Luke 12:17
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient Palestinian barns (ἀποθῆκαι, apothēkai) were typically underground pits or above-ground structures where grain was stored after threshing. Storage was crucial for surviving between harvests and maintaining wealth. However, the Torah commanded against hoarding: "At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release" (Deuteronomy 15:1), and gleaning laws required leaving portions for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). The rich man's obsession with expanding storage violates the spirit of generosity commanded in the Law. His failure to consult God contrasts with Solomon, who sought divine wisdom for leadership (1 Kings 3:5-14).
Questions for Reflection
- How often do your internal deliberations include conversation with God rather than merely self-consultation?
- When God blesses you with abundance, is your first thought preservation or distribution?
- What does the frequency of first-person pronouns in this parable reveal about the relationship between selfishness and spiritual death?
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Analysis & Commentary
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? The Greek dialogizomai (διελογίζετο, he thought within himself) suggests internal debate or reasoning—six times in this brief parable the man uses first-person pronouns ("I," "my"), revealing radical self-centeredness. The phrase within himself (en heauto, ἐν ἑαυτῷ) emphasizes solitary deliberation—no consultation with God, no consideration of community needs, no thought of covenant obligations to the poor.
His question, What shall I do? (Ti poieso, Τί ποιήσω) ironically echoes the rich young ruler's question (Luke 18:18), but with inverted priorities. Where the ruler sought eternal life, this man seeks only storage capacity. The phrase I have no room where to bestow my fruits reveals the problem: his existing infrastructure cannot contain God's blessing. Rather than seeing abundance as opportunity for generosity, he views it as a storage problem. The possessive my fruits (τοὺς καρποὺς μου) betrays his mindset—he claims ownership of what God gave (v. 16).