Luke 12:20

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:20 (KJV)

Context

In the preceding verses, a man from the crowd asks Jesus to intervene in a family dispute over inheritance. Instead of getting involved in the dispute, Jesus uses the opportunity to teach about greed and the pursuit of wealth.

This verse is part of a larger passage in Luke 12:13-21 where Jesus shares a parable with the crowd about a rich man who was focused on accumulating wealth and material possessions. In this specific verse, Jesus reveals God’s response to the rich man.

Meaning

The parable Jesus shares in Luke 12:16-20 involves a rich man who had a plentiful harvest and decides to tear down his barns to build bigger ones, thinking he would enjoy a life of luxury and security for years to come. However, God intervenes and tells him that his life will end that very night.

In Luke 12:20, God calls the rich man a “fool” and informs him that his soul will be required of him that very night. The Greek word for “required” (apaiteō) carries the sense of “demanded back” or “asked back,” indicating that the man’s life is not his own but is held in trust from God. This sudden judgment emphasizes the temporal nature of earthly possessions and the futility of hoarding wealth.

Biblical connections

The rich man’s folly is not in planning for the future but in living as though life consists in the abundance of possessions, ignoring his accountability to God. The immediate context (verse 21) states the lesson: “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” This verse is a direct warning against greed and self-centered security, and it calls for a life oriented toward God’s kingdom rather than earthly accumulation.

Application

Through this parable and verse, Jesus highlights the danger of putting too much emphasis on material possessions and neglecting spiritual matters. The rich man’s mistake was in focusing solely on his wealth and failing to recognize the uncertainty and brevity of life.

The question at the end of Luke 12:20, “then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” prompts reflection on the ultimate ownership and purpose of worldly possessions. The rich man’s wealth, which he believed would secure his future, becomes meaningless upon his death. This challenges us to consider the eternal value of our actions and investments.

Reflection

Luke 12:20 serves as a cautionary reminder against the dangers of materialism and the importance of prioritizing our spiritual lives over worldly possessions. The verse does not condemn wealth itself but the attitude of the heart that trusts in riches and forgets God. It is a call to live with eternal perspective, recognizing that all we have is held in stewardship from God and that we will give an account.