Luke 12:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

NIV: Someone in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'

NASB: Now someone in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.'

CSB: Someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

NLT: Then someone called from the crowd, 'Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.'

KJV: And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

NKJV: Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus is trying to teach His disciples how they should live with the kingdom of God in mind. The setting, however, is not conducive to private conversation. They are surrounded by a mob of thousands of people, all of whom are trying to get to Jesus (Luke 12:1). A man interrupts to demand Jesus settle a conflict with his brother.

We don't know the background of the request. Culturally, it would be normal for a father to leave most of his possessions to his eldest son, but he may also leave the estate to all his sons as a group. It's possible their father has left all or the bulk of his estate to the brother. We don't know if this man inherited nothing, or less than he felt he was owed, or if he wants to break up the estate and strike out on his own. We just know he is unsatisfied.

The interruption provides interesting contrasts to much of the rest of the unit (Luke 12:1—13:9):

<&bull> This man is concerned about money, while Jesus has just told His disciples they will face persecution and death (Luke 12:1–12).
<&bull> This man demands riches, while Jesus wants His disciples to rely on God's provision for the bare minimum they will need to survive (Luke 12:22–34).
<&bull> This man is concerned about what he thinks he deserves, while Jesus wants His disciples to take responsibility for the care of other Christ-followers (Luke 12:35–48).
<&bull> This man is fighting with a brother, while the disciples will have to separate from family because of their devotion to Jesus (Luke 12:49–53).
<&bull> This man is causing conflict when he should consider how the kingdom of God is coming near and settle with everyone with whom he bickers (Luke 12:57–59).
<&bull> Finally, this man is focusing on worldly treasure when he should be thinking about his limited time to repent and reconcile with God (Luke 13:1–9).

Jesus answers with the parable of the rich fool who decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to hold his great harvest. That night, however, he dies; his wealth is worth nothing. Like the rich fool, the brother "lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).

The man refers to Jesus as "teacher." Jews often went to respected leaders and teachers to settle disputes, so calling on Jesus isn't unprecedented. If the matter were more serious, the man would take the issue to a formal judge, the synagogue, or the elders at his city's gates. The man is not looking for a fair ruling, however. He just wants Jesus to take his side and force his brother to work the issue out in his preferred way.

Luke 12:13–21 records Jesus taking advantage of an interruption to explain a proper perspective of wealth. Jesus has been warning the disciples that faithfulness to Him may require their deaths. A man in the crowd, possibly shouting in the middle of that teaching, demands Jesus settle a family conflict over an inheritance. Jesus declines that request but warns the crowd against temporary, earthly treasures if they distract from their relationship with God. He will return to this theme, telling the crowd to reconcile with people and God or risk earthly and eternal ruin (Luke 12:54—13:9). This parable is unique to Luke's Gospel.

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.