Luke 12:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

NIV: For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

NASB: For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

CSB: For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

NLT: For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

KJV: The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

NKJV: Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

This passage can seem somewhat morbid when first understood in context. Jesus has explained that physical death is nothing to fear but spiritual death is (Luke 12:4–5). He has said that all the money in the world can't protect someone from physical death (Luke 12:13–20). It is one's relationship with God and the work of His kingdom that matter, not physical comforts (Luke 12:21, 35–48). With that in mind, if we are doing God's work, God will provide us what we need until we are finished with that work.

Jesus is not promising that God will always give us enough to eat and sufficient clothing. He is saying that God can provide. Our lives and bodies will be sustained and cared for by God until it is time for us to join Him. If God can feed the ravens on scraps, and we are far more precious than scavenger birds, He can feed us (Luke 12:24). If God can make the flowers of the field beautiful, He can cloth us (Luke 12:28). Knowing God's ability to provide and His love for us, falling into anxiety shows a lack of faith and a misunderstanding of God's plan for us.

This verse is also very affirming. Our life on earth is meant for greater things than food and clothing; we have more value than the years we live on earth. Our lives have eternal meaning. Jesus is calling us to serve Him, obey God, faithfully lead other believers, and preach that the kingdom of God is coming (Luke 10:9; 12:35–44). Obviously, most of us need to work to obtain food and clothing. But such things are only tools to do the real work of glorifying God and drawing people to Him until we can live eternally in God's presence.

Luke 12:22–34 records Jesus telling His disciples to lay down anxiety and trust God for physical needs. He has already told them to reject fame, fear of death, and reliance on riches (Luke 12:1–21). Later, He will tell them they may have to leave family, as well (Luke 12:49–53). Instead, they need to focus on the task that Jesus will give them (Luke 12:35–48), to build the church after His ascension. Matthew 6:25–34 covers the same teaching, although perhaps at a different time and place.

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.