Luk 12:17-21 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 17. He thought within himself . He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect--to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth. No room . Everything was full. To bestow . To place, to hoard, to collect. My fruits . Our word fruits is not applied to grain ; but the Greek word is applied to all the produce of the earth--not only fruit , but also grain. This is likewise the old meaning of the English word, especially in the plural number.

Luke 12:17-21

Verse 17. He thought within himself. He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect--to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth.

No room. Everything was full.

To bestow. To place, to hoard, to collect.

My fruits. Our word fruits is not applied to grain; but the Greek word is applied to all the produce of the earth--not only fruit, but also grain. This is likewise the old meaning of the English word, especially in the plural number. Verse 18. I will pull down my barns. The word barns, here, properly means, granaries, or places exclusively designed to put wheat, barley, &c. They were commonly made, by the ancients, underground, where grain could be kept a long time more safe from thieves and from vermin. If it be asked why he did not let the old ones remain and build new ones, it may be answered that it would be easier to enlarge those already excavated in the earth than to dig new ones.

(q) "this will I do" Jas 4:15,16 Verse 19. Much goods. Much property. Enough to last a long while, so that there is no need of anxiety or labour.

Take thine ease. Be free from care about the future. Have no anxiety about coming to want.

Eat, drink, and be merry. This was just the doctrine of the ancient Epicureans and atheists, and it is, alas! too often the doctrine of those who are rich. They think that all that is valuable in life is to eat, and drink, and be cheerful or merry. Hence their chief anxiety is to obtain the "delicacies of the season"-- the luxuries of the world; to secure the productions of every clime at any expense, and to be distinguished for splendid repasts and a magnificent style of living. What a portion is this for an immortal soul! What folly to think that all that a man lives for is to satisfy his sensual appetites; to forget that he has an intellect to be cultivated, a heart to be purified, a soul to be saved!

(r) "Soul" Ps 49:18 (s) "take thine ease" Ex 11:9, 1Cor 15:32, Jas 5:5 Verse 20. Thou fool. If there is any supreme folly, it is this. As though riches could prolong life, or avert for a moment the approach of pain and death.

This night, &c. What an awful sentence to a man who, as he thought, had got just ready to live and enjoy himself! In a single moment all his hopes were blasted, and his soul summoned to the bar of his long-forgotten God. So, many are surprised as suddenly and as unprepared. They are snatched from their pleasures, and hurried to a world where there is no pleasure, and where all their wealth cannot purchase one moment's ease from the gnawings of the worm that never dies.

Shall be required of thee. Thou shalt be required to die, to go to God, and to give up your account.

Then whose, &c. Whose they may be is of little consequence to the man that lost his soul to gain them; but they are often left to heirs that dissipate them much sooner than the father procured them, and thus they secure their ruin as well as his own. Ps 39:6, Eccl 2:18,19.

(t) "this night" Job 20:20-23, 27:8, Ps 52:7, Jas 4:14 (2) "thy soul" or, "do they require thy soul." Verse 21. So is he. This is the portion or the doom.

Layeth up treasure for himself. Acquires riches for his own use--for himself. This is the characteristic of the covetous man. It is all for himself. His plans terminate there. He lives only for himself, and acts only with regard to his own interest.

Rich toward God. Has no inheritance in the kingdom of God--no riches laid up in heaven. His affections are all fixed on this world, and he has none for God.

From this instructive parable we learn--

1st. That wicked men are often signally prospered--their ground brings forth plentifully. God gives them their desire, but sends leanness into their souls.

2nd. That riches bring with them always an increasing load of cares and anxieties.

3rd. That they steal away the affections from God--are sly, insinuating, and dangerous to the soul.

4th. That the anxiety of a covetous man is not what good he may do with his wealth, but where he may hoard it, and keep it secure from doing any good.

5th. That riches cannot secure their haughty owners from the grave. Death will come upon them suddenly, unexpectedly, awfully. In the very midst of the brightest anticipations--in a moment--in the twinkling of an eye-- it may come, and all the wealth that has been accumulated cannot alleviate one pang, or drive away one fear, or prolong life for one moment.

6th. That the man who is trusting to his riches in this manner is a fool in the sight of God. Soon, also, he will be a fool in his own sight, and will go to hell with the consciousness that his life has been one of eminent folly.

7th. That the path of true wisdom is to seek first the kingdom of God, and to be ready to die; and then it matters little what is our portion here, or how suddenly or soon we are called away to meet our Judge. If our affections are not fixed on our riches, we shall leave them without regret. If our treasures are laid up in heaven, death will be but going home, and happy will be that moment when we are called to our rest.

(v) "layeth up treasure" Hab 2:9 (w) "is not rich toward God" 1Timm 6:18, Jas 2:5, Lk 12:33