Luke 12:33
What does Luke 12:33 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:33 means
Jesus urges radical generosity: sell possessions, give alms, and invest in unfailing heavenly treasure. He pictures durable purses—unlike earthly ones that wear out—and a secure store where thieves and moths cannot reach. The call is not to reckless destitution but to deliberate reallocation under God’s priorities. Giving transforms wealth from a master into a servant of love and worship. It is a faith-act that banks on God’s promises and seeks reward where it truly lasts. Such practices align the heart with the kingdom and loosen the hold of earthly anxieties.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give what property you have in exchange for money, and give the money to the poor; make for yourselves money-bags which will not get old, wealth stored up in heaven which will be yours for ever, where thieves will not come nor worms put it to destruction.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862sell your goods, and give alms, make to yourselves bags that become not old, a treasure unfailing in the heavens, where thief doth not come near, nor moth destroy;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Sell what ye possess and give alms; make to yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure which does not fail in the heavens, where thief does not draw near nor moth destroy.
Context
Flowing from assurance that the Father gives the kingdom, Jesus shows the natural fruit: generous, eternity-minded stewardship. The shift from fear to giving paves the way for His next statement about the heart’s direction following treasure. Then He will pivot to watchfulness imagery—girded loins and burning lamps—since a heart set on heaven lives ready for the Master’s return.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 8:2
how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
- Luke 18:22
And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
- James 5:1
Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.
- Luke 11:41
But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.
- Luke 12:21
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
- Matthew 19:21
Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
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