Verse 33
In view of this prospect Jesus’ disciples should strip down and live simply so they could seek the kingdom without unnecessary materialistic distractions. By getting rid of their possessions they were in effect preparing to receive their reward. Jesus pictured this as making purses in anticipation of receiving something to put in them, namely, eternal rewards. Such purses would not wear out in contrast to the purses that hold material wealth. Furthermore their heavenly treasure would be secure rather than vulnerable to theft and destruction (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4).
"The generosity this text calls for has often been questioned. Are we really called to sell all our possessions? Jesus’ point is that we must give up viewing what we call ours, as if it were a private possession to be hoarded." [Note: Bock, Luke, p. 352.]
"The command to ’sell’ and ’give’ (or ’distribute’) is not obsolete after Jesus’ ascension, for the narrator portrays the life of the Jerusalem church in such a way as to indicate a particular kind of fulfillment of Jesus’ command. . . . The descriptions of this arrangement feature the words ’sell’ and ’distribute’ (using piprasko and diamerizo in Acts 2:45, poleo and diadidomi in Luke 4:34-35), which correspond to the commands of Jesus in Luke 12:33 (poleo and didomi) and Luke 18:22 (poleo and diadidomi)." [Note: Tannehill, 1:247-48.]
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