What does Luke 12:16 mean? (2024)

FAQs

What does Luke 12:16 mean? ›

This parable is unique to Luke's Gospel. Chapter Summary. Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes.

Visiting orphans and widows is so much more than just taking a trip to another country to hand out some food to people you will never see again; visiting orphans and widows means to look after, to take care of, to provide for, with the implication of continuous responsibility.

Jesus is looking beyond the present listeners to a far-off future, when his teaching will change the world. To do this, he called, and he chose twelve men, ordinary men, without influence or special training. What equipped them was the knowledge and love of Jesus.

In this verse we can see the glory of God in his willingness to serve even the lowest in society. When the man with leprosy asked to be healed, Jesus did not hesitate or look down on the man for asking for help. He simply saw the man's needs and helped him without charge or prejudice.

This chapter emphasizes the need for readiness and the urgency of being busy in the Lord's service. Nobody knows when Jesus will return, but we know when He does, everyone will stand before the Judge. Those who are currently serving God need to be diligent in their work and inviting others to serve God.

In Scripture orphans symbolize the epitome of loss, defenselessness, and the unraveling of society. Their great need demands advocacy. They are separated from their father—their source of provision and protection—and so God himself protects them.

“Widows” and “orphans”, then, are vulnerable children and families. Plain and simple. Not just those who have lost family, but also those who could lose their family at any moment. So, the call to care for the “orphan” and the “widow” is not just a call to care for children living without families and single parents.

Luke describes the time that Jesus went to the mountain to pray through the night. The next day Jesus calls His twelve disciples and also appoints them as apostles.

Luke 16 includes several of Jesus' lessons about living in the kingdom of God compared to the world system, beginning and ending with parables (Luke 16:1—17:10). Chapter 16 includes the parable of the dishonest manager, Jesus' teaching on how money reveals faith, and the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

But if you want to have life forever, obey the commands.” The man asked, “Which commands?” Jesus answered, “ 'You must not murder anyone; you must not be guilty of adultery; you must not steal; you must not tell lies about your neighbor; honor your father and mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.

What is the healing of the lepers? ›

Jesus' healing of the leper is simple and transparent. The leper has total faith in Jesus' ability to heal him of his disease, and he is healed. Jesus then uses this event to illustrate that there is no conflict between the law of Moses and the more loving understanding he teaches.

Being contagious and unclean persons, lepers were supposed to isolate themselves from others, demonstrate their impurity and warn people of their illness. They had to wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their faces and shout 'Unclean!

He is in the region between Samaria and Galilee; Jesus frequents boundary spaces and is about to cross a social boundary again by his association with lepers and with a Samaritan. As he enters a village, ten lepers approach calling out to him but keeping their distance because they are unclean.

This parable is unique to Luke's Gospel. Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes.

Application: This verse warns against the dangers of greed and materialism. It reminds us that true fulfillment and meaning in life come from relationships with God and others, not from accumulating wealth or possessions.

Luke shows Jesus—fully God and fully human—moving among the people in compassion to free them from the myriad of things oppressing them. The disregarded, the outcast, the forgotten and the marginalized all got to see and experience the love of Christ—even if Jesus had to confront the Jewish leaders to do it.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Exod. 22. [22] Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. [24] And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

Widows and Orphans Are Disadvantaged

Because they are a disadvantaged group, Job 22:8-10 implies that failing to support these women and children is particularly shameful: “And you sent widows away empty-handed / and broke the strength of the fatherless.”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Widow

In the Old Testament widows are considered to be under the special care of Yahweh (Psalms 68:5; 146:9; Proverbs 15:25). Sympathetic regard for them comes to be viewed as a mark of true religion (Job 31:16; James 1:27).