Luke 12:15-21

2 d. To the People: Luke 12:15-21. The Rich Fool. Πρὸς αὐτούς (“He said unto them ”), Luke 12:15, stands in opposition to His disciples, Luke 12:22. This slight detail confirms the exactness of Luke, for faith is nowhere supposed in those to whom the warning, Luke 12:15-21, is addressed. The two imperatives take heed and beware might be regarded as expressing only one idea: “Have your eyes fully open to this enemy, avarice;” but they may be translated thus: “Take heed [to this man] and beware.” Jesus would set him as an example before the assembled people. The Greek term, which we translate by covetousness, denotes the desire of having, much more than that of keeping what we have. But the second is included in the first. Both rest on a superstitious confidence in worldly goods, which are instinctively identified with happiness. But to enjoy money there is a condition, viz. life, and this condition is not guaranteed by money. Περισσεύειν, the surplus of what one has beyond what he needs. The prep. ἐν may be paraphrased by though or because: “ Though he has or because he has superabundance, he has not for all that assurance of life.” The two senses come nearly to the same. We should probably read πάσης, all covetousness, instead of τῆς, covetousness in general: the desire of having in every shape.

Ver. 16. The term parable may signify an example as well as an image; when the example is fictitious, it is invented as an image of the abstract truth.

This rich farmer has a superabundance of goods sufficient for years; but all in vain, his superfluity cannot guarantee his life even till to-morrow.

He speaks to his soul (‡ ֶנפֶשׁ, H5883), the seat of his affections, as if it belonged to him (“ my soul;” comp. the four μοῦ, Luke 12:17-18); and yet he is about to learn that this soul itself is only lent him.

The words: “God said unto him,” express more than a decree; they imply a warning which he hears inwardly before dying. The subject of ἀπαιτοῦσιν (the present designates the immediate future) is neither murderers nor angels; it is the indefinite pron. on, they, according to a very common Aramaic form; comp. Luke 12:48 and Luke 14:35. This night is the antithesis of many years, as required is that of the expression “ my soul.”

Ver. 21. Application of the parable. The phrase laying up treasure for himself is sufficiently explained by Luke 12:19.

Rich toward God might signify, rich in spiritual goods. But the prep. εἰς, in relation to, is unfavourable to this meaning. It is better to take it in the sense of laying up a treasure in the presence of God, in the sense of the saying, He who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord. To become God's creditor, is to have a treasure in God; comp. Luke 12:33-34.