Luke 12:22
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus specifically says "unto you I say," highlighting that this instruction is for his disciples who have already committed to a higher calling. This isn't a general suggestion for everyone, but a direct call to trust God's provision for those actively following Him. The phrase "take no thought" actually means "do not be anxiously careful," urging a deliberate release of worry, not a reckless abandonment of responsibility.
Just prior to this, Jesus had responded to a man trying to force a division of inheritance by warning against greed, using a parable about a rich fool who hoards wealth only to die unexpectedly. Now, turning to his disciples, Jesus shifts from warning the crowd about the dangers of possessions to instructing his closest followers on the dangers of anxious care, directly contrasting earthly anxieties with trust in God's provision.
Jesus tells us not to be anxious, but what does that really mean? Is it a call to irresponsibility?
When Jesus says, 'Take no thought,' he's not telling us to be reckless or lazy. The original language and context point to avoiding anxious care or being overly solicitous. It’s not about having no concerns, but about where we place our ultimate trust.
Think of it like this: You can prepare for a trip, pack your bags, and plan your route without being consumed by worry about every little detail. Jesus is urging us to do the same with our lives – to attend to needs but not to let worry about future provision dominate our minds and steal our joy.
Jesus addresses his disciples here. Why is this teaching particularly relevant to those following him?
This teaching comes directly after an interaction where a man interrupts Jesus' important message to demand his rightful inheritance. This highlights a common human tendency: allowing earthly possessions and financial matters to overshadow spiritual realities. Jesus then turns to his disciples and says, 'Therefore I tell you...' He's drawing a connection:
Therefore, for those who have committed their lives to following Him, anxious care about basic needs is particularly out of place. It signals a lack of trust in the One who has called them and promised them so much more.
Understand the original words
mathētais · Greek Noun
Those who follow and learn from Jesus. This term implies a commitment to His teachings, imitation of His life, and a transformative relationship with Him.
merimnate · Greek Verb
A state of being divided or distracted by worry, fear, or worldly concerns. Biblically, it denotes a lack of trust in God’s provision, reflecting a heart tethered to temporal uncertainties.
psychē · Greek Noun
The principle of human existence (psyche) given by God, encompassing the entirety of a person's being, which holds greater worth than the physical or material necessities of sustenance.
sōma · Greek Noun
The physical vessel or nature of a human being. In Scripture, it is the temple of the Holy Spirit and a primary object of God's creation, distinct from mere material objects.
Jesus' teaching against anxiety in Luke 12 stems directly from a real-life interruption by a man concerned about his inheritance, revealing how everyday worries and disputes can become opportunities for deeper spiritual instruction.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry in Judea
Jesus is teaching and traveling through Judea, drawing large crowds and attracting the attention of religious authorities. This period is marked by his powerful teachings and miracles.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
A Man Requests Inheritance Division
During Jesus' ministry, a man interrupts his teaching to ask Jesus to force his brother to divide their inheritance. This highlights the material concerns and potential greed present in society.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Teaches on Anxiety and Trust
In response to the man's request and the surrounding atmosphere of material concern, Jesus turns to his disciples and teaches them not to be anxious about life's basic needs.
This passage, also spoken by Jesus, directly parallels the instruction not to be anxious about life's necessities, emphasizing that life is more than food and the body more than clothing.
Psalm 55:22This verse offers a profound encouragement to 'cast your burden on the Lord,' directly addressing the anxiety Luke 12:22 warns against by pointing to God's sustaining power.
1 Peter 5:7Echoing the sentiment of Luke 12:22, this passage explicitly calls believers to 'cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you,' reinforcing the idea that God's care liberates us from worry.
Philippians 4:6This verse provides a practical antidote to anxiety by instructing believers to bring their requests to God in prayer, reminding us that peace comes through communication with Him rather than worry.
barnesLuke 12:22: "And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on."
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25-33 .
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…
Jesus specifically says "unto you I say," highlighting that this instruction is for his disciples who have already committed to a higher calling. This isn't a general suggestion for everyone, but a direct call to trust God's provision for those actively following Him. The phrase "take no thought" actually means "do not be anxiously careful," urging a deliberate release of worry, not a reckless abandonment of responsibility.
Just prior to this, Jesus had responded to a man trying to force a division of inheritance by warning against greed, using a parable about a rich fool who hoards wealth only to die unexpectedly. Now, turning to his disciples, Jesus shifts from warning the crowd about the dangers of possessions to instructing his closest followers on the dangers of anxious care, directly contrasting earthly anxieties with trust in God's provision.
Just prior to this, Jesus had responded to a man trying to force a division of inheritance by warning against greed, using a parable about a rich fool who hoards wealth only to die unexpectedly. Now, turning to his disciples, Jesus shifts from warning the crowd about the dangers of possessions to instructing his closest followers on the dangers of anxious care, directly contrasting earthly anxieties with trust in God's provision.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 12:22 is available in the Sola app.
"And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on." — Jesus specifically says "unto you I say," highlighting that this instruction is for his disciples who have already committed to a higher calling. This isn't a general suggestion for everyone, but a…
