Explore the Bible
Read
Up Next
Luke 12:13-21
A Rich Fool
13A man in a crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of what our father left us when he died.”
14Jesus answered, “Who gave me the right to settle arguments between you and your brother?”
15Then he said to the crowd, “Don't be greedy! Owning a lot of things won't make your life safe.”
16So Jesus told them this story:
A rich man's farm produced a big crop, 17and he said to himself, “What can I do? I don't have a place large enough to store everything.”
18Later, he said, “Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.’ ”
20But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?”
21“This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God.”
Luke 12:13-21
The parable of the rich fool
13Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’
14Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 15Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’
16And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.”
18‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ ”
20‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”
21‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.’
