to all that one owns, all existing belongings or assets. In ancient times, possessions often represented a person's security, social standing, and identity.
• and give (ποιήσατε, poiēsate, literally "make" or "do" with implied ελεημοσύνην, eleēmosynēn for "alms"): This signifies an active expression of charity and mercy, not just a casual disposal. It emphasizes benevolent giving from a compassionate heart.
• to the poor (ελεημοσύνην, eleēmosynēn, often translated "alms," or acts of charity toward the needy): Almsgiving was a central religious duty in Judaism. Jesus connects this act directly to true devotion and alignment with God's priorities for humanity.
• Provide yourselves (ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς, poiēsate heautois): A reflective command meaning "make for yourselves" or "furnish for yourselves." This highlights that the act of giving to the poor is, paradoxically, a beneficial investment for the giver's own eternal welfare.
• moneybags (βαλλάντια, ballantia): A purse or pouch for carrying money. It serves as a symbol of earthly, material means of storing wealth and seeking security.
• that do not grow old (μὴ παλαιούμενα, mē palaioumena): "Not decaying," "not worn out," or "not becoming obsolete." This adjective immediately contrasts the transient, deteriorating nature of earthly goods and their storage means with the enduring quality of heavenly provisions.
• with a treasure (θησαυρὸν, thēsauros): This term can refer either to a place where valuables are stored or to the valuable contents themselves. Here, it signifies the accumulation of spiritual or eternal riches.
• in the heavens (ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, en tois ouranois): Denotes the divine realm, God's dwelling place. This signifies permanency, invulnerability, and spiritual truth, positioning this treasure far beyond earthly perils and decay.
• that does not fail (ἀνέκλειπτον, anekleipton): "Unfailing," "inexhaustible," "never-ending," "always full." This powerful word stresses the infinite and eternally secure nature of the heavenly treasure, utterly immune to the depletion or failure of earthly resources.
• where no thief approaches (ὅπου κλέπτης οὐκ ἐγγίζει, hopou kleptēs ouk engizei): This phrase underscores the absolute security of heavenly investments, in stark contrast to earthly hoards that are vulnerable to theft.
• and no moth destroys (οὐδὲ σὴς διαφθείρει, oude sēs diaphtheirei): "Moth" (σὴς, sēs) represents natural decay affecting valuable goods, especially textiles (a form of wealth). "Destroys" (διαφθείρει, diaphtheirei) means to corrupt, spoil, or cause to perish. This imagery further highlights the inevitable, inherent decay and perishability of all material possessions over time.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Sell your possessions and give to the poor.": This phrase constitutes a radical command challenging conventional notions of wealth accumulation and security. It promotes radical generosity and immediate detachment from material obsessions, serving as a polemic against materialism. It directly connects disowning personal material security with the active and compassionate care for the vulnerable, signifying true Kingdom values over selfish gain.
• "Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail,": This establishes a direct contrast between the perishable nature of all earthly security ("moneybags that grow old") and the eternal, unfailing security found in God's realm ("treasure in the heavens that does not fail"). It redefines prudent financial planning, redirecting attention from short-term earthly gains to lasting, inexhaustible spiritual and eternal returns. It’s an instruction to wisely invest one's life where true and lasting value resides.
• "where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.": This final part underscores the absolute and incomparable security of the heavenly treasure. It eliminates the anxieties associated with earthly possessions, which are always subject to theft, decay, or economic instability. This contrasts highlights the ultimate foolishness of hoarding temporary things when true, enduring value lies beyond human reach, safely guarded by God Himself.

Luke 12 33 Bonus section

The phrase "moneybags that do not grow old" might also imply an ongoing, living provision from God, distinct from a fixed earthly accumulation. It suggests that aligning one's life and resources with God's Kingdom ensures access to a perennial source of blessing and grace that never depletes or loses its vitality. This teaching from Jesus presents a sharp counter-polemic to any contemporary belief system, whether Jewish, Roman, or Greek, that linked prosperity solely with divine favor or human diligence on earth. It redefined what "blessing" and "riches" truly meant within the economy of God's Kingdom, placing eternal spiritual wealth above any temporary material gains. It also challenges the innate human tendency towards hoarding and self-preservation, redirecting energy towards radical selflessness and God-centered living, providing not just future reward, but a present freedom from the anxiety of acquisition and loss.

Luke 12 33 Commentary

Luke 12:33 is a profoundly liberating and challenging teaching from Jesus that lies at the heart of authentic discipleship. Far from being a general suggestion, it is a command to re-evaluate one's fundamental security and purpose. The instruction to "sell your possessions and give to the poor" serves not as an endorsement of poverty for its own sake, but as a practical, freeing act that releases one from the powerful grip of materialism and worldly anxiety. By redirecting resources from personal accumulation to compassionate action for the needy, a believer expresses a deeper trust in God's provision rather than in perishable goods. This act of earthly release is simultaneously a heavenly investment: building an eternal "treasure" with God. Unlike any earthly vault, this heavenly store is eternally secure from decay ("moth destroys") and theft. It encapsulates a wisdom that transcends worldly prudence, urging followers to live with an eternal perspective, where true prosperity is measured not by what one accumulates on earth, but by what one has stored up in relationship with God through acts of faith and love. The ultimate point is a shift from self-reliance to radical reliance on God, finding true, imperishable security and abundant provision in His Kingdom.

• Practical usage:
  • Financial Review: Regularly assess whether current spending and saving habits reflect a "treasure in heaven" mindset or primarily an earthly one.
  • Generous Giving: Actively seek opportunities to give charitably, particularly to the marginalized, recognizing this as an act of faith and eternal investment.
  • Freedom from Worry: Practice entrusting material needs to God, recognizing that true security comes from Him, not from possessions that can be lost or decay.