Luke 12:18

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) I will pull down my barns.—The Greek noun (apothekè, whence our “apothecary,”) has a somewhat wider meaning, and includes storehouses or warehouses of all kinds.

All my fruits.—Here, too, the Greek word is somewhat wider. Literally, produce—i.e., crops of every kind.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:13-21 Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul. Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldling while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn is exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity. How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar characters as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connexions with! We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a more anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it. It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty, than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, without any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldlings are fools; and the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and they will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable in itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loth to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it, require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will pull down my barns - The word "barns" here, properly means, "granaries," or places exclusively designed to put wheat, barley, etc. 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16-19. a certain rich man, &c.—Why is this man called a "fool?" (Lu 12:20) (1) Because he deemed a life of secure and abundant earthly enjoyment the summit of human felicity. (2) Because, possessing the means of this, through prosperity in his calling, he flattered himself that he had a long lease of such enjoyment, and nothing to do but give himself up to it. Nothing else is laid to his charge.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 12:17"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said, this will I do,.... This was the resolution he came to, and which he took up, without consulting God, or asking leave of him:

I will pull down my barns, and build greater; which was not a very wise one; for he might have let his present barns have stood, and have added new ones to them:

and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods; he ascribes the increase of his substance to himself, and reckons them his own acquisitions, and entirely owing to his diligence and industry; and therefore calls them my fruits, and my goods; and accounts them his good things, his only good things; as worldly men place all good and happiness in outward enjoyments, having no notion of spiritual and eternal good things he determines to lay up all in his barns, for his own use and service, and nothing for God and his interest, nor any thing for the poor and their relief.

Geneva Study Bible

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 12:18. τὸν σῖτον (or τὰ γενήματα): may refer to the fruits (καρπούς, Luke 12:17) of the season, τὰ ἀγαθὰ to the accumulated possessions of bygone years.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. my barns] Rather, storehouses (apothekas—not only for corn). He never thought of the admonition of the Son of Sirach, “Shut up alms in thy storehouses,” Sir 29:12.

my fruits] Not the same word as before. Rather, my produce.

my goods] Such ‘good things’ as he was alone capable of recognising, Luke 16:25. And “all my goods,” with no mention of the poor.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 12:18. Πάντα, all) There is no mention made here of the poor.

Luke 12:18

Vincent's Word Studies

Fruits (γενήματα)

Some texts, however, read τὸν σῖτον, my corn. So Rev.