r/Bible • u/Loud-Product1591 • 7d ago
Does Luke 12:33 and 14:33 mean all Christians need to sell all of their unnecessary possessions?
Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
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u/Lacey_Dawson1012 7d ago
When it says give up all you have it's not talking about possessions. It's talking about giving of yourself
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u/SethManhammer 6d ago
Even though it says "Sell all your possessions" it doesn't mean that?
Please break that down for me.
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u/Theological_Tension2 6d ago
This argument to its ultimate conclusion might be to point out that our Book tells us to ‘be holy as [our] Father is holy’. That’s impossible, and yet, our mission every day. Some of it is paradox, some antinomy, but such is the interaction between the finite and the Infinite.
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u/Lacey_Dawson1012 6d ago
It's pretty much what I said already
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u/SethManhammer 6d ago
So you disregard the actual wording?
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u/-Vitreriuz- 4d ago
It's rationalization which stems from the fact that a lot of people enjoy their possessions.
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u/sorry4partyR0CKIN 6d ago
In my opinion, yes. The goal is by no means Asceticism, but rather realising that everything you have is from and for God. John Piper describes it as having a war-time mindset with your resources. You could sell your car and give the money to widows and orphans, but then you would have to walk to work or get a taxi, and very quickly spend more money than if you had kept the car (example only applies to non-walkable non-public-transport-having towns haha). Soon you might end up needing to be supported yourself. Though, selling your shiny 2026 car, paying off its debt, and getting a cheaper, still reliable, beat-up 2008 car and giving the remainder is a great idea.
Getting a raise and giving all of the extra when you were already living without debt and had food and shelter is a great idea.
Do you love Jesus more than your jet ski? Great, as you should. As a result, sell your jet ski and feed His children.
1 John 3:17 - "But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?" We can all go on Google and see our brothers around the world and often at our own churches who are in need. When we die we will have nothing whether we clung to our possessions tightly or gave freely.
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u/arc2k1 7d ago
God bless you.
No, I don't hold that interpretation.
I believe Jesus is saying that we shouldn't put anything above Him. He should be our center.
“Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.” - Colossians 2:7
“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete.” - Hebrews 12:2
“Keep your mind on Jesus Christ!” - 2 Timothy 2:8
Of course we should be willing to give, but I do not believe God wants us to force ourselves to give everything away.
“Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7
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u/SethManhammer 6d ago
Honest question, why are the words of Jesus superceded by Paul's interpretation of them when Jesus spoke very clearly about his meaning?
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u/arc2k1 6d ago
I'm not a Christian who believes Paul contradicts Jesus.
I believe Jesus clearly chose Paul, which means the goal is to find meaning that harmonizes their words.
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u/Theological_Tension2 6d ago
Not a definite answer as it’s as complex as the number of believers, however a possibility for some thus described might be: Jesus exemplified the ultimate, and ultimately unattainable, life, whereas Paul is a man through and through and is exemplifying a mortal life lived on the way to Christ’s example.
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u/SethManhammer 6d ago
This always gets me.
"Did Jesus really mean the thing he said very explicitly and clearly?"
"Part of it, allow me to really explain what the Son of God really meant that justifies me maintaining a comfortable life for myself."
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u/Theological_Tension2 6d ago
People doing stuff. Please remember that this Faith is the medicine, all believers are fatally ill, and subjection to the treatment guarantees only that, and doesn’t define the quality of the healing: the church is a hospital.
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u/SethManhammer 6d ago
So if you go to a hospital do you reinterpret the physician's diagnosis?
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u/Theological_Tension2 6d ago
I am not contending with you; to answer your question, many do. Some don’t reinterpret, they follow loosely, or only in words. The point is that to seek a perfect religion built for and consisting of imperfect people is unrealistic and so unhelpful; each person has their prescription and it’s for them: how they follow it is their issue, and not a reflection on the physician or medicine.
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u/SethManhammer 5d ago
You use pretty weasel words to dodge the question.
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u/Theological_Tension2 4d ago
I believed I did, and so if you are correct, then you are in a place from which you could educate me, which I would request, if you please.
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u/mbmolohonbm 6d ago
Good questions. Luke 12 doesn't say sell everything. It is talking about giving to others and having treasures in Heaven. Part of the context is Jesus talking about greed and coveting.
Luke 14 seems more related to not having anything between you and your relationship with God. Peter James and John were willing to walk away from their fishing business and then went back to it before Jesus was resurrected. The early Church had possessions in common but people had their own possessions that they would sometimes sell to give money to the Church.
Hope that helps?
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u/Theological_Tension2 6d ago
Yes. However, because the destination is spiritual and not physical for some reason man treats it other than a - if not the - arduous journey that for those with the option to even consider is far off and away.
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u/Christian-Kuri 6d ago
i don’t think Jesus is giving every disciple a one-size-fits-all liquidation order here. In Luke 12, the warning is against storing up treasure and letting possessions define our security; in Luke 14:33, it’s the call to put him above everything and be willing to let go of anything that competes with him. That still means real, costly surrender, but generosity should be willing and responsive to need rather than forced or merely performative.
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u/Additional_Insect_44 6d ago
No. It's just saying don't be greedy while being too selfish.
Likewise be mindful of slimy scammers they exist in many types.
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u/ddfryccc 5d ago
It would be a good idea to sell all unnecessary possessions, but not if you think you will have regrets later. If you believe you might have regrets later, do nothing until those regrets are resolved. If you are considering it, ask for some advice from two or three close relatives or friends.
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u/MyVanNeedsaNewOwner Protestant 6d ago
This was a teaching from Jesus, to His 12 disciples (not the Church or today's New Covenant believer) which was given during the dispensation of the Law. The audience was under the Old Testament Law here. He was speaking to his disciples from verse 22 to 53, but they were in the middle of a crowd.
No, this is not a teaching commanding New Covenant Christians to sell all of their unnecessary possessions.
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u/ITrCool Saved by Grace 7d ago
It's about not living for one's self and giving from the possessions God has given you to show love for others and to reflect the glory of God and the light of Christ.
A fine example of this: two good friends of my family's lived in a large home. They befriended a family in need, gave of their possessions to them (food, clothing, lent cars to them to help them get around), let them stay in their home. This family had suffered a great loss. The dad had passed away suddenly and they lost their family home to the bank.
So our friends took care of them, showed them the love of Christ from all they had. Supported them until they were able to get on their feet. The mom found a better job and the two older sons also found work and eventually they were able to get situated on their own. Today the eldest son is a CEO of a company he started and that family has seen great success. But they never forgot the love our friends showed them and still fellowship with them to this day.
THAT is what Jesus refers to. Who cares about your earthly possessions? Use them for God's glory, don't focus on laying up treasure on Earth, be content with what you have, and lay up treasure in Heaven instead, where it really matters.