Luke 12:33
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Original Language Analysis
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὑπάρχοντα
have
G5224
ὑπάρχοντα
have
Strong's:
G5224
Word #:
3 of 24
things extant or in hand, i.e., property or possessions
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δότε
give
G1325
δότε
give
Strong's:
G1325
Word #:
6 of 24
to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection)
ἐλεημοσύνην·
alms
G1654
ἐλεημοσύνην·
alms
Strong's:
G1654
Word #:
7 of 24
compassionateness, i.e., (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction
ποιήσατε
provide
G4160
ποιήσατε
provide
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
8 of 24
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
ἑαυτοῖς
yourselves
G1438
ἑαυτοῖς
yourselves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
9 of 24
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
μὴ
not
G3361
μὴ
not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
11 of 24
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
παλαιούμενα
old
G3822
παλαιούμενα
old
Strong's:
G3822
Word #:
12 of 24
to make (passively, become) worn out, or declare obsolete
θησαυρὸν
a treasure
G2344
θησαυρὸν
a treasure
Strong's:
G2344
Word #:
13 of 24
a deposit, i.e., wealth (literally or figuratively)
ἀνέκλειπτον
that faileth not
G413
ἀνέκλειπτον
that faileth not
Strong's:
G413
Word #:
14 of 24
not left out, i.e., (by implication) inexhaustible
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
οὐρανοῖς
the heavens
G3772
οὐρανοῖς
the heavens
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
17 of 24
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
Cross References
Matthew 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.Acts 2:45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.Luke 18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.Luke 16:9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.Luke 12:21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.Haggai 1:6Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.John 12:6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.2 Corinthians 8:2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.Luke 11:41But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Historical Context
This teaching follows immediately after the parable of the rich fool (12:16-21) and precedes the command to seek God's kingdom first (12:31). First-century Palestine used cloth for wealth storage (vulnerable to moths) and buried treasure in fields or stored grain in barns (vulnerable to thieves, rust, and rot). Jesus' audience lived under Roman taxation and economic uncertainty, making wealth accumulation seem essential for security. Yet Jesus contradicts conventional wisdom: earthly security is illusory, heavenly treasure is permanent.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' command to sell possessions and give alms challenge contemporary materialism and wealth accumulation?
- What does the contrast between decaying earthly bags and imperishable heavenly treasure reveal about true security?
- In what practical ways can believers today transfer wealth from earth to heaven through generosity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Sell that ye have, and give alms (πωλήσατε τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ὑμῶν καὶ δότε ἐλεημοσύνην, pōlēsate ta hyparchonta hymōn kai dote eleēmosynēn)—Jesus commands radical generosity as evidence of kingdom priority. The verb pōleō (πωλέω, sell) is aorist imperative, demanding decisive action. Eleēmosynē (ἐλεημοσύνη, alms) means compassionate giving to the poor, from eleos (mercy). This isn't asceticism for its own sake but redistribution motivated by eternal values.
Provide yourselves bags which wax not old (ποιήσατε ἑαυτοῖς βαλλάντια μὴ παλαιούμενα, poiēsate heautois ballantia mē palaioumena)—The paradox: divesting earthly wealth creates heavenly wealth. The term ballantion (βαλλάντιον) means moneybag or purse; palaioō (παλαιόω) means to grow old, wear out. Earthly containers decay, but a treasure in the heavens that faileth not (thēsauron anekleiptonēn tois ouranois, θησαυρὸν ἀνέκλειπτον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς) is imperishable. No thief approaches (kleptēs ouk engizei, κλέπτης οὐκ ἐγγίζει), no moth corrupts (sēs ou diaphtheirei, σὴς οὐ διαφθείρει)—divine security surpassing any earthly investment.