What Does Luke 18:22 Mean in the King James?
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The thing still lacking is revealed as wealth held back from release: what is given to the poor becomes treasure in another storehouse.
THE MEANING
The lack becomes visible in a call to sell what is held and distribute it to the poor. Treasure in the heavens names a different storehouse, and the invitation to follow draws the reader into that movement of release.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that having much means nothing is lacking is undone: the man has much, yet one thing remains.
THE ROOT
θησαυρόν
thēsauron
GROWS FROM
θησαυρ-
thēsaur-
Stored wealth; what is kept in a storehouse.
“Treasure” can sound like a prize, but the Greek word carries the sense of stored wealth. Here, that storehouse is joined to giving: possessions leave the hand, while treasure is held in the heavens.
ALSO GROWS
thēsaurizō: To store up or treasure.
θησαυρίζω
This related verb makes the image active: treasure is something stored, and this verse connects that storing with distributing wealth to the poor.
apothēsaurizō: To store up for the future.
ἀποθησαυρίζω
This related verb appears in the language of laying up a reserve; it illuminates how the verse presents treasure as held in a different order.
THE PATTERN
Possessions are opened toward the poor, and their value is revealed as they become provision.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,THE THREAD
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.Luke 12:33 uses the same Greek word for “treasure” beside selling and giving alms. It makes explicit the movement in this verse: released possessions are joined to a storehouse that does not fail.
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