But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
Parallel translations
- KJV And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
- BSB But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”
- NKJV But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
- NASB But He said to him, “You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?”
- NLT Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus declines to arbitrate the inheritance dispute, asking who appointed Him judge over such matters. He refuses to be reduced to a settler of property quarrels.
Overview
Jesus did not come primarily to adjudicate earthly disputes but to address the deeper issue of the human heart. His refusal redirects attention from the man's external complaint to the spiritual danger of covetousness beneath it. The greater inheritance Christ offers is the kingdom of God, not a portion of earthly goods.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 9:20But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed ask him who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”
- Rom 2:3Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
- Rom 2:1Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
- John 6:15Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
- Exod 2:14He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.”
- John 18:35–36Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”
- John 8:11She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.”
- Luke 5:20Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
- Mic 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Luke 22:58After a little while someone else saw him, and said, “You also are one of them!” But Peter answered, “Man, I am not!”
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.