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Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:13-15)
Jesus had just taught on our great value to God (12:6-7) and on the importance of standing for Him (12:8-12). During this teaching, a man interrupted to ask that Jesus take his side in a financial dispute. He asked Jesus to tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.
According to the law of the day, the elder brother received two-thirds of the inheritance, and the younger brother received one-third. This man did not ask Jesus to listen to both sides and make a righteous judgment; he asked Jesus to take sides with him against his brother (tell my brother to divide the inheritance).
Obviously, the previous words of Jesus about the need for full commitment and God’s care for us didn’t penetrate this man’s heart. He felt he needed to fight for what was his, and he wanted Jesus to take up his cause.
That’s when Jesus gave an answer that is surprising to some people. In this case, the judge of all the world (John 5:22) said: Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you? Jesus did not feel it was His responsibility to judge every matter and solve every problem. There were some disputes that He refused to become entangled in.
It wasn’t that Jesus was unconcerned about justice; but Jesus also knew that this man’s covetousness would do him more harm than not having his share of the inheritance. There are times when we may fight and fight for what is ours by right; and in the end, having what we fought for may do us more harm than if we had let it go and let God take care of the situation.
Jesus used the man’s request to speak to him and the crowd about the danger of covetousness. Perhaps the man’s passionate request for Jesus to help him was motivated more by covetousness than by justice. Two covetous men trying to divide an inheritance will always fight. Two men who are free from covetousness would find it easy to peacefully resolve these matters.
Covetousness is foolish because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. When we live with the attitude that our life does consist in what we possess, we live in covetousness, and covetousness is idolatry(Colossians 3:5).
There are two helpful warnings in these verses. First, don’t use a false concern for justice to cover a self-serving agenda – Jesus wants no part of that so-called “justice.” Second, remember that the key to abundant, joyful life is not found in having more things – it is found in Jesus and the greater blessings He gives.
Click here for David’s commentary on Luke 12
Click Here for Daily Devotionals from David on Apple Podcasts