Luke 12:22-24 Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For Sunday, August 10, 2025
We continue through Luke chapter 12, immediately picking up from where we finished last week. The two sections are undeniably connected, so much so Jesus gives us a big THEREFORE. You know, when Jesus follows up with a “Therefore” you have a cause-and-effect relationship. Last week, we discussed greed and its potential influences upon our lives…. Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. … “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15+21. Now Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life…“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:22+32. We all struggle with anxiety, even the most confident and self-assured. University of California- Davis Health Center claims that 1 in 3 adults will be affected by severe anxiety and anxiety disorders. No wonder we hear so much about it in Scripture. It’s timeless and timely, always appropriate for teaching in any era and any time. God is eager to give to us His peace, and to deliver it to us through the assurance of His Son. Blessings on your studies.
Prayers for a blessed study.
Pastor Chris Simmons.
Discuss: What is the best thing that happened to you this week?
Luke 12: 22-34 (ESV)
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
So again, Jesus is building off the previous section where He says “Life does not consist of an abundance of possessions”. In that, we learned a few of the Greek words for “Life” and the word there is Zoe meaning - eternal divine life of God. So, your eternal life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. We easily accept that as true, as the saying goes “you can’t take it with you” and Jesus illustrates that through the parable of the “Rich Fool”. So Jesus turns to His disciples now and says 22 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Again, now we consider… What word for “Life” is Jesus using? What should garner our attention is the sudden introduction of “anxiety” into the narrative. When we looked at Greek Words for life, of the three one of them closely related to the English word Psychology. That word is Psuche and it is now the word Jesus is using for life here instead of Zoe. Again, contextually you could gather that by it shifting to our thinking, “anxiety” is a psychological term, Jesus continues talking about our fears and how we act and react. As we continue, we should define what we mean by anxiety. Anxiety is an extreme uneasiness and brooding fear about the future. Feeling divided, a lack of trust in what is to come.
Discuss: What comes to mind when you hear the word “anxiety”? Again, it is something we all experience at one time or another, when we take a new job, move to a new place, are about to give a presentation, or have relationship problems. When have you encountered “anxiety”? How did you get through it?
As Jesus even calls us to examine the Psychology of lilies, ravens, and grass, we witness their lack of anxiety and see that God provides for them. Again and again we read:
Consider the ravens God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you
Featured in our Old Testament reading this week is an interaction between God and Abram:
2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Ironically, it’s only two chapters later that Abram will be renamed Abraham which means “father of many nations” in Hebrew. Not only does God provide for Abram a son in Isaac… We read in Galatians 3:
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
All of that Scripture to serve as a reminder… that God delivers on His Word, because His Word is His Promise.
Luke 12:30-31
30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Discuss: I have read and heard this phrase said two different ways “Trust is earned, not given” and “Trust is given, not earned”. There are even books written about both topics and how that thought process is correct. Please discuss… which one is it? Why? How do you see it reflected in God’s relationship with us, and our relationship with Him?
31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
It is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. God wants to provide for you. Jesus says when He institutes communion “eagerly I’ve desired to share this Passover meal with you”. Jesus eagerly desires to give of Himself to provide for you salvation and eternal life. Granting you Zoe to ease your Psuche.
Since I’ve injured my arm, I find myself with my one good hand full often, and there is only so much that I can hold. That one hand fills up a lot faster than two functional arms did… and I find myself being able to hold a lot less at a time. And when someone tries to hand me one more thing, no matter how good it is… even a tasty doughnut or Joann’s coconut chocolate bars… I find I can’t hold it with my hand full.
It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. That is why Jesus tells us to Fear not and that life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. We find ourselves full. Our minds, our hands, our hearts are all already full with an abundance of anxiety. How do we empty ourselves of what we are holding onto so desperately with anxiety? Paul has an answer for us in our Epistle reading.
Philippians 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Discuss: What is Paul’s solution for when we are “full of anxiety”?
Jesus finishes here in Luke 12:
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
You find when we “empty” ourselves in service, we are provided for. Provided for in ways beyond our imagination and in ways we never thought 5 we could ask for. We find our treasure in trusting God, in all ways that He has provided for us. That we can have Peace of mind, in how God has provided Eternal life for us through His Son. God doesn’t stop there, His promises continues. It is His good pleasure to give to you the treasure of His kingdom.
Prayer
On a scale from 1 to 10, what is the stress level in your life? What is your body saying to you?
What is your trust like with God? How has He provided for you?
Where in your life do you need God to say “Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward”? • Where in your life are you longing for certainty?
Lord God, we thank you for your consistent provision. We hold onto so much anxiety that we don’t leave room for your peace. Please grant us courage to lay down all our fears at the foot of the cross, that we may have peace of mind in the forgiveness Jesus gave Himself up for, so we may live in the eternal life of the resurrection and His empty tomb. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.