Luke 12:22-23

Luke 12:22-23

[22] And  he said  unto  his  disciples,  Therefore  I say  no  thought  life,  what  ye shall eat;  neither  for the body,  what  ye shall put on.  [23] The life  more  than meat,  and  the body  is more than raiment. 

What does Luke 12:22-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus addressed the following words more particularly to the disciples (cf. Luke 12:1; Luke 12:13). It is foolish to store up material possessions with no regard for God. Therefore Jesus urged His disciples, who had considered God, to refrain from undue concern about possessions. The life (Gr. psyche) in view is the physical life that needs fuel. The body is the outward shell that needs covering. Food and clothing are just the needs of the present life. Consequently disciples should treat these needs as secondary and not become anxious over them. There is more to life than these things. Formerly Jesus had warned against greed when one does not have possessions ( Luke 12:15). Now He warned against anxiety over them too. Anxiety is foolish because life consists of more than what one eats and wears (cf. Luke 4:4).