His Disciples Should Have Their Minds Set On Heavenly Affairs Not Earthly Affairs (12:22-34).
Having made clear His position concerning wealth and its use Jesus now turns to those who have little wealth. They can be just as tied up with wealth as a result of having none and being anxious about it, as can the wealthy. They can be equally ‘distorted', and they equally needed ‘making straight'. Theirs is a different problem. Where is the next meal coming from? Jesus reply is that once they seek the Kingly Rule of God they can put all such anxieties to one side, for God will then take responsibility for them and ensure that they are fed and clothed. Indeed they do not even need to pray about it, because God knows what they have need of before they ask Him.
This is now very much getting down to life under the Kingly Rule of God. The disciples have to learn that their thoughts must be wooed away from all thought of material possessions so that they can concentrate on that.
Note the interesting parallels between these verses and the previous passage in the mention of store-chambers and barns (the birds do not have any, instead they have God's inexhaustible storehouses to call on), and in the laying up of treasure, but this time in Heaven. They must learn the lesson of the rich fool.
Analysis.
a ‘And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment” (Luke 12:22-23).
b “Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap, which have no store-chamber nor barn, and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” (Luke 12:24).
c “And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to the measure of his life?” (Luke 12:25).
d “If then you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest?” (Luke 12:26).
e “Consider the flowers, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin, yet I say to you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Luke 12:27).
f “But if God does so clothe the grass in the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Luke 12:28).
e “And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind” (Luke 12:29).
d “For all these things do the nations of the world seek after, but your Father knows that you have need of these things” (Luke 12:30).
c “But as for you, you seek his Kingly Rule, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:31).
b “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingly Rule” (Luke 12:32).
a “Sell what you have, and give alms, make for yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief draws near, neither moth destroys, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:33-34).
Note that in ‘a' they are not to be concerned with earthly things, and in the parallel they are to use them for establishing a heavenly treasure. In ‘b' the birds are fed by God, but they are of more value than the birds, so that in the parallel He will give His disciples what is ruled over by His Kingly Rule. In ‘c' they cannot ‘add' to the length of their life, so in the parallel they should seek His Kingly Rule (which is eternal), then everything else will be ‘added' to them. In ‘d' they are not to be anxious about ‘the rest', while in the parallel it is the nations who will be anxious about the rest. On the other hand they, the disciples, need not be because they can be sure that their Father knows their needs. In ‘e' the flowers do not seek after physical benefits (what they shall wear), so in the parallel they also do not have to seek after physical benefits (what they eat and drink or anything else). Central in ‘f' is confidence in the provision of God.