The Meaning of Luke 12:13 Explained

Luke 12:13

KJV: And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

YLT: And a certain one said to him, out of the multitude, 'Teacher, say to my brother to divide with me the inheritance.'

Darby: And a person said to him out of the crowd, Teacher, speak to my brother to divide the inheritance with me.

ASV: And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  one  of  the company  said  unto him,  Master,  speak  to my  brother,  that he divide  the inheritance  with  me. 

What does Luke 12:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Evidently the person who made this request viewed Jesus as an ethical authority ("teacher," Gr. didaskale, cf. Luke 7:40) that his brother would respect. His request appears to have been strictly materialistic with no spiritual overtones. The man voiced a legitimate concern. The request provided the setting for the teaching that followed.

Context Summary

Luke 12:13-21 - The Doom Of The Money Lover
Our Lord did not come into our world as an earthly judge, adjusting differences between man and man. He lays down great principles, obedience to which will bring heaven into human lives. One of the greatest of these is here enunciated in Luke 12:15. Covetousness is as much a temptation of the poor man who is wronged as of his rich oppressor; and love for money will inevitably, in poor and rich, becloud the vision and disturb the inner peace. The worth of a man cannot be computed by the amount that stands to his credit. Not what you have but what you are! That is your value in the eyes of God. Some men live to get; see to it that you live to be.
It is absurd to suppose that the soul can take its ease, just because its barns are bursting with goods. Goods are not good! The soul cannot live on corn! Merriment cannot come to a heart that is smitten by remorse and shadowed by the remonstrances of an evil conscience! Besides, we cannot take with us our possessions when we cross the river. We can only take our character-our things pass into other hands. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 12

1  Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13  and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns
22  We must not worry about earthly things,
31  but seek the kingdom of God;
33  give alms;
35  be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes
41  Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,
49  and look for persecution
54  The people must take this time of grace;
57  because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation

Greek Commentary for Luke 12:13

Bid my brother [ειπε τωι αδελπωι μου]
This volunteer from the crowd draws attention to the multitude (Luke 12:13-21). He does not ask for arbitration and there is no evidence that his brother was willing for that. He wants a decision by Jesus against his brother. The law (Deuteronomy 21:17) was two-thirds to the elder, one-third to the younger. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 12:13

Luke 12:13 Bid my brother [ειπε τωι αδελπωι μου]
This volunteer from the crowd draws attention to the multitude (Luke 12:13-21). He does not ask for arbitration and there is no evidence that his brother was willing for that. He wants a decision by Jesus against his brother. The law (Deuteronomy 21:17) was two-thirds to the elder, one-third to the younger. [source]
Luke 12:14 A judge or a divider [κριτην η μεριστην]
Jesus repudiates the position of judge or arbiter in this family fuss. The language reminds one of Exodus 2:14. Jesus is rendering unto Caesar the things of Caesar (Luke 20:25) and shows that his kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). The word for divider or arbiter (μεριστης — meristēs) is a late word from μεριζομαι — merizomai (Luke 12:13) and occurs here only in the N.T. [source]
Luke 12:16 A parable unto them [παραβολην προς αυτους]
The multitude of Luke 12:13, Luke 12:15. A short and pungent parable suggested by the covetousness of the man of Luke 12:13. [source]
Luke 12:41 Peter said [Ειπεν δε ο Πετρος]
This whole paragraph from verse 22-40 had been addressed directly to the disciples. Hence it is not surprising to find Peter putting in a question. This incident confirms also the impression that Luke is giving actual historical data in the environment of these discourses. He is certain that the Twelve are meant, but he desires to know if others are included, for he had spoken to the multitude in Luke 12:13-21. Recall Mark 13:37. This interruption is somewhat like that on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:33) and is characteristic of Peter. Was it the magnificent promise in Luke 12:37 that stirred Peter‘s impulsiveness? It is certainly more than a literary device of Luke. Peter‘s question draws out a parabolic reply by Jesus (Luke 12:42). [source]
1 Peter 4:15 A busybody in other men's matters [ἀλλοτριοεπίσκοπος]
Only here in New Testament. Lit., the overseer of another's matters. One who usurps authority in matters not within his province. Rev., meddler. Compare Luke 12:13, Luke 12:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:11. It may refer to the officious interference of Christians in the affairs of their Gentile neighbors, through excess of zeal to conform them to the Christian standard. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 12:13 mean?

Said then one from the crowd to Him Teacher say to the brother of me to divide with me the inheritance
Εἶπεν δέ τις ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου αὐτῷ Διδάσκαλε εἰπὲ τῷ ἀδελφῷ μου μερίσασθαι μετ’ ἐμοῦ τὴν κληρονομίαν

Εἶπεν  Said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τις  one 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ὄχλου  crowd 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ὄχλος  
Sense: a crowd.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Διδάσκαλε  Teacher 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: διδάσκαλος  
Sense: a teacher. 2 in the NT one who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man.
εἰπὲ  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀδελφῷ  brother 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
μερίσασθαι  to  divide 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Middle
Root: μερίζω  
Sense: to divide.
ἐμοῦ  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
κληρονομίαν  inheritance 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κληρονομία  
Sense: an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 12:13?

Loading Information...