In Luke 12:29-30 Jesus told his disciples not to doubt that our Father knows what we need. We are not to act like the nations whose lives are dictated by the necessities of life. No matter what the undertaking, a nation or its leaders will not make a move without knowing that they could reasonably expect success in that project. And, the planning of that undertaking would be dictated by an adequate supply of food and drink, and tools necessary for its successful completion.
Jesus’ mention of the Kingdom at this point (Luke 12:31) places the context of his teaching in that category. From the time of his teaching on prayer: “Thy Kingdom come” (Luke 11:2) to “Seek ye the Kingdom of God” in Luke 12:31 all of what Jesus said and did had been about showing his disciples what to expect concerning God’s rule over the earth. We are to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom (Luke 11:2) and look for its unveiling (Luke 12:31). It is found in a place where the finger of God will cause the dumb to speak (Luke 11:14, 20), and where spiritual understanding is increased in order to light one’s way (Luke 11:33-36). Yet, this is done also to point out the spiritual blindness of those who slander the Light, wanting more objective indicators of what is right and wrong (cf. Luke 11:15-16). In the Kingdom of God the evil works men do is exposed for all to see (Luke 11:38-52), and this will cause evil to rise up against what is good (Luke 11:53-54), thus separating the two into opposing camps (cf. Luke 11:23).
Life in the Kingdom of God, for good or for bad, is exposed for the scrutiny of all, so hypocrisy cannot be hid (Luke 12:1-3). In the presence of the Kingdom, there is a false sense of power, whereby the evil intimidates the good (Luke 12:4), but, in reality, no one is left alone—God is always aware of everyone that is his (Luke 12:6-7). The Kingdom is a place where rebellion against God is exposed, and where God takes note of every man who publicly stands with Christ as well as those who do not (Luke 12:8-12). Moreover, the Kingdom of God is unveiled in contrast to the kingdoms of this world. Wealth and power in the world is held up in contrast to wealth and power in God’s Kingdom, which exposes the impotence of the world’s power to stop the spread of God’s authority. Persecution and theft / destruction are ineffective weapons against God and his people, because God doesn’t need the world’s supply or the world’s means to bless his people with such as they need (Luke 12:13-30). The Father is able and willing to give his people his Kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Jesus’ use of the term little flock (Luke 12:31) implies, first, that his people are at least usually outnumbered, and, secondly, that he is our Shepherd. He will lead us. Moreover, if it is God’s great desire to give us his Kingdom, we cannot fail to receive it, if we desire it (Luke 12:32). Once God gives us his Kingdom (Luke 12:32), Jesus tells us we need to sell what we have and give alms to the poor (Luke 12:33).
I don’t believe Jesus has getting rid of our possessions in mind in Luke 12:33. Rather, I think he is telling his disciples to do here what he told all to do later in Luke in the Parable of the Pounds (Luke 19:11-27). There Jesus gave his disciples money (Luke 19:15) and expected them to make a profit for him by doing business with what was given them. In Luke 12:33 we are told that Jesus’ disciples were to sell what they had. But, what did they have? According to Luke 12:32 God had given them his Kingdom, implying an inheritance (cf. Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:10-12) in the form of gifts of the Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:3).
What Jesus seems to be saying is that his disciples are commanded to spread the Gospel (increasing God’s authority over the world) in the manner in which we have been blessed of God. Sell, i.e. do business for God by giving alms, which in this context means giving to others what God has given us. We are made ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, empowered to give his Kingdom to those who don’t have it but are willing to receive it.
In Luke 12:33 Jesus contrasts what we can lose, while we are in the world (viz. our lives and our possessions) in our effort to serve God with what we would have later. We are told that our bags (what holds our wealth i.e. our bodies) do not grow old in the Kingdom of God, and the treasures there cannot be exhausted, stolen or wear out. We are presented with a prospect that cannot be adequately described through what we are able to experience here (cf. 2Corinthians 12:4; 1Corinthians 2:9). So, Jesus concludes this thought by saying: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). What he means is that whatever we consider valuable, whether the things of this world or the promise of God of a better life, our hearts will cause us to work toward acquiring that treasure.
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