The Meaning of Luke 12:30 Explained

Luke 12:30

KJV: For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

YLT: for all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father hath known that ye have need of these things;

Darby: for all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that ye have need of these things;

ASV: For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  all  these things  do  the nations  of the world  seek after:  and  your  Father  knoweth  that  ye have need  of these things. 

What does Luke 12:30 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The reason worry about these things is wrong is that it is a pagan practice. The gracious heavenly Father knows His children need these things. Therefore the believer should rely on Him to provide what is necessary.

Context Summary

Luke 12:22-34 - The Cure For Anxious Care
Notice this contrast between two kinds of men: the one cares for himself, is anxious for this life, worries about food and clothes and standing a cubit higher in the estimate of his fellows; the other is content to fill the niche and do the work assigned him by the Father. And he performs his life-task, not for the remuneration it will bring, but for the "well-done" of God-sure that all which is needed, whether for his soul or body, will be provided by Him who gave him being. The Father knows thy varied need, trust Him!
Do not think of God as grudging! It is your Father's good pleasure to give. Nothing delights Him more than to be able to "give good things to them that ask Him." For Him also "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Remember that the best investments are those we store, not in banks, etc., but in the lives of others: for God Himself guarantees the interest. [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

What do the individual words in Luke 12:30 mean?

these things for all the nations of the world seek after of you now the Father knows that you have need of these
ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τοῦ κόσμου ἐπιζητοῦσιν ὑμῶν δὲ Πατὴρ οἶδεν ὅτι χρῄζετε τούτων

ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἔθνη  nations 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κόσμου  world 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κόσμος  
Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.
ἐπιζητοῦσιν  seek  after 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐπιζητέω  
Sense: to enquire for, seek for, search for, seek diligently.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
Πατὴρ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
οἶδεν  knows 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
χρῄζετε  you  have  need 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: χρῄζω  
Sense: to have need of, to be in want of.
τούτων  of  these 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.