So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Parallel translations
- WEB So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- BSB This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
- NKJV “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- NASB Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”
- NLT “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
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
So it is with anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God. The parable warns against living for self while neglecting God.
Overview
Jesus draws the lesson plainly: a life devoted to accumulating earthly wealth while remaining spiritually bankrupt before God ends in loss. Being 'rich toward God' means treasuring Him, trusting Him, and using one's resources for His purposes. True and lasting riches are found in a right relationship with God through Christ, not in earthly possessions.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 6:19–20Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
- Luke 12:33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
- Jas 2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
- Jas 5:1–3Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
- 1 Tim 6:18–19That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
- Rev 2:9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
- Hab 2:9Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
- Hos 10:1Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
- Luke 6:24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
- Rom 2:5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
- Luke 16:11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- 2 Cor 6:10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 12:21 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.