Luke 12:59 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny."

NIV: I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

NASB: I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid up the very last lepton.'

CSB: I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last cent."

NLT: And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny. '

KJV: I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

NKJV: I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.”

Jesus finishes His warning about personal conflict. A man had interrupted His training with the disciples to demand that Jesus order his brother to share his inheritance. Jesus refused and shared a parable about a man who spent all his time earning money and no time developing his relationship with God. The night the man had gained enough wealth and planned to take a break from working, he died. His money was gone to someone else and he died spiritually destitute (Luke 12:13–21).

Jesus wants the crowd to realize that the kingdom of God has come. If they have wronged anyone, they need to seek reconciliation. They shouldn't need a civil court; they should humble themselves and make amends. If they don't, their accuser will take them to court, and they'll be imprisoned (Luke 12:54–58). Once that happens, they could lose everything.

They need to stop wasting time. Only recently, Pilate murdered several Galileans, and eighteen people had been killed by a tower that collapsed in Siloam. These people didn't do anything to deserve such violence or tragedy; they had no warning. But any chance to reconcile with God is now over (Luke 13:1–5). The people of the crowd need to use their time wisely by reconciling with each other and with God. Earthly treasures and pride do no good in eternity.

Although Luke 12 is complete, Jesus' teaching here continues into the next chapter. First, Jesus talks about those people who suffered tragic and sudden deaths. Then He gives a bit of hope. God is gracious. He doesn't want anyone to die without seeking forgiveness. He will delay His judgment just a little, to give people a chance to respond (Luke 13:6–9). After this section are two that include a miracle and teachings about the kingdom of God and salvation (Luke 13:10–35; 14:1—15:32).

Luke 12:57–59 expounds on Jesus' message to the disgruntled brother (Luke 12:13–14). He explains an application of the coming of the kingdom of God for the crowds that follow Him. They should know change is coming (Luke 12:54–56). Conflict with one another—especially for those in the wrong—is not helpful. The guilty party needs to make peace with the one he wronged or risk humiliation and destitution. Next, Jesus warns the crowds to repent of their sins and seek reconciliation with God or face eternity in hell (Luke 13:1–9). Matthew covered similar territory in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:25–26).

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.