What's easily missed here is that the man's prosperity wasn't from dishonest dealings, but from a literally bountiful harvest – "plentifully" highlights nature's generosity. Yet, this very blessing becomes the fuel for his self-deception, as he fails to see God's hand in his good fortune.
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
English Standard Version (ESV)
A man in the crowd interrupts Jesus' teaching to demand his brother divide an inheritance, prompting Jesus to tell a parable about a rich farmer who experiences an unusually bountiful harvest. This parable isn't about ill-gotten gains, but about the danger of trusting in material possessions and the folly of focusing solely on earthly security.
Imagine a year where everything you touch turns to gold. Your crops are the best in years, overflowing your storage. This is the scene Jesus sets, but is this blessing truly what it seems?
Jesus begins the parable with a picture of incredible abundance: 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully.' This wasn't just a good harvest; it was an extraordinary year. The soil yielded more than expected, more than the man could even handle with his current facilities.
An Innocent Beginning
It's important to note that the source of this wealth wasn't ill-gotten. Commentators point out that this richness came from the land itself, a 'most innocent manner of becoming rich,' as Benson puts it. There was no hint of fraud, oppression, or exploitation. It was a natural blessing, seemingly a sign of favor.
A Dangerous Foundation
Yet, even this seemingly innocent prosperity held hidden dangers. Bengel highlights that such abundance, while appearing blessed, 'is attended with dangers.' The sheer overflow of goods, rather than leading to gratitude or generosity, became the catalyst for a dangerous self-reliance and a flawed focus.
The rich man's problem wasn't the abundance itself, but his internal response. What did he truly value, and what was he missing?
The core issue in the parable isn't the abundance, but the rich man's heart and his definition of 'life.' His immediate thought upon seeing the plentiful harvest is not to thank God or consider sharing, but to plan for more storage.
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The 'Foolishness' of Self-Sufficiency
Jesus identifies this mindset as foolishness. The man's plan is to 'pull down my barns and build greater,' creating a space solely for his possessions. He then speaks to his 'soul,' saying, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' This reveals his entire value system: life is measured by possessions and the ability to indulge in them indefinitely. He believes his accumulated goods guarantee future happiness and security.
A God-Centered Perspective
What's missing is God. The parable, as Benson notes, shows a man 'without taking God and religion into his scheme at all.' His plans for the future are entirely self-contained, ignoring the divine source of his prosperity and the ultimate control God has over his life. His 'life' is defined by what he has, not by who he is in relation to God or others. Jesus contrasts this with a life that finds its true measure not in abundance, but in its relationship with the Giver of all good things.
Understand the original words
parabolē · Greek Noun
A brief, illustrative story used by Jesus to convey spiritual or moral truths, often utilizing common life scenarios to reveal the kingdom of God.
plousios · Greek Adjective/Noun
An individual characterized by an abundance of material possessions, which often serves as a test of faithfulness, stewardship, and reliance on God rather than wealth.
psychē · Greek Noun
Refers to the inner self, the seat of emotions, will, and eternal life; in a spiritual context, it is the immortal part of man that stands before God in judgment.
This parable was told in a time when Jesus' teachings on wealth and heavenly treasures were directly contrasting with the common pursuit of material security and prosperity in the Roman world.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus teaches on wealth and worry
Jesus delivers teachings on the dangers of wealth, the importance of trusting God, and the need for watchfulness, including several parables.
c. 30 AD
Man asks Jesus to intervene in inheritance dispute
A man interrupts Jesus' teaching to ask him to force his brother to share an inheritance, prompting Jesus to tell the parable.
c. 30 AD
Jesus tells the Parable of the Rich Fool
Jesus shares the parable of the rich man whose land produced abundantly, highlighting the folly of storing up earthly treasures rather than being rich toward God.
c. 55 AD
Paul writes to the Corinthians
Paul's letters address issues of wealth, greed, and the pursuit of material possessions within the early Christian community, reinforcing Jesus' teachings.
c. 60-62 AD
Luke compiles his Gospel
Luke records Jesus' teachings and parables, including the Parable of the Rich Fool, for a wider audience.
This passage introduces Nabal, a wealthy but foolish and churlish man, whose story is mentally referenced by Jesus in this parable, highlighting how riches can be tied to foolishness.
Proverbs 1:32This proverb directly states that the ease of fools will destroy them, echoing the fate of the rich man in the parable who found his prosperity leading to his downfall.
Psalm 49:17This Psalm warns that a person cannot take their wealth with them when they die, a core message reinforced by Jesus' parable about the rich man whose possessions were useless at the end.
Ecclesiastes 11:9This verse urges joyous living while young but also calls for accountability for one's actions, providing a broader context for Jesus' warning against a life solely focused on material possessions and pleasure without regard for God.
Luke 16:19The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus directly contrasts the eternal destinies of a wealthy man and a poor man, offering a vivid parallel to the consequences of misplaced priorities illuminated in this parable.
jfbLuke 12:13-53: "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."
Lu 12:13-53. Covetousness—Watchfulness—Superiority to Earthly Ties.13. Master, &c.—that is, "Great Preacher of righteousness, help; there is need of Thee in this rapacious world; here am I the victim of injustice, and that from my own brother, who withholds from me my rightful share of the inheritance that has fallen to us." In this most inopportune intrusion upon the sole…
expositorsLuke 12:16: "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:"
Chapter 23THE ESCHATOLOGY OF THE GOSPEL . COIFI, in his parable to the thanes and nobles of the North Humber country, likened the present life of man to the flight of a sparrow through one of their lighted halls, coming out of the night, and then disappearing in the dark winter whence it came; and he asked for Christianity a candid hearing, if perhaps she might tell the secrets of…
What's easily missed here is that the man's prosperity wasn't from dishonest dealings, but from a literally bountiful harvest – "plentifully" highlights nature's generosity. Yet, this very blessing becomes the fuel for his self-deception, as he fails to see God's hand in his good fortune.
A man in the crowd interrupts Jesus' teaching to demand his brother divide an inheritance, prompting Jesus to tell a parable about a rich farmer who experiences an unusually bountiful harvest. This parable isn't about ill-gotten gains, but about the danger of trusting in material possessions and the folly of focusing solely on earthly security.
A man in the crowd interrupts Jesus' teaching to demand his brother divide an inheritance, prompting Jesus to tell a parable about a rich farmer who experiences an unusually bountiful harvest. This parable isn't about ill-gotten gains, but about the danger of trusting in material possessions and the folly of focusing solely on earthly security.
"And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger…" — What's easily missed here is that the man's prosperity wasn't from dishonest dealings, but from a literally bountiful harvest – "plentifully" highlights nature's generosity. Yet, this very blessing b…
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Last reviewed October 2026
