So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about possessing riches, but about how they are possessed. The emphasis isn't on being wealthy, but on being "rich toward God" – using earthly treasures in a way that builds a heavenly account and honors Him.
So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just told the parable of the rich fool, whose land produced so abundantly that he planned to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store his wealth, only to die that very night. This verse is Jesus' application of that parable, warning that a life focused solely on accumulating earthly riches, without investing in one's relationship with God, is ultimately foolish and leads to spiritual poverty. The immediate context shows this follows a man's request to Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, highlighting the pervasive issue of greed Jesus was addressing.
Jesus tells a parable about a rich fool who hoards his wealth, only to have it taken away. What does this story reveal about our own priorities?
The verse paints a stark picture: 'So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.' This isn't just about having money; it's about where our ultimate security and identity are placed.
Storing Up for Self
The phrase 'lays up treasure for himself' speaks to a self-centered approach to wealth. It's about accumulating possessions for personal comfort, security, and pleasure, with little regard for anything beyond one's own immediate needs or future. This is the essence of covetousness – a desire for more, not for God's glory or the good of others, but for the self.
The Contrast: Rich Toward God
The verse immediately contrasts this with being 'rich toward God.' This means having our resources, our time, and our hearts invested in God's kingdom. It’s about using our earthly possessions in ways that honor Him, build up His church, and serve those in need. True spiritual wealth isn't about accumulating but about investing in eternal realities.
Jesus wasn't condemning wealth itself, but he did warn about its seductive power. What spiritual trap does riches often bring?
The core issue highlighted in this verse and its context is the danger that wealth poses to our spiritual life. It's not that being wealthy is inherently sinful, but the and of wealth can easily harden our hearts.
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The Seduction of Security
Riches can create a false sense of security, leading us to believe we are self-sufficient and don't need God. This inward focus, where all plans and desires 'terminate on self,' makes us less sensitive to spiritual needs and the needs of others.
Imperviousness to God and Neighbor
When our treasure is stored on earth, our affections follow. This can lead to a heart that becomes 'impervious to any feeling of love either for God or man.' The call is to ensure our prosperity, whatever its form, serves a higher purpose than just our own comfort and security.
Understand the original words
thēsaurizōn · Greek Verb
Material wealth or earthly possessions accumulated for security, status, or pleasure. In a biblical context, it often refers to that which captures a person's heart and devotion, contrasting with spiritual investment.
plutōn · Greek Verb
A condition of spiritual abundance, righteousness, and favor before God. It signifies a life oriented toward divine priorities and kingdom values rather than temporal acquisition.
This teaching of Jesus arises from a context where family disputes over inheritance were a reality, and a prevailing religious atmosphere might have associated earthly wealth with divine blessing. Jesus redirects focus from material accumulation to spiritual riches, a concept echoed in the early church's writings.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus teaches on possessions and discipleship
Jesus delivers teachings on the dangers of wealth, the importance of detachment from earthly possessions, and the need to store up treasures in heaven, often in response to questions or situations involving material wealth and inheritance.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish inheritance laws and disputes
In Roman-occupied Judea, disputes over inheritance were common, governed by complex interpretations of Mosaic Law and local customs. Such conflicts could easily arise between brothers, as depicted in the story that prompts Jesus' teaching.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisaic emphasis on external righteousness
The dominant religious leaders, the Pharisees, often emphasized strict adherence to the Law and ritual purity. This could sometimes lead to a focus on outward observance and the accumulation of wealth as a sign of God's favor, contrasting with Jesus' call for inner transformation and heavenly riches.
c. AD 40-60
Apostolic letters address wealth and spirituality
Letters from apostles like Paul and James, written during this period, often caution against the love of money and advise believers to be generous, use their resources wisely, and focus on spiritual wealth.
This passage directly contrasts laying up treasures on earth with laying up treasures in heaven, reinforcing the idea that true riches are spiritual and eternal, not material and temporary.
1 Timothy 6:17-19This passage instructs the wealthy not to trust in riches but to be rich in good works, readily sharing, and storing up a good foundation for the future, aligning with the concept of being 'rich toward God.'
Proverbs 23:4-5This proverb warns against wearing oneself out to gain wealth, emphasizing that riches have wings and can vanish, echoing Jesus' point about the futility of earthly treasure that doesn't connect to God.
This text from the Apocrypha illustrates the vanity of accumulating wealth for oneself, noting that the person who hoards riches often dies without knowing what will become of them, mirroring the folly Jesus describes.
jfbLuke 12:21: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
- So is he, &c.—Such is a picture of his folly here, and of its awful issue.and is not rich toward God—lives to amass and enjoy riches which terminate on self, but as to the riches of God's favor, which is life (Ps 30:5), of "precious" faith (2Pe 1:1; Jas 2:5), of good works (1Ti 6:18), of wisdom which is better than rubies (Pr 8:11)—lives and dies a beggar!
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…
The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about possessing riches, but about how they are possessed. The emphasis isn't on being wealthy, but on being "rich toward God" – using earthly treasures in a way that builds a heavenly account and honors Him.
Jesus had just told the parable of the rich fool, whose land produced so abundantly that he planned to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store his wealth, only to die that very night. This verse is Jesus' application of that parable, warning that a life focused solely on accumulating earthly riches, without investing in one's relationship with God, is ultimately foolish and leads to spiritual poverty. The immediate context shows this follows a man's request to Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, highlighting the pervasive issue of greed Jesus was addressing.
Jesus had just told the parable of the rich fool, whose land produced so abundantly that he planned to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store his wealth, only to die that very night. This verse is Jesus' application of that parable, warning that a life focused solely on accumulating earthly riches, without investing in one's relationship with God, is ultimately foolish and leads to spiritual poverty. The immediate context shows this follows a man's request to Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, highlighting the pervasive issue of greed Jesus was addressing.
"So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”" — The verse highlights a subtle but crucial distinction: it's not about possessing riches, but about how they are possessed. The emphasis isn't on being wealthy, but on being "rich toward God" – us…
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Last reviewed October 2026