The Parable of the Rich Fool
Luke 12:13-21
Luke.12.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- οχλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτω·Διδασκαλε: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ειπε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αδελφω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- μερισασθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- μετ᾽εμου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,1
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κληρονομιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 12:14 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: Jesus refuses to arbitrate the inheritance dispute, showing he will not act as a civil judge for private property quarrels.
- Luke 12:15 (thematic): Jesus responds by warning against greed and covetousness, reframing the issue from legal division to the moral danger of avarice.
- Luke 15:11-32 (thematic): Parable of the Prodigal Son: a family inheritance conflict between brothers that explores jealousy, entitlement, and the moral/spiritual dimensions of property and relationship.
- Genesis 25:29-34 (thematic): Jacob and Esau episode (sale of the birthright): an early Israelite story about sibling rivalry and the transfer/dispute over birthright and inheritance.
- 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (thematic): Paul rebukes believers who sue one another before secular courts, addressing how intra-community property and legal disputes should be handled among Christians.
Alternative generated candidates
- Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'
- And someone from the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, command my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'
Luke.12.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω·Ανθρωπε: PRON,dat,sg,m+NOUN,voc,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- κατεστησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- κριτην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μεριστην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εφ᾽υμας: PREP+PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (thematic): Paul criticizes believers who take fellow Christians to secular courts; both passages address handling disputes within the community rather than resorting to external judging.
- James 4:11-12 (verbal): James asks rhetorically 'Who are you to judge your brother?'—language and thrust parallel Jesus’ refusal to serve as arbiter and point to God as the true judge.
- Romans 14:4 (verbal): Paul’s question 'Who are you to judge another’s servant?' echoes the same rhetorical move of rejecting human judgment over others’ consciences or affairs.
- Matthew 18:15-17 (structural): Jesus gives a prescribed process for resolving conflicts among brothers, indicating appropriate intra-community procedures rather than unilateral judgment—related in theme to refusing to act as an ad hoc judge.
Alternative generated candidates
- But he said to him, 'Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?'
- But he said to him, 'Man, who appointed me a judge or divider over you?'
Luke.12.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·Ορατε: PRON,acc,pl,m;VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- φυλασσεσθε: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,pl
- απο: PREP
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- πλεονεξιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- περισσευειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τινι: PRON,dat,sg,neut
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ζωη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υπαρχοντων: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,pl,n
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus teaches detachment from earthly wealth and redirects value to what truly matters (treasures in heaven vs. earthly possessions). Both passages warn against valuing life by material abundance.
- Matthew 6:25 (verbal): ’Is not life more than food…?’ parallels Luke’s claim that life does not consist in abundance of possessions—both challenge anxiety about material needs and redefine the basis of life.
- Matthew 16:26 (thematic): ’What profit is it to gain the whole world and forfeit your soul?’ echoes Luke’s warning that life’s worth is not measured by possessions, emphasizing spiritual over material value.
- Luke 12:16-21 (structural): The parable of the rich fool immediately follows and develops Luke 12:15’s warning by portraying a man whose life is ruined by storing up wealth—an explicit narrative illustration of the verse.
- 1 Timothy 6:7-10 (thematic): Paul’s warning that we brought nothing into the world and that the love of money is harmful parallels Luke’s admonition against covetousness and the false security of possessions.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he said to them, 'Take care! Be on your guard against every kind of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.'
- And he said to them, 'Take care, and beware of all covetousness; for life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions.'
Luke.12.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- παραβολην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- προς: PREP
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- λεγων·Ανθρωπου: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τινος: PRON,gen,sg,m
- πλουσιου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- ευφορησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- χωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 12:20 (structural): Immediate continuation and climactic turn of the same parable: God’s declaration that the rich man will die that very night, underscoring the parable’s point about the futility of hoarded abundance.
- Luke 12:21 (verbal): The parable’s explicit moral — condemnation of one who stores up wealth but is 'not rich toward God' — directly summarizes the lesson begun in 12:16.
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching to not store up earthly treasures but to seek heavenly treasure parallels the warning against trusting in abundant crops and possessions as secure life.
- Luke 16:19-31 (thematic): The parable of the rich man and Lazarus also contrasts earthly wealth with eternal destiny and highlights moral consequences of wealth misused or disconnected from compassion/God.
- Matthew 19:21-24 (thematic): The encounter with the rich young ruler (sell your possessions) echoes the theme that reliance on riches can impede entrance into the kingdom of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he told them a parable: 'The land of a rich man produced abundantly.'
- And he told them a parable, saying, 'A certain rich man had a land that yielded plentifully.'
Luke.12.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- διελογιζετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- εαυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- λεγων·Τι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ποιησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- που: ADV
- συναξω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- καρπους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Luke 12:18-21 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same parable: the man’s plan to store his crops and God’s verdict that he is a 'fool' who is not rich toward God.
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching against storing up earthly treasures and urging investment in heavenly treasures echoes the parable’s critique of hoarding wealth.
- James 4:13-16 (verbal): Condemns presumptuous planning about the future ('You do not know what tomorrow will bring'), paralleling the folly of assuming control over one’s crops and days.
- Proverbs 23:4-5 (thematic): Warns against exhausting oneself to gain wealth that vanishes ('when you set your eyes on it it is gone'), a wisdom parallel to the parable’s warning about transient material gain.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (thematic): Paul’s exhortation to the wealthy not to be arrogant or put hope in riches but to be generous and 'rich toward God' echoes the ethical corrective implicit in the parable.
Alternative generated candidates
- He thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
- And he reasoned within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
Luke.12.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπεν·Τουτο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg + PRON,acc,sg,n
- ποιησω·καθελω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg + VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- αποθηκας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- μειζονας: ADJ,comp,acc,pl,f
- οικοδομησω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- και: CONJ
- συναξω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- εκει: ADV
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- σιτον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- αγαθα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Luke 12:20-21 (structural): Immediate conclusion of the parable: God declares the man will die that night and calls him a fool for hoarding — completes and interprets the intent of 12:18.
- James 4:13-15 (thematic): Condemns confident planning as if the future were certain (‘go to such and such a city…’), echoing the folly of presuming on tomorrow like the man who builds larger barns.
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth parallels the warning against accumulating earthly goods as seen in the rich fool’s plan.
- Ecclesiastes 2:18-21 (allusion): Solomon’s reflection on toiling to amass possessions that will be left to another parallels the futility of the rich man’s barn-building and unexpected death.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (thematic): Paul’s instruction to the wealthy to be generous and not place hope in riches resonates with the parable’s critique of hoarding wealth for oneself.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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 he said, 'This I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.'
Luke.12.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ερω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ψυχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μου·Ψυχη: PRON,gen,sg,1+NOUN,voc,sg,f
- εχεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- αγαθα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- κειμενα: PART,perf,pas,acc,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- ετη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πολλα·αναπαυου: ADJ,acc,pl,n+VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- φαγε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- πιε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ευφραινου: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,sg
Parallels
- Luke 12:20 (structural): Immediate continuation of the parable: God responds to the man's plan, exposing the futility of trusting in stored goods and self-indulgence.
- 1 Corinthians 15:32 (verbal): Paul cites a similar hedonistic slogan ('Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die') to describe a worldly attitude that denies the hope of resurrection—echoing the rich fool’s mindset.
- Isaiah 22:13 (verbal): A comparable refrain appears ('Let us eat and drink…') in a prophetic context, linking festive self-indulgence with impending judgment.
- Luke 16:19-31 (thematic): The parable of the rich man and Lazarus likewise contrasts earthly comfort and neglect of others with postmortem reversal and divine judgment on the wealthy who trusted in riches.
- James 5:1-6 (thematic): A prophetic denunciation of wealthy oppressors whose hoarded riches and selfish consumption are exposed and judged—paralleling the moral critique of the rich fool’s behavior.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'
- And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry."
Luke.12.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος·Αφρων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ταυτη: PRO,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- νυκτι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψυχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- απαιτουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- απο: PREP
- σου·α: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- ητοιμασας: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,sg
- τινι: PRON,dat,sg,neut
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Jesus' warning that earthly wealth is ultimately useless at death and the call to value heavenly treasure rather than hoarding possessions.
- Matthew 16:26 (thematic): Rhetorical question about the profit of gaining the world but losing one's life—echoes the point that life, not possessions, is the ultimate concern.
- James 4:13-17 (verbal): Explicit rebuke of those who boast about tomorrow—emphasizes human inability to promise the future and the folly of presuming on life, similar to the 'fool' addressed in Luke 12:20.
- Proverbs 27:1 (verbal): 'Do not boast about tomorrow'—an OT proverb that parallels the suddenness of death and the folly of presuming on future days.
- Luke 16:19-31 (structural): Another Lucan treatment of wealth and the afterlife (the rich man and Lazarus) that underscores consequences of using wealth selfishly and the finality of one’s destiny after death.
Alternative generated candidates
- But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your life will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have prepared?'
- But God said to him, 'Fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have prepared?'
Luke.12.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτως: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θησαυριζων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εαυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- εις: PREP
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πλουτων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:19-21 (verbal): Jesus' teaching to 'lay up treasures in heaven' and that the heart follows one's treasure parallels Luke's warning about storing up wealth for oneself rather than being 'rich toward God'—shared vocabulary of 'treasure' and concern for ultimate value.
- Luke 16:19-31 (thematic): The parable of the rich man and Lazarus illustrates the moral and eschatological consequences of enjoying earthly wealth without compassion or Godward richness, echoing Luke 12:21's critique of self-centered accumulation.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (verbal): Paul's admonition to the wealthy not to trust in riches but to be 'rich in good works' and to 'lay hold of eternal life' mirrors Luke's contrast between earthly hoarding and investing in what is valuable before God (storing up a good foundation).
- James 5:1-3 (thematic): James' denunciation of the unjust rich whose hoarded wealth will testify against them resonates with Luke 12:21's implied judgment on those who amass riches for themselves without regard to God or others.
- Matthew 19:21-24 (structural): The counsel to the rich young ruler to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and the difficulty for the rich to enter God's kingdom, structurally parallels Luke 12:21's call to reorient wealth toward God rather than self.
Alternative generated candidates
- So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
- So it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' But he said to him, 'Man, who appointed me a judge or divider over you?' And he said to them, 'Take care! Be on your guard against every form of covetousness; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.' And he told them a parable: 'The land of a certain rich man produced abundantly.' And he thought to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
'And 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 many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.