Luke 12:33 Meaning and Explanation
“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Sell what you have and give alms; secure purses that never wear out, unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
What Does Luke 12:33 Mean?
Because the kingdom is given, possessions can be released. Jesus prescribes the opposite of the rich fool's program: not bigger barns but open hands — sell, and give alms. The image is of money-bags: earthly purses wear through and spill their contents, but He offers bags which wax not old.
Giving, in His teaching, is not loss but transfer — treasure moved to a vault no thief approaches and no moth corrupts. Every act of mercy toward the poor is a deposit in the only economy that survives. He does not fix the amount; He fixes the direction. The wealth of a disciple is meant to flow outward and upward, where it becomes treasure that faileth not.
Luke 12:33 in the Original Language
anekleiptos (ἀνέκλειπτος), 'that faileth not' -- unfailing, never running out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 12:33
What does Luke 12:33 mean?
Sell what you have and give alms; secure purses that never wear out, unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.