Do Not Worry; Seek God's Kingdom
Luke 12:22-34
Luke.12.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- μαθητας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου·Δια: PRON,gen,sg,m+PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- μη: PART
- μεριμνατε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ψυχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- φαγητε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- μηδε: CONJ
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σωματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ενδυσησθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 6:25 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in the Sermon on the Mount: 'Do not be anxious about your life...' — a close verbal parallel to Luke's instruction to disciples.
- Matthew 6:31-34 (thematic): Continues the same theme of trusting God's provision and not worrying about food, clothing, or tomorrow; parallel teaching developed in Matthew's context.
- Luke 12:29 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same discourse in Luke: Jesus warns against seeking what to eat or drink, reinforcing the instruction not to worry.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul's exhortation 'do not be anxious about anything' echoes Luke's teaching on anxiety and trust in God's care.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): 'Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you' complements Luke's command not to be anxious about life, pointing to reliance on God's providential care.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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 wear.'
- Then he said to his disciples, 'I tell you, do not be anxious about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear.'
Luke.12.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- γαρ: PART
- ψυχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πλειον: ADV,comp
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- τροφης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- σωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ενδυματος: NOUN,gen,sg,neut
Parallels
- Matthew 6:25 (verbal): Nearly identical saying in the Sermon on the Mount: 'For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing' — direct verbal parallel.
- Luke 12:22 (structural): Immediate context in Luke: the preceding admonition not to worry about life introduces and frames the same point about life’s priority over food and clothing.
- Matthew 6:31-33 (thematic): Continues the Matthean argument against anxiety about provision and commands seeking God's kingdom first as the proper response to worry about food and clothing.
- Matthew 6:26 (allusion): Uses the same pastoral logic (consider the birds) to show God's care for living creatures and to argue against anxious concern for food — closely related imagery and reasoning.
- 1 Timothy 6:8 (thematic): Paulic teaching on contentment: 'if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content' connects to the valuation of life over material provision and the call to trust/proper priorities.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.'
- 'For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.'
Luke.12.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατανοησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κορακας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- σπειρουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- θεριζουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ταμειον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- αποθηκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τρεφει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους·ποσω: PRON,acc,pl,m
- μαλλον: ADV
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- διαφερετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πετεινων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:26 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus points to birds (‘look at the birds of the air’) to teach God’s provision and human value.
- Matthew 6:25-34 (thematic): Broader teaching against anxiety over food and clothing; same argument that God who cares for birds will care for his people.
- Job 38:41 (allusion): God’s rhetorical question about providing food for the raven echoes the theme of divine provision for birds as a proof of God’s care.
- Psalm 147:9 (verbal): Psalmic affirmation that God gives food to the young ravens—an Old Testament precedent for the motif that God feeds the birds.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!'
- 'Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!'
Luke.12.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- δε: CONJ
- εξ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- μεριμνων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ηλικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- προσθειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- πηχυν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:27 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: Jesus asks who can add a cubit to his stature by being anxious, making this a direct verbal parallel.
- Luke 12:22 (structural): Immediate context in Luke's Gospel: the command 'Do not be anxious about your life' introduces the same pericope on worry of which 12:25 is a part.
- Luke 12:26 (structural): The very next verse follows up the question of 12:25, drawing the logical conclusion that if we cannot add a cubit, we should not be anxious about other matters.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul's exhortation 'Do not be anxious about anything' parallels Jesus' teaching against worry and prescribes prayer and thanksgiving as the proper response to anxiety.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Peter's instruction to 'cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you' resonates with Jesus' teaching that anxiety is futile and trust in God's care is appropriate.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his life?'
- 'Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his life?'
Luke.12.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- ελαχιστον: ADJ,acc,sg,nt
- δυνασθε: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,pl
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- περι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- λοιπων: ADJ,gen,pl,nt
- μεριμνατε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Luke 12:25 (structural): Immediate context—both verses use the inability of worry to accomplish anything (adding life/achieving the least) to argue against anxiety.
- Matthew 6:27 (thematic): Parallel teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about the futility of anxious thought (no one by worrying can add a cubit/one moment), making the same point about anxiety’s impotence.
- Matthew 6:30 (thematic): Related argument to trust God rather than worry—if God cares for the grass, he will care more for you, so do not be anxious about the rest.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Paul’s exhortation not to be anxious about anything and to bring concerns to God by prayer echoes Luke’s rejection of anxious preoccupation.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Calls believers to cast all their anxieties on God because he cares for them, a pastoral counterpart to Jesus’ teaching that anxiety is misplaced.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'If then you cannot do even the least thing, why are you anxious about the rest?'
- 'If then you cannot do even a little thing, why are you anxious about the rest?'
Luke.12.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατανοησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- κρινα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- πως: ADV
- αυξανει·ου: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- κοπια: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- νηθει·λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- Σολομων: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δοξη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- περιεβαλετο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ως: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:28-29 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: 'Consider the lilies... even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.' Same image and wording.
- Luke 12:24 (thematic): Closely related teaching in the same Lukan discourse: Jesus cites ravens as examples of God’s provision to argue against anxiety about material needs.
- Luke 12:28 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same argument in Luke: Jesus draws the conclusion about God’s care—if he clothes the grass/lilies, he will much more care for you—stressing the same concern with worry and divine provision.
- Psalm 104:14 (thematic): Psalmic depiction of God providing for creation ('He makes grass grow for the cattle...') echoes the theme that God sustains the natural world and thus his creatures need not be anxious.
- 1 Kings 10:4-5 (allusion): OT descriptions of Solomon’s splendor provide the background for Jesus’ claim that 'not even Solomon in all his glory' was dressed like the lilies; 1 Kings (and 2 Chronicles) furnish the ancient context for Solomon’s famed glory.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither labor nor spin; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.'
- 'Consider the lilies: how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.'
Luke.12.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δε: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αγρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χορτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- οντα: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
- σημερον: ADV
- και: CONJ
- αυριον: ADV
- εις: PREP
- κλιβανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- βαλλομενον: PART,pres,mid/pass,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- αμφιεζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ποσω: ADV
- μαλλον: ADV
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ολιγοπιστοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 6:28-30 (verbal): Direct parallel in the Sermon on the Mount: 'consider the lilies/of the field' and the same argument ('if God so clothes... how much more') about God's provision and the admonition against anxiety.
- Luke 12:27 (structural): Immediate context in Luke: the preceding verse also invokes the lilies/flowers (and Solomon's glory) as the illustrative contrast that introduces the 'if God so clothes' saying.
- Matthew 6:25 (thematic): Closely related teaching in Matthew: 'Do not be anxious' about food and clothing—same pastoral aim of trusting God's care rather than fretting about needs.
- Philippians 4:6 (thematic): Pauline echo of the same concern: 'Do not be anxious about anything' and encouragement to trust God/prayer rather than worry, reflecting the New Testament theme of reliance on God's provision.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you — you of little faith!'
- 'If God so clothes the grass, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!'
Luke.12.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- μη: PART
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- φαγητε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- πιητε: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- μετεωριζεσθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 6:31-34 (verbal): Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: 'Do not worry about what you will eat or drink,' closely parallels Luke's injunction against seeking/being anxious about food and drink and the call to trust God's provision.
- Luke 12:22 (verbal): Immediate parallel within Luke: Jesus tells his disciples 'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat,' introducing the same theme of freedom from anxiety about physical needs that Luke 12:29 repeats.
- Philippians 4:6 (verbal): Paul's exhortation 'Do not be anxious about anything' (μηδενί) echoes the Lukan command not to be anxious (μη μετεωρίζεσθε), reflecting the early Christian ethic against worldly anxiety.
- 1 Peter 5:7 (thematic): Peter's instruction to cast all anxieties on God (ἐπιρίψατε τὰ μέριμναι ὑμῶν ἐπʼ αὐτόν) shares the same theme of relinquishing worry about life’s needs to God's care.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink; and do not be anxious.'
- 'And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not be anxious.'
Luke.12.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- γαρ: PART
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- επιζητουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- χρηζετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:22 (structural): Immediate context: Jesus' command 'Do not be anxious about your life' leads directly into the assurance that the Father knows your needs.
- Matthew 6:32 (verbal): Nearly identical wording and idea in the Sermon on the Mount: 'for your Father knows that you need them'—direct verbal parallel about God's knowledge of human needs.
- Matthew 6:31-33 (thematic): Same teaching tradition against anxiety: do not worry about food/clothing; seek God's kingdom first because God provides for needs.
- Matthew 10:29-31 (thematic): Jesus' argument from God's providential care for sparrows and the hairs of your head supports the same assurance that God knows and cares for human needs—do not fear.
- Psalm 145:15 (thematic): Psalmist affirms that 'the eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food,' echoing the theme that God is aware of and provides for the needs of his creatures.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'For the nations of the world seek these things, and your Father knows that you need them.'
- 'For the nations of the world run after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.'
Luke.12.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πλην: PREP
- ζητειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- προστεθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Matthew 6:33 (verbal): Nearly identical command to 'seek first the kingdom' with the promise that 'all these things' will be added to you.
- Luke 12:30 (structural): Immediate context: contrasts worldly anxiety—'the nations of the world seek all these things'—with the call to trust and seek God's kingdom.
- Matthew 6:25-34 (thematic): Extended teaching on not being anxious about material needs and trusting God's provision; culminates in seeking God's kingdom rather than worrying.
- Philippians 4:19 (thematic): Paul's assurance that God will supply every need echoes the promise that needs will be provided when one seeks God's kingdom.
- Psalm 37:4 (thematic): The psalm's promise that delighting in the LORD leads to receiving desires parallels the idea that seeking God's kingdom brings God's provision.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.'
- 'But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.'
Luke.12.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Μη: PART
- φοβου: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μικρον: ADV
- ποιμνιον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- οτι: CONJ
- ευδοκησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 12:22-31 (structural): Immediate context: the same teaching on anxiety and God's care for his 'little flock'—Luke 12:32 concludes the exhortation not to worry about bodily needs because the Father provides.
- Matthew 6:25-34 (thematic): Parallels the theme of trusting the Father for provision and not being anxious about food, clothing, or tomorrow; both passages appeal to God's care as grounds for fearless trust.
- Matthew 10:29-31 (verbal): Shares the exhortation 'do not fear' and the argument from God's care for small creatures to reassure disciples of their value to the Father and thus their freedom from fear.
- John 10:11-16 (thematic): Related shepherd/flock imagery and the idea of Jesus (and the Father) caring for the sheep; underscores the value and protection promised to God's flock, resonating with 'little flock' and royal gift.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
- 'Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
Luke.12.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πωλησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- υπαρχοντα: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- δοτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ελεημοσυνην·ποιησατε: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εαυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- βαλλαντια: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μη: PART
- παλαιουμενα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- θησαυρον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ανεκλειπτον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- οπου: ADV,rel
- κλεπτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εγγιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- σης: PREP
- διαφθειρει·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 6:19-21 (verbal): Same teaching about storing treasure in heaven rather than on earth; uses similar imagery of moth/rust and thieves—close verbal and conceptual parallel.
- Matthew 19:21 (verbal): Direct instruction to sell possessions and give to the poor parallels Luke's command to sell what you have and give alms.
- Luke 12:34 (structural): Immediate Lukan parallel linking treasure to the heart ('For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'), completing the theological point of 12:33.
- Acts 2:44-45 (thematic): The early community's selling of possessions and distribution to the needy echoes Jesus' exhortation to sell belongings and give to the poor.
- 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (thematic): Paul's call to be generous and thus 'store up treasure for themselves' in contrast to earthly gain parallels the promise of imperishable heavenly treasure in Luke 12:33.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Sell your possessions and give to the poor; provide for yourselves purses that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.'
- 'Sell your possessions and give to the needy; make for yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.'
Luke.12.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οπου: ADV,rel
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θησαυρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εκει: ADV
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 6:21 (verbal): Almost identical saying: 'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' — a direct verbal parallel to Luke 12:34.
- Matthew 6:19-21 (thematic): Part of the Sermon on the Mount teaching about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth; shares the same instruction linking possessions and the disposition of the heart.
- Luke 12:33 (structural): Immediate context in Luke's version: 'Sell your possessions and give to the poor... provide purses for yourselves that do not wear out' — the practical command that frames where one’s treasure should be placed.
- Colossians 3:2 (thematic): Paulic ethical teaching: 'Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things' — echoes the call to orient one's heart toward heavenly (not earthly) values.
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (thematic): Paul's exhortation to the wealthy to put their hope in God and be rich in good deeds, thereby 'storing up' a firm foundation for the future — parallels the concern with where true treasure (and thus the heart) is held.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
- 'For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.'
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 wear.'
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!
Which of you, by worrying, can add a single cubit to the span of his life?
If then you are not able to do even the least, why are you anxious about the rest?
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
If then God so clothes the grass of the field, which is today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat or what you are to drink, nor be anxious.
For the nations of the world seek after all these things; and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to the needy; make for yourselves purses that do not grow old, a treasure in heaven that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.