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Parables · 21 of 45

The Rich Fool

On the road to Jerusalem

Luke 12:13–21

Luke 12:13–21

13Someone in the crowd called out, "Teacher, tell my brother to split the inheritance with me." 14He said to him, “Man, who appointed me as a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15Then he said to them all, "Be on your guard against every kind of greed, because a person's life isn't measured by how much they own." 16He told them a parable: "A rich man's land produced an enormous harvest. 17He thought to himself, 'What am I going to do? I don't have enough room to store all my crops.' 18Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do — I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods there. 19Then I'll say to my soul, "Soul, you've got plenty stored up for years to come. Relax! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."' 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! Tonight your soul will be demanded from you. Then who will get everything you've stored up?' 21That's how it is for anyone who hoards wealth for themselves but isn't rich toward God."

Read Luke 12

About this passage

What the parable says

A rich man's land produced a large crop, so he planned to build bigger barns and take life easy. But God called him a fool, because that very night his life would be required of him. So it is with anyone who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

Where this fits

One of 45 passages in Jesus' Parables, in the group “On the road to Jerusalem.”

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