What Is the Parable of the Rich Fool — In Biblical Context
Jesus warned about a rich man who hoarded his wealth and planned to enjoy it, but God said, 'This night thy soul shall be required of thee'—teaching that earthly riches cannot secure eternal life.
Jesus warned about a rich man who hoarded his wealth and planned to enjoy it, but God said, 'This night thy soul shall be required of thee'—teaching that earthly riches cannot secure eternal life.
"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" — Luke 12:20 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus told of a rich man whose land produced abundantly. Rather than being generous, he planned to build bigger barns to store everything, saying to himself, 'Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.' But God called him a fool, saying his soul would be required that very night. Jesus concluded: 'So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.' The parable powerfully warns against greed, self-sufficiency, and neglecting one's spiritual life in pursuit of material security.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Luke 12:20, sits inside Luke 12. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"
Supporting Passages
"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
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