Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 12:17
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
17. What shall I do ] “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase,” Ecc 5:10.
my fruits ] So “ my barns,” “my fruits and my goods,” and “my soul.” This touch is evidently intended and is most vividly natural. So Nabal says, “Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers,” &c., 1Sa 25:11. So
“Their child.” “Our child!” “ Our heiress!” “ Ours!” for still
Like echoes from beyond a hollow, came
Her sicklier iteration.” Aylmer’s Field.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He thought within himself – He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect – to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth.
No room – Everything was full.
To bestow – To place, to hoard, to collect.
My fruits – Our word fruits is not applied to grain; but the Greek word is applied to all the produce of the earth – not only fruit, but also grain. This is likewise the old meaning of the English word, especially in the plural number.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. He thought within himself] Began to be puzzled in consequence of the increase of his goods. Riches, though ever so well acquired, produce nothing but vexation and embarrassment.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And, he thought within himself,…. And foolish thoughts they were; he did not think of God, or that there was one, and much less that he was the author, of all his outward prosperity and plenty; and was still further off of thinking of returning thanks to God for it: or of asking counsel of him, what he should do with it; but he consults himself only, and thought only within, and for himself; and not at all of his poor neighbours, or for the good of others; nor did he think even of his own soul, but altogether about his worldly substance:
saying, what shall I do? he does not say what shall I do for God? for his interest service, and glory? for the poor, the hungry, and thirsty, and naked? or for my own soul, that that may be eternally saved? but what shall I do with my goods?
because I have no room where to bestow my fruits: he had gathered in his harvest, and filled his barns as full as they could hold, so that they had no room for more; and yet had still an abundance to lay up, and about which he was anxiously concerned; not thinking of the empty bellies, barns, and houses of the poor, where he might have stowed much.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Reasoned within himself ( ). Imperfect middle, picturing his continued cogitations over his perplexity.
Where to bestow ( ). Future indicative deliberative, where I shall gather together.
My fruits ( ). So it is with the rich fool: my fruits, my barns, my corn, my goods, just like Nabal whose very name means fool (1Sa 25:11), whether a direct reference to him or not.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Bestow [] . Lit., gather together.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And he thought within himself, saying,” (kai dielogizeto en heatuo legon) “And he reasoned in himself,” in his own mind and heart, for his own selfish interest, (legon) “repeatedly saying,” with thoughtful, foolish, and covetous words, anxiously planning, without consideration of the will of God, or any expressed gratitude to Him. Complaints of farmers are proverbial, Pro 24:9.
2) “What shall I do,” (ti poieso) “Just what may I do.” Being rich he might have given away some of his wealth, while living, and cheered the needy, or helped a worthy cause, but covetousness in his soul held him back.
3) “Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?” (hot! ouk echo pou sunakso tous karpous mou) “Because I do not own, have, or possess a place where I may store my fruit,” from my land, which is so very plentiful, so much more than I need. But it appears that “hoarding” was his hobby, his god. He had not an heart to share with his fellowman. Note the “I”, “me,” “my,” and “mine,” that came from a covetous, hell-bound soul. He did not consider the “will of God,” for him, for either that day or the future; Though in Him he lived, moved, and had his being, Act 17:28; Jas 4:14-17.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
17. What shall I do? Wicked men are driven to perplexity in their deliberations, because they do not know how any thing is to be lawfully used; (269) and, next, because they are intoxicated with a foolish confidence which makes them forget themselves. Thus we find that this rich man lengthens out his expectation of life in proportion to his large income, and drives far away from him the remembrance of death. And yet this pride is accompanied by distrust; for those men, when they have had their fill, are still agitated by insatiable desire, like this rich man, who enlarges his barns, as if his belly, which had been filled with his former barns, had not got enough. At the same time, Christ does not expressly condemn this man for acting the part of a careful householder in storing up his produce, but because his ravenous desire, like a deep whirlpool, swallows up and devours many barns; from which it follows that he does not comprehend the proper use of an abundant produce.
(269) “ Pource qu’ils ne scavent point quel est le droit et legitime usage des creatures de Dieu;” — “because they know not what is the proper and lawful use of the creatures of God.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) And he thought within himself.The parable, like that of the Good Samaritan, is more than a similitude, and reads like an actual history. There is an almost dramatic vividness in the rich mans soliloquy. It was the very superfluity of the mans goods that became a new cause of anxiety. In such a case half was more than the whole. So far as life depended on property, it would have been better had the property been less.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. What shall I do Other men are perplexed to get wealth; this man is perplexed to dispose of it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Ver. 17. And he thought within himself ] He was up with the more and down with the less; he cast up his reckonings, as covetous men’s manner is, and after long debate to and fro, concluded what to do.
He talked to himself, &c. ] . A marvellous proper word for the purpose.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
17. ] ‘Character animi sine requie quieti, egregie expressus.’ Bengel.
. ] ‘ Habes apothecas inopum sinus, viduarum domus, ora infantum Ist sunt apothec qu maneant in ternum.’ Ambrose de Nabuthe, ch. vii. 37, vol. i. p. 575.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
thought = was reasoning.
within. Greek. en. App-104.
no = not. Greek ou. App-105.
bestow = gather together, or lay up.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
17.] Character animi sine requie quieti, egregie expressus. Bengel.
.] Habes apothecas-inopum sinus, viduarum domus, ora infantum Ist sunt apothec qu maneant in ternum. Ambrose de Nabuthe, ch. vii. 37, vol. i. p. 575.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 12:17. , what shall I do) The characteristics of a mind set at rest, and yet void of real repose [animi sine requie quieti[120]], are herein happily portrayed. [They exert themselves in order to fill their chests and coffers; and, when these are full to overflowing, they contrive and plan new storehouses.-V. g.] The same formula occurs in ch. Luk 16:3. Comp. Luk 12:4.
[120] Perhaps quieti may be intended by Beng. as Ablat. of old Adjective quiesetis. The sense will then be clearer, a mind void of any tranquil repose.-ED. and TRANSL.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
What: Luk 12:22, Luk 12:29, Luk 10:25, Luk 16:3, Act 2:37, Act 16:30
shall: Luk 12:33, Luk 3:11, Luk 11:41, Luk 14:13, Luk 14:14, Luk 16:9, Luk 18:22, Luk 19:17, Ecc 11:2, Isa 58:7, Mat 5:42, Rom 12:13, 2Co 9:6-15, 1Ti 6:17, 1Jo 3:16
Reciprocal: Gen 13:6 – General Lev 26:10 – General Job 20:23 – he is about Amo 6:1 – to them Mal 3:10 – that there Mat 3:9 – think Mar 4:19 – the cares Luk 7:39 – he spake Luk 18:4 – he said Jam 4:13 – To day
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The yield was so great that his graneries were not sufficient.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 12:17. What shall I do? He does not appear as a grasping speculator, but as one whom wealth, by a very natural process, made discontented, anxious, and perplexed. The proper answer to his question is found in Luk 12:33. But this prosperous man says, my fruits, not Gods gifts; that too when the increase was due to Gods Providence. This feeling is as sinful in its way as recognized crimes.
Luk 12:18. This will I do, etc. He proposed to do just what every man of ordinary business sagacity would do. He was not a fool, from a commercial point of view. He represents the great mass of successful men.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
12:17 And he {f} thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
(f) Reckoned with himself, which is the characteristic of covetous surly men who spend their life in those trifles.