89. Talk to the Apostles on Wealth

        ²²And Jesus said to his apostles,^a “Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. ²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens; they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his stature or a day to his life? ²⁶If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?”
        ²⁷“Consider the lilies, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more shall he clothe you. O you of little faith! ²⁹And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. ³⁰For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well.”
        ³²“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Provide yourselves with purses that wax not old, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
        (Lk. 12:22–34)

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a   “Jesus said to his apostles”—This teaching, given to his chosen apostles who had forsaken all to follow him, must be somewhat different from his instruction given to the disciples and the multitude. Those disciples and followers are responsible for the support of their families and should contribute to the sustenance of those who have dedicated themselves fully to the work of the kingdom.

Lk. 12:22  his apostles, “Do (Ch. 22, fn. a) / his disciples, “Therefore, I tell you do (RSV)
Lk. 12:23  Life (Gspd) / For life (RSV)
Lk. 12:25  cubit to his stature (RSV alt. trans.) or a day to his life? / cubit to his span of life? (RSV)
Lk. 12:27  they toil not, neither do they spin / they neither toil nor spin (RSV) • I say to you (KJV) / I tell you (RSV)
Lk. 12:28  If (KJV) / But if (RSV) • grass of the field, which is alive today / grass, which is alive in the field today (RSV) • the fire, how / the oven, how (RSV) • more shall he / more will he (RSV) • O you of / O men of (RSV)
Lk. 12:33  that wax not old, (KJV) / that do not grow old, (RSV) • old where / old, with the treasure in the heavens that do not fail, where (RSV)   (165:5/1823–4)

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