A man in the crowd asks Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Instead of arbitrating, Jesus uses the moment to expose a deeper issue: not merely greed, but a profound lack of trust in God’s provision.
Jesus warns, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). He then teaches the multitudes: “Your Father knows that you need these things” (Luke 12:30)—food, drink, and clothing, the basic necessities of survival. In that culture, an inheritance (typically going to the firstborn son) also secured these very needs: land, sustenance, and future provision. The man asking for his share was likely the younger brother, feeling vulnerable without the birthright.
We all, in a sense, long to be the “eldest son.” Jesus Himself is the true Firstborn—the only begotten Son of God, heir to all creation, thrones, kingdoms, and the nations. Yet He willingly lays down His rights, sacrifices everything, and redeems it to share His inheritance with those who have no claim: eternal life offered freely to all who trust Him. Unlike Jacob, who stole the birthright, or the prodigal who squandered it, Jesus gives His inheritance sacrificially and redemptively.
In the questioner, Jesus sees humanity itself—Adam, Jacob, Abraham, Moses, Israel—driven by self-preservation and mistrust. When Jesus mentions food, drink, and clothing, He evokes two key stories:
Jacob’s vow (Genesis 28:20): After deceiving Esau, Jacob flees and bargains with God: “If You provide food, clothing, and safe return, then You will be my God.” Trust comes only after provision.
Israel in the wilderness: God delivers them from Egypt’s storehouses (built by Joseph, which later enslaved them) and teaches radical dependence—manna from heaven, water from rock, clothes that never wore out.
Before sin, Adam lived in perfect trust: God provided everything; man’s role was simply to seek and obey God. Eating from the forbidden tree shifted life from pursuing God to pursuing survival, born out of distrust. This fear—that God won’t provide when we think we need it—has marked humanity ever since:
Did Adam eat the fruit because he doubted God’s provision?
Did Abraham take Hagar because he doubted God’s promise of a son?
Did Jacob steal the birthright because he doubted God would give it?
Did Israel fashion the golden calf because they doubted God’s deliverance?
The pattern is clear: we trust ourselves, storehouses, idols, wealth, and systems more readily than we trust God.
Jesus speaks directly to the “younger brother”—to all of us who have no natural claim to the inheritance. He contrasts us with birds and lilies, temporary creatures that instinctively rely on God. “How much more” will the Father give to His children—an eternal inheritance far surpassing food, clothing, or earthly wealth?
The deeper issue is not greed alone, but the self-preservation that reveals our lack of trust in a Father who knows our needs. Jesus invites us back to Eden’s reality: seek first His kingdom, die to worldly security, and live by faith. Take the life He offers—an inheritance secured not in earthly storehouses, but in heaven itself.
Written and created by Kim blenkhorn
Edited using ChatGBT
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